Ronda Rousey and Ariel Helwani Sees Jake Paul’s First Netflix MMA Event as Dawn of New Era

UFC legend Ronda Rousey and popular journalist Ariel Helwani talk about the success of the first Most Valuable Promotions MMA card.

Ronda Rousey and Ariel Helwani Sees Jake Paul’s First Netflix MMA Event as Dawn of New Era

Ronda Rousey and Ariel Helwani talk about Jake Paul (via Bloody Elbow)

In Short
  • MVP MMA's recent event has been seen as a challenge to UFC's dominance in the MMA landscape.
  • Ronda Rousey criticized UFC executive Hunter Campbell for low fighter compensation and contract limitations.
  • Jake Paul revealed he is banned from WWE due to his promotion of MVP MMA, which Dana White opposes.

Mixed martial arts has long been dominated by the UFC as the primary global source of elite MMA content. While other promotions exist, they have struggled to match the UFC’s scale and reach over time. Attention has shifted toward the MVP MMA card, which has exceeded expectations. This was highlighted by MMA journalist Ariel Helwani and UFC legend Ronda Rousey as a challenge to UFC dominance.

Rousey was one of the triple headliners and defeated Gina Carano in just 17 seconds via armbar. She later confirmed her retirement in an emotional speech after the bout. Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou delivered a highlight knockout over Philippe Lins during the same event. The prelims aired on YouTube and peaked at over 350k viewers, while the Intuit Dome arena nearly sold out completely.

Helwani had a major presence throughout the event and its buildup. He attended pre-fight media days and press conferences, closely covering fighter interactions. He also conducted post-fight interviews with athletes after their victories. The MMA Insider spoke with former champion Tyron Woodley about how MVP has brought MMA to Netflix, highlighting the sport’s evolution from cable television broadcasts.

This truly feels like the dawn of a new era. The @netflix era. Tonight, this amazing sport and its amazing athletes get a chance to show the world just how special it can be.

Ariel Helwani via X

Rousey was highly critical of the UFC in the lead-up to the event. She called out UFC executive Hunter Campbell for limiting fighter contracts and low compensation in recent months. After her fight against Carano, ‘Rowdy’ addressed the issue again during the post-fight press conference. She also said the UFC’s posting of Conor McGregor’s comeback during the MVP MMA event reflected healthy competition.

It shows that they see MVP MMA as a threat. I feel like it’s also a compliment because it elevated MVP MMA. They are declaring that they see us as competition, and I think that it is such a compelling story, and now they are having us tell it.

Ronda Rousey via MMA Junkie

Helwani has been critical of the UFC’s recent production and developments. He has suggested UFC CEO Dana White appears less engaged with certain promotional directions. The MMA insider has pointed to lackluster announcements involving some of the promotion’s biggest stars. Helwani also questioned why the UFC is limiting budgets after securing a $7.7 billion media rights deal with Paramount+.

The MVP MMA event has positioned itself as a growing competitor within the combat sports landscape. Founders Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul have suggested that the MVP MMA card could surpass major UFC events in both quality and impact of fighter legacy, including comparisons to the UFC White House card. Their comments reflect continued ambition to elevate MVP MMA as a major global platform.

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How did Ronda Rousey and MVP MMA play a role in Jake Paul getting banned from the WWE?

The UFC–WWE merger formed TKO Group Holdings, combining the two promotions into a single combat sports corporation. Dana White and WWE President Nick Khan continue to lead their respective brands. The deal, supported by Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro, focuses on global expansion and growth in media rights. Turki Alalshikh has also been linked to broader combat sports partnerships aligned with TKO.

Jake Paul with Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano
Jake Paul with Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano (via MMA Mania)

Jake Paul has maintained a presence around WWE in recent times, influenced by his brother Logan Paul becoming a WWE superstar. This connection has kept him tied to wrestling-related discussions and appearances. However, ‘The Problem Child’ recently appeared on a stream with rapper 6ix9ine, where he spoke about why he is not allowed to attend WWE events.

They won’t let me in the WWE, bro. Dana White hates me so much because I’m indirectly promoting MVP MMA. We have a card with Ronda Rousey, Francis Ngannou, and Nate Diaz. They won’t even let me be in the WWE. They hate me so much.

Jake Paul via Kick

While Dana White has consistently held Ronda Rousey in high regard, the same cannot be said for Jake Paul. The two have remained in conflict for years, with the influencer boxer criticizing UFC fighter pay publicly. White has responded by accusing him of building his boxing career against older and retired fighters. Their feud is viewed as a major reason Paul is reportedly restricted from WWE events.

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