Jake Paul's MVP presses UFC to raise fighter base pay: 'There is no NBA player that has a second job'
Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) made its MMA debut on Netflix, featuring a high-profile fight between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano. MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian criticized the UFC's fighter pay structure, advocating for higher base pay in the sport. He emphasized that top-level fighters should not need second jobs, comparing the situation to professional basketball leagues.
- ▪MVP held its first MMA event on Netflix, offering a $40,000 minimum base pay to fighters.
- ▪Nakisa Bidarian stated that the UFC's $12,000 to fight and $12,000 to win model is inadequate for elite combat sports athletes.
- ▪Bidarian argued that, like NBA players, top MMA fighters should earn enough to not require second jobs.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Yahoo Sports.