The UFC may be facing a new challenge. Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), has detailed the revenue-sharing structure for their upcoming MMA debut. The Jake Paul-led promotion is set to host its first MMA card on May 16, headlined by Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, in Inglewood, California. In an interview with Ariel Helwani, Bidarian subtly criticized the UFC’s fighter pay model.
“Much higher than 50% to the fighters,” Bidarian revealed regarding the revenue share for MVP’s MMA athletes. “Our objective is not to lose money, to obviously, make a little bit of money, but it’s really about putting the money back in the pocket of the fighters. They’re the ones risking their lives. They’re the ones that people are paying to see, and we feel like we’ve lived up to that to this point, and we’re going to continue to live up to that.”
In contrast, the UFC does not follow a revenue-sharing model. On average, UFC fighters receive less than 20% of the company’s revenue. While top stars can command larger paychecks, lesser-known fighters often struggle financially, sometimes needing second jobs. This disparity persists even as the UFC generated approximately $1.5 billion in revenue in 2025, a 7% year-over-year increase.
Additionally, in 2026, the UFC began a $7.7 billion broadcast deal with Paramount. Although the organization has increased post-fight bonuses, base fighter pay has largely remained stagnant. Preliminary card fighters typically earn $12,000 to show and $12,000 to win. Meanwhile, every fighter on MVP’s May 16 card is guaranteed at least $40,000, regardless of their position on the event, as previously stated by Ronda Rousey. Helwani asked Bidarian to confirm this.
Bidarian elaborated on the minimum pay structure for MVP’s MMA bouts moving forward. He revealed that his business partner, Jake Paul, had long intended to help fighters by eventually forming a fighters’ union.
“When I met Jake Paul the first time, when he was 22, he said, ‘I want to start a fighters union.’ And I said, ‘I’m not your guy, but I appreciate the sentiment,'” Bidarian recalled. “I think we’re looking at this event and anything we do going forward as MVP, as an independent entity, to have a minimum of $40,000 for fighters to fight in MMA.”
He clarified that the $40,000 is a guaranteed payout, not a show/win structure. “No, [it’s not for show/win]. That’s guaranteed. And then every fighter has a performance bonus in addition to that. [And it] depends on the fighter.”
The exact amount of the performance bonus has not been disclosed. Bidarian stated that he still needs to discuss the matter with Jake Paul and that details will be announced at the appropriate time. However, he confirmed that performance bonuses on MVP MMA cards are guaranteed.
Given these developments, the UFC could face serious competition, especially from a rival who has publicly clashed with the promotion for years. Additionally, Jake Paul has claimed that TKO Group, the parent company of the UFC, blocked him from attending his brother Logan Paul’s WWE events. With Jake Paul’s history of challenging the organization, it remains to be seen whether he will attempt to outpay the UFC and reshape the sport’s financial landscape.
