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MVP’s big mixed martial arts card on Netflix this past May appears to have been a one-and-done.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou was among the biggest names on the lineup at Inglewood’s Intuit Dome.
‘The Predator’s’ knockout of Philipe Lins helped to set the stage for Ronda Rousey’s submission win over Gina Carano in the main event of MVP MMA 1.
Moving forward, the brand is merging with the PFL. A broadcast deal has yet to be announced, and it seems that a permanent stay on Netflix is firmly out of the question.
Netflix’s entry into MMA was widely seen as a success, with Rousey’s return card breaking viewership records.
But despite the event peaking at 17 million viewers, the giant streaming platform apparently has no plans to stage another MVP MMA card in the near future.
A recent report from combat sports insider Blake Avignon has revealed that only a major fight involving Ngannou could change Netflix’s mind.
“@Netflix is unlikely to carry another @MostVpromotions MMA event anytime soon, according to sources within the company familiar with the situation,” Avignon wrote on X.
“A blockbuster Francis Ngannou fight against a marquee opponent like Jon Jones could bring Netflix back to the table, but Jones remains under @UFC contract with no release in sight.
“This comes amid a major shakeup at Netflix, with Peter Rice replacing Bela Bajaria as Chief Content Officer on October 26, assuming oversight of live events and sports.
“With Netflix’s content operation undergoing massive changes, the bigger question is whether MVP MMA still has a place in its future plans.”
Jon Jones appeared on the MVP MMA 1 broadcast and outlined his intentions to escape his UFC contract to secure a long-awaited showdown with Ngannou.
The GOAT contender remains tied to the UFC, who would no doubt be completely unwilling to release Jones so that he could pursue a huge fight elsewhere.