An MMA expert has urged Dana White to immediately call Conor McGregor and Jon Jones after Ronda Rousey signed with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions.
Rousey’s decision to launch her comeback under the MVP banner has intensified competition within the combat sports landscape.
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The former UFC champion is set to face Gina Carano in a high-profile return outside the organization that helped shape her legacy. One prominent voice believes the UFC must respond without hesitation.
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
Eric Jackman says UFC must “match this”
Uncrowned Combat’s Eric Jackman reacted strongly to news of Ronda Rousey’s move. He characterized it as a direct test of the UFC’s ability to deliver the biggest events of the year.
In his view, the promotion cannot allow another card to outshine its marquee plans, especially given the media spotlight the UFC White House event is set to generate.
“If I’m Dana White, the moment this news came out this morning, I’m on the phone with Conor McGregor. I am on the phone with Jon Jones. I cannot afford for my White House card not to be the biggest event of the year.”
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“If they were banking on the idea of Ilia Topuria versus Justin Gaethje being the headliner, that would be the moment I would have hopped on the phone and called one of those boys because you have to match this.”
Jackman’s remarks emphasize the commercial stakes tied to Rousey’s return outside the UFC banner. He suggested that only the sport’s most recognizable names can balance the attention generated by her comeback.
Rousey’s MVP deal heightens pressure on UFC
Rousey was the UFC’s first female champion and one of its most influential stars. Her choice to partner with Jake Paul’s promotion rather than return to the UFC represents a notable shift.
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In a recent interview, Rousey confirmed that she personally contacted Dana White about staging a Gina Carano fight under the UFC banner. Those discussions ultimately did not lead to an agreement.
By proceeding under the MVP umbrella, Rousey has created a headline event that directly competes with the UFC’s schedule. That dynamic increases pressure on White to ensure his promotion maintains top billing.
Whether the UFC answers with McGregor, Jones or another major booking remains uncertain. For now, Rousey’s return has introduced fresh urgency into the battle for promotional supremacy in MMA.
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