Daniel Cormier isn’t so much of a UFC guy that he’ll pretend the upcoming MVP MMA card on Netflix is bad, but it’s not up to UFC standards.
One of the biggest stories of 2026 thus far is that Netflix is finally getting into the MMA game. In May, Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions will put on its first MMA event, headlined by Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano returning to the cage to fight each other, live on Netflix. The event also features Francis Ngannou taking on Philipe Lins, and just last week added
another massive fight to the card, with Nate Diaz and Mike Perry squaring off in a welterweight bout.
And while Daniel Cormier is a UFC Hall of Famer and commentator, even he acknowledges that MVP’s first MMA event has him hyped up.
“The third fight is what might have gotten me most excited: Mike Perry and Nate Diaz,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “Now, let me tell you why. are not two of the best welterweights in the world, make no mistake about it. They are not of the level of Kamaru Usman, Islam Makhachev, Jack Della Maddalena, Michael Morales, Sean Brady, and Ian Garry. They’re not that. They are not that level of fighter. The best fighters are in the UFC, make no mistake about that.
“But why would that excite me? Because of the names, and because you know what it’s going to bring. You can have fights, and you can have matchups that are great on paper, but the whole thing leading is a bit of [boring]. But this one will not be. This is two guys that know how to engage an audience, and they know how to make people pay attention to what they’re doing.”
But Cormier isn’t only interested in the event because of the big names that are taking part. The former two-division champion also likes what MVP MMA may represent: another legitimate option in MMA promotion.
“I also like that there is somewhere that seems like it’s real,” Cormier said. “Nothing is ever going to be the UFC. It just won’t happen. But at least there it seems like it’s real; a real event on a real platform that gives these people an ability to not only make a living, but have people tune in. It’s free. It’s Netflix, one of the biggest platforms in the world. …
“I think what they’ve done with this Carano-Rousey card is make a real place for people to fight outside of the UFC. And, I mean, honestly, competition is a good thing. It always is and always has been, and it always will be. And I love seeing guys have the ability to go out there and make some money. So, congratulations. That’s good. I’m excited. I’m actually excited.”
But just because Jake Paul and company are making a big splash with this first MMA venture, it doesn’t mean we all need to get carried away. Because of the timing and a few of Rousey’s comments, Rousey vs. Carano has inevitably drawn comparisons to the UFC White House card planned for this June. And while many promises were made for that event, the fight card that was actually delivered left some fans underwhelmed, leading to debates about which mega-event will be better. And on that count, Cormier has no doubt.
“But for people comparing it to the White House card, no chance, guys,” Cormier said. “Come on! The White House card is the best card of the year, for sure. It’s better than that, let’s just be completely honest.”
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VIDEO STEW
Israel Adesanya working with Robert Whittaker.
Deep dive with Lerone Murphy.
MVP interview.
Michael Bisping talks Nate vs. Perry.
FLAVOR IN YOUR EAR
No Bets Barred.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Why? To make less money?
OK, this is a good joke.
Man making his UFC debut gets custom shorts.
Motivation.
Age comes for us all.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Cormier is absolutely right, the UFC White House card is significantly better than the Rousey-Carano card. But it’s also going to do a tenth of the viewership of it. MVP’s first MMA card is going to be the most viewed MMA event of all time, and it’s not going to be close.
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