Trailblazers of women’s MMA, Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, are making their return from retirement to headline the inaugural MMA event under Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions on May 16.
Rousey’s last bout resulted in a first-round KO loss against Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in December 2016, while Carano retired after a first-round KO loss to Cris Cyborg in August 2009 during the now-defunct Strikeforce.
Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, stated to ESPN, “Ronda Rousey is a singular athlete. What other female fighter has sold over 50,000 tickets to an event and generated millions in pay-per-view sales? … Her matchup with Gina Carano is the perfect pairing to captivate audiences and truly provide a global night of MMA for everyone.”
No additional fights have been announced for the Rousey vs. Carano card, yet the discussion surrounding potential dream matchups among legendary fighters outside of any current MMA promotion is intriguing. Andreas Hale, Brett Okamoto, and Jeff Wagenheim explore their favorite historical bouts they wish MVP would book.
Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman 3
More than a decade after their consecutive UFC middleweight title clashes in 2013, former champions Silva and Weidman were set to face off in a boxing match on the undercard of Paul vs. Gervonta “Tank” Davis last November. Unfortunately, Weidman sustained an injury during training, leading to Tyron Woodley stepping in. Silva managed to knock out Woodley in the second round at the undercard of Paul’s knockout defeat to Anthony Joshua last December.
A third meeting between Silva and Weidman, who currently holds a 2-0 record in their rivalry, was never intended for a boxing ring. If an engaging co-main event for Rousey-Carano is desired, this trilogy deserves to take place now. Silva, despite being 50, has shown outstanding skill in competition. although he frequently claims to be focused on boxing, it’s hard to think he would refuse a chance to negate his shocking TKO defeats to Weidman.
Weidman, aged 41, has experienced setbacks, losing three of his last four fights before retiring from MMA last year. He isn’t the formidable force he once was, having knocked out Silva to seize the middleweight title and winning the immediate rematch, which ended with Silva’s leg break. Nevertheless, Weidman would likely seize the opportunity to assert his dominance over one of the sport’s legends, especially with millions tuning in on Netflix. — Hale
Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir 3
I may be old-fashioned, but I favor matches between athletes who are still in their prime. These “fantasy” matchups don’t always deliver. but, a long-anticipated rubber match between Lesnar and Mir could be enjoyable for nostalgia’s sake.
Fans of the sport will recall when Mir submitted Lesnar with a kneebar in their first fight at UFC 81 in 2008, and referee Steve Mazzagatti was egregiously slow in stopping the bout after Lesnar tapped multiple times. Who can forget Lesnar’s infamous pre-fight interview for their rematch, where he rewatched that first bout and broke the door in frustration? Classic.
Six months later, Lesnar obtained his revenge at UFC 100, in what many consider the largest landmark event in UFC history. A lot has shifted since then, yet both fighters remain true to their explosive personalities. Lesnar is fiery, while Mir has always maintained an air of condescension that irritates opponents. The lead-up to a third fight would present phenomenal storytelling and drama—everything a Netflix fight needs. — Okamoto
Nate Diaz vs. Anyone
MVP and Netflix would be wise to center a card around Diaz. The specific opponent is less significant. It’s been 3½ years since Diaz last stepped into the cage. even if his last fight was against Tony Ferguson, who was past his prime, it embodied all his signature antics during the four rounds—pointing, stalking, combo-punching, feigning disinterest, laughing at opponents, securing an instantaneous submission, and flexing. MMA is in need of this character.
Diaz recently informed reporters that he is prepared to return to action and mentioned three potential opponents: Conor McGregor (not happening), Dustin Poirier (retired but still under UFC contract), and Mike Perry (an interesting consideration). Perry has revitalized his career in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, boasting a record of 6-0 with four KOs. His bold persona could spark excitement even before the fight begins.
If Perry isn’t available, just find another combatant to join Diaz on the card. Anyone! Is Jorge Masvidal available for a rematch of their original BMF fight? What’s two-time Bellator champion Gegard Mousasi currently doing? If Paul hadn’t recently gone through a second jaw surgery after being knocked out by Joshua, I’d suggest a match against “The Problem Child” for Diaz. Forget the details; just showcase “NATE DIAZ” in large, bold letters and watch the fans flock. — Wagenheim
