標籤: fighters

On Saturday night, a big MMA event took place in Inglewood, California, without the UFC on its banner. Most Valuable Promotions, with the help of streaming giant Netflix, sought to show that there is life outside the Octagon and delivered an action-packed card full of finishes and cage-fighting greats at MVP MMA 1.

Following the events of the Rousey vs. Carano card inside the Intuit Dome, we take a look at some of the biggest takeaways from a rare successful MMA event not promoted by the UFC.

MVP should build to the Robalis Despaigne vs. Francis Ngannou fight

Two standout performances on the MVP MMA 1 card from two big men competing on Saturday night. Former UFC heavyweight king Francis Ngannou and karate combat champion Robellis Despaigne. Both delivered highlight reel knockouts, especially the Cuban over heavyweight legend Junior dos Santos.

If MVP can afford to bring Ngannou back for their next event, they should do so. Likewise for DeSpain. And the ultimate goal is to build up the latter to feel like a legitimate threat to Cameroonians. A potential clash between the two heavyweights could easily headline MVP MMA 3 or 4 in 2027.

Rousey vs. Carano felt like Strikeforce reborn, and that’s a good thing

It’s been a long time since the UFC had a legitimate competitor in terms of vibe. Certainly, Bellator and the PFL have done their best over the last five-plus years to show that they were a worthwhile alternative to the UFC. However, you have to go back to the early 2010s and the last time Strikeforce had a strong No. 2 option in an MMA game.

On Saturday, MVP MMA 1 felt like Strikeforce was reborn, and that’s a good thing. The California-based brand didn’t fail because it couldn’t deliver a good product. Unfortunately its owners were unwilling to invest the money to make it a long-term success, and the UFC bought out its deep and talented roster.

The way the ring entrances were arranged last night, Mauro Ranallo and Kenny Florian were a rock-solid team on commentary, and with a card that featured some good action and finishes, including a submission win for Ronda Rousey, it felt like Strikeforce had been revived. If this is the way MVP MMA is headed, it’s a great thing for MMA fans.

MVP MMA 1 was an entertaining card, and one of its unique elements was a cross-promotion fight between Tuff-N-Uff’s Lightweight Champion and KSW Champion Kenneth Cross and Salahdin Parnasse. That fight also provided an exciting finish to the first round and was a showcase for casual fans of some of your lesser-known talents in the sport.

If MVP can continue to get top talent from regional promotions from around the world and face them, it could be a really fun showcase element to their fight cards that helps both the fighters and those promotions. More than that please.

Rousey vs. Carano delivers an action-packed card

While the Rousey vs. Carano event started with three straight decisions on the preliminary card, the rest of the event was a roller coaster ride of blood, violence, and knockouts. In the end, this is what MMA fans want, and the lack of highlight reel moments was or has been one of the biggest problems for UFC competitors like Bellator and the PFL.

MVP MMA 1 provided value for fans, and the promotion couldn’t have asked for a better card than Saturday in its debut.

Fighters get paid well on MVP MMA 1 card

A big issue for fight fans has been that the UFC’s monopoly on the sport has resulted in surprisingly low pay for their fighters. This also has many in the boxing sport concerned, as TKO – the parent company of the UFC – wants to get the fighter pay structure of the MMA world leaders down to a sweet science.

However, MVP co-owner Jake Paul has always tried to point out the salary issues for fighters in the UFC and has put his money on MVP MMA 1. CSAC released fight purses for the promotion’s first MMA events, and no fighter earned less than $40,000. Additionally, three competitors earned more than $1 million, with Rousey leading the way with $2.2 million.

MVP MMA being successful and increasing the salaries of fighters is a huge potential for the sport.

The Rousey vs. Carano card felt big and MMA desperately needed it

In the end, MVP MMA 1: Rousey vs. Carano felt huge. Whether you wanted to watch the two female MMA pioneers fight or not, when you watched it on Netflix, the event and their bout felt gorgeous and meaningful. It felt like a mix of a UFC card and a major boxing event.

It’s been two decades since a significant event happened in MMA that had nothing to do with the UFC. The fact that the card was distributed further increased its relevance. MVP MMA 1 was something the game desperately needed, and hopefully there’s more to come.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

andoni irola will leave bournemouth The summer saw a significant increase in height since moving to England. The Spaniard is now being tipped for a surprise move to Italy.

Ierola’s high-intensity approach seemed tailor-made for the Premier League. Under him, the Cherries pressed the ball high and when in possession, they attacked quickly and very directly.

Bournemouth are still likely to qualify for Europe, as they are just two points off a Europa League spot.

Despite this, struggling Fiorentina view Ierola as a managerial target.

LaViola plans ambitious effort

courier fiorentino Today we take a look at Fiorentina’s plans for the summer as they manage to avoid relegation.

Although Paolo Vanoli has done a good job of achieving this, his future is far from certain. Fabio Paratici wants to make some big changes to the club while preparing an important project for the future.

The Italian is interested in the current Bournemouth manager. Ierola is seen as an upgrade on Vanoli, who was only hired at the end of the year.

The report leads to interest from Manchester United but from Fiorentina’s point of view, they are in the driving seat. Strange that Enzo Maresca is seen as a less attractive target, even though he doesn’t have a club.

The same applies to Fabio Grosso, who is impressing at Sassuolo and is still far less in demand than Ierola.

Our opinion: Fiorentina are selling a dream

It is not the first time that Andoni Ierola has been mentioned in the same sentence as Fiorentina. sports witness Italy legend Antonio Cassano’s recommendation to La Viola about appointing the Bournemouth manager has already been covered.

There is every possibility that there may be some reason behind this speculation. Furthermore, Fiorentina is at a turning point in its history and Paratici’s arrival brings some promise of improvement.

The Italian brings with him ambition but is known for proudly promoting his ideas in the press. This was especially true at Juventus.

At Fiorentina, the reality is very different – ​​from a stature and financial point of view. The Florence club has been facing a number of off-field problems in recent months, prompting Irola to consider other options.

Nate Diaz has officially put his bid in the ring for the UFC’s White House card and he has some opponents in mind for the event.

In an interview with TMZ Sports, the 40-year-old Stockton fighter explained that he is done with the exhibition circuit and wants to return to “real action” on the sport’s biggest stage. Diaz outlined a three-man hit list specifically for the historic June 14, 2026 event, targeting old rivals and new faces alike as he looks to secure a spot on the South Lawn.

“I’m ready to get back to real action,” Diaz told TMZ Sports. “I want to fight either (Conor) McGregor, maybe Dustin Poirier if he stops being so shy, and maybe even Mike Perry.”

Poirier’s call out is especially stinging, reigniting a feud that has been smoldering for years without ever materializing in the cage. Poirier, who retired in July 2025 after a loss to Max Holloway, has recently made a comeback, and Diaz’s challenge could be the spark needed to finally make the fight happen.

Meanwhile, the mention of Mike Perry provides a wild card option, as the former BKFC star is currently a free agent looking to return to mixed martial arts. The backdrop to Diaz’s potential return is the UFC White House event, which is being held to celebrate both President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Diaz shared his enthusiasm for the patriotic display, saying, “Yeah, it would be dope. Gang America, baby. You already know what’s up.”

A limited number of bouts are expected to take place at the event, and Diaz’s proven ability to effortlessly draw attention makes him a prime candidate for the lineup. Diaz also took some time to address his former opponent, Jake Paul, who recently suffered a knockout loss to Anthony Joshua. Despite their past rivalry, Diaz praised the YouTuber-turned-boxer, who suffered a double jaw break in a sixth-round knockout.

Diaz acknowledged Paul’s desire to step up against a former heavyweight champion, saying, “He’s doing a great job.” However, Diaz made it clear that his own focus is moving back to legitimate MMA competition, noting that he wants a “real fight” for the “right price” rather than another crossover boxing match.