Nakisa Bidarian said he didn’t take issue with Dana White’s familiar move.
Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions made its first move into MMA, doing so in partnership with Netflix on Saturday night.
The card at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood featured Ronda Rousey submitting Gina Carano in just 17 seconds, along with wins for Francis Ngannou and Mike Perry.
But the biggest headline of the night came when it was announced that Conor McGregor will make his return to the octagon this summer.
Dana White revealed McGregor’s comeback, with the Irishman set to take on Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 329 during International Fight Week on July 11. The timing of the announcement drew more attention than the matchup itself.
Bidarian reacts to Conor McGregor’s UFC return announcement and backs Paul fight
White has often been known for breaking big news during events hosted by rival promotions, and that pattern continued over the weekend. Ngannou’s walkout was just about to begin when word broke of McGregor’s return, marking his first fight back in five years since holding two belts at once.
Paul criticised White for interrupting another event but Bidarian took a different view, framing it as an opportunity for both fighters.
“I am super excited that Conor is back. He is one of the most engaging characters in the sport,” Bidarian said during the press conference after the Netflix event concluded.
“It is good for the sport. And I’ve said this numerous times, the biggest fight outside of Paul-(Mike) Tyson that can happen, globally, is Paul-McGregor.
“Hopefully Conor is back, and hopefully these two run it in boxing and MMA, and we shatter records all over again,” he added.
“So welcome back, Conor. And thank you, Dana, for bringing him back during the Francis Ngannou walkout. That’s beautiful.”
Since Mayweather defeated him in 2017, Dana White hasn’t shown any interest in similar crossovers involving UFC talent. But with Netflix now a major player and MVP continuing to make headlines, there may be increased pressure on both sides to finally make it happen this time around.
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