{"id":38305,"date":"2026-05-17T21:00:33","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T21:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sherdog.com\/news\/news\/Ronda-Rousey-Jake-Paul-react-to-UFCs-timing-of-Conor-McGregor-announcement-201224"},"modified":"2026-05-17T21:00:33","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T21:00:33","slug":"ronda-rousey-jake-paul-react-to-ufcs-timing-of-conor-mcgregor-announcement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.martialartskleinanzeigen.com\/videos\/ronda-rousey-jake-paul-react-to-ufcs-timing-of-conor-mcgregor-announcement\/","title":{"rendered":"Ronda Rousey, Jake Paul react to UFC\u2019s timing of Conor McGregor announcement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
<\/div>\n

The
\nUFC<\/a> did its best to steal the thunder from
\nMost Valuable Promotions<\/a> on Saturday night.<\/p>\n

As Francis
\nNgannou<\/a> was making his walk to the cage at the Intuit Dome in
\nLos Angeles on Saturday night, UFC CEO Dana White went live to
\nannounce that Conor
\nMcGregor<\/a> would return to face Max
\nHolloway<\/a> in the UFC 329<\/a>
\nheadliner. The timing wasn\u2019t surprising to those in the MMA
\ncommunity, many of whom predicted that the UFC would do something
\nalong those lines to take away from the
\nMost Valuable Promotions “Rousey vs. Carano\u201d<\/a> card.<\/p>\n

\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Ronda
\nRousey<\/a> gave her thoughts on the UFC\u2019s decision to announce the
\nMcGregor fight when it did during Saturday\u2019s MVP post-fight press
\nconference. Rousey defeated Gina Carano<\/a>
\nwith an armbar 17 seconds into the opening round of the MVP main
\nevent on Saturday at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

“I mean, it’s kind of catty,” Rousey said. “But it also shows that
\nthey see MVP MMA as a threat, that they would, you know, do it in
\nthat moment and do it at that time. So I feel like it’s also a
\ncompliment because it elevates MVP MMA \u2013 they’re declaring that
\nthey see us as a real rival. And I think that’s such a compelling
\nstory. And now they’re helping us tell it.\u201d<\/p>\n

By most accounts, MVP\u2019s MMA debut was a success in terms of drawing
\ninterest, and it certainly didn\u2019t hurt that the organization was
\nbacked by Netflix as its broadcast platform. The UFC\u2019s own offering
\non Saturday, a Fight Night card headlined by Arnold
\nAllen<\/a> and Melquizael
\nCosta<\/a>, didn\u2019t draw nearly that level of attention. And the UFC
\ntypically saves its major announcements for numbered events.<\/p>\n

Though the matchmaking may have invited some scrutiny, stars like
\nRousey, Carano, Nate Diaz<\/a>,
\nMike
\nPerry<\/a> and Ngannou gave MVP drawing power for its first MMA
\nevent. While the future of the promotion when it comes to MMA
\nremains uncertain, co-founder Jake Paul<\/a>
\nwasn\u2019t fazed by UFC\u2019s attempt at counterprogramming.<\/p>\n

“Oh, the cokehead is back,” Paul said. “That’s cool, bro. Drop it
\nduring our event. It doesn’t matter. That just shows how pressed
\nthey are \u2013 little, insecure boys trying to piggyback off their
\nevent and try to put some news over top of us. It’s not going to
\nwork, buddy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Future Business Partners?<\/h2>\n

Meanwhile, MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was pleased to learn of
\nMcGregor\u2019s return \u2014 in part because he\u2019d like to see Paul face the
\nIrish star sometime down the road.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s one of the most engaging characters in the sport,\u201d Bidarian
\nsaid. \u201cI think it\u2019s good for the sport. I\u2019ve said this numerous
\ntimes, the biggest fight outside of Paul-[Mike] Tyson that can
\nhappen globally is Paul-McGregor.<\/p>\n

\u201cHopefully Conor is back and hopefully these two run it in boxing
\nand MMA and we shatter records all over again. So welcome back,
\nConor and thank you Dana for bringing him back during the Francis
\nNgannou<\/a> walkout.\u201d<\/p>\n