Netflix got into the MMA business with Jake Paul’s MVP Promotions this past weekend with the return of megastars Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano as the headlining attraction. It worked out quite well for all involved, according to a joint press release touting the viewership.
They claimed the main card averaged 9.3 million viewers with a peak of 11.6 million for Rousey vs. Carano in the main event, which would put it above the Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos UFC debut show on FOX. Not surprisingly, they are already looking ahead to the future of MVP Promotions on Netflix. From the release:
“We’ve received an overwhelming amount of interest from investors, strategic partners, and fighters who want to be involved with MVP and the future of MVP MMA. We are currently reviewing all strategic options to do something very meaningful within MMA on a go-forward basis with a distribution partner like Netflix that shares our vision to create lasting impact.”
That won’t include Rousey, if she holds true to her word in the post-fight interview that she’s going back home to try to make more babies. Who knows about Carano, who was tapped in just 17 seconds.
Either way, this was a success all around.