The hype is no longer just hype.
Most Valuable Promotions held its official press conference for the upcoming “Rousey vs. Carano” MMA event today, Wednesday, April 15, live from Palladium Times Square in New York City — and what unfolded made one thing crystal clear: May 16 in Los Angeles is shaping up to be one of the most significant nights in combat sports history.
Hosted by MMA media personality Ariel Helwani, the event brought together the full cast of fighters and promotion leadership under one roof for the first time. The room included:
- Nakisa Bidarian – CEO, Most Valuable Promotions
- Ronda Rousey – Former UFC champion and Olympic medalist
- Gina Carano – Combat sports trailblazer
- Nate Diaz – Compton’s combat sports icon
- Mike Perry – “The King of Violence”
- Francis Ngannou – Lineal heavyweight champion
- Philipe Lins – Brazilian heavyweight contender
Bidarian set the tone early, making no secret of his ambitions. He called May 16 a crossover mainstream event — one that pairs legitimate star power with top-tier competitive matchups. He went further, saying he’s confident it will rank among the most-viewed MMA events ever produced. Given who was sitting at that table today, it’s hard to argue with him.
He also confirmed that MVP is thinking beyond a single event. Conversations about long-term MMA strategy and future distribution are already in motion, and athletes are reportedly lining up to get involved. May 16 is the opening statement — not the final word.
The card speaks for itself: Rousey and Carano sharing the cage for the first time, Nate Diaz and Mike Perry colliding in a welterweight war, and Francis Ngannou making his return to MMA against Brazil’s Philipe Lins. Today’s press conference confirmed the personalities, the stakes, and the intent. Now the fight has to deliver.
Your venue still has time to be part of it.
May 16 is a month away, and fight fans are already looking for a place to watch. Contact G&G Closed Circuit Events today to secure the broadcast rights for your establishment and make sure your bar, restaurant, or venue is the destination on one of the biggest nights MMA has seen in years.
