Nakisa Bidarian says MVP negotiating with four opponents for Jake Paul return

Jake Paul will keep fighting with or without Netflix, according to Most Valuable Promotions chief executive Nakisa Bidarian, who said the venue and broadcaster for a late 2026 or early 2027 return will depend on the opponent.

Jake Paul's next boxing match does not depend on Netflix, Most Valuable Promotions co-founder and chief executive Nakisa Bidarian said on Thursday 22 October. He said MVP is negotiating with four potential opponents for a return in late 2026 or early 2027.

Bidarian was responding to rumours that MVP's relationship with Netflix had ended. He did not name the four fighters, and wrote on X that the choice will shape everything else: “Based on the opponent we will determine the location and distribution.”

Netflix has broadcast four MVP events. The partnership began with Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson in November 2024 and continued with Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano 3, Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua and Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano, an MVP MMA event.

Netflix later dismissed half of its executives after quarterly results showed slowing growth and alarmed investors. Many of the senior figures MVP dealt with have gone, and reports from insiders say MVP's access to the platform is in jeopardy. Other reports say Netflix intends to expand its sports offering and one-off events. Its new content chiefs have been in their jobs only a few days.

MVP has not relied on Netflix alone. The promotion has also staged events with Sky Sports, DAZN and ESPN. Bidarian is a former UFC executive who oversaw the promotion's sale to IMG/Endeavor in 2016.

Paul recently named Canelo Alvarez, Francis Ngannou and Conor McGregor as opponents he wants to face.

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