Press Release: August 25, 2025 By Most Valuable Promotions -ORLANDO, FL – August 23, 2025 – MVP’s Puerto Rican Olympian and #1 WBA contender Yankiel “El Doctorcito” Rivera (7-0-1, 3 KOs) made his MVP debut against #2 WBA flyweight titleholder Angelino “Huracan” Cordova (19-0-2, 12 KOs) in the first-ever MVP Fight Night, live on DAZN from the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. The bout turned into an intense, back-and-forth battle, with Rivera scoring a fourth-round knockdown to gain early momentum. Cordova clawed his way back, though a sixth-round point deduction for a shot to the back of Rivera’s head proved costly. After 12 chaotic, action-packed rounds, the bout went to the judges’ scorecards and was ruled a majority draw (115-111 Cordova, 113-113 x2). After the fight, Rivera acknowledged Cordova’s awkward style made the bout a unique and complicated test.
MVP Fight Night, promoted by MVP in association with Boxlab Promotions, saw a star-studded crowd in attendance including Jake Paul, Amanda Serrano, the most dominant two-sport athlete in combat sports history Holly Holm, bare knuckle boxer and UFC veteran Mike Perry, WBA super lightweight champion Rolly Romero, boxing’s youngest current world champion and current WBO super welterweight champion Xander Zayas, WBA light flyweight champion Sara Bailey, 4-division former world champion boxer Nonito Donaire, former world champion boxer Kim Clavel, and MVP’s Jan Paul Rivera, Jahmal Harvey, Javon “Wanna” Walton, and Alexis “Chop Chop” Chaparro.
In the co-main event, former WBA interim super welterweight champion Yoenis “El Bandolero” Tellez (10-1, 7 KOs) faced then-#1 WBA contender and European champion Abass Baraou (17-1, 9 KOs) in his first title defense. From the opening bell, Baraou’s high guard and relentless pressure kept Tellez on the defensive, controlling the action blow-for-blow. Tellez fought back with sharp counters, but Baraou systematically broke him down, finally scoring a knockdown in the final seconds of the 12th round. Baraou secured a unanimous decision (116-111, 115-112, 117-110) to claim the WBA interim title at 154 lbs. After the fight, an emotional Baraou celebrated proving the strength of German boxing on a global stage, before facing off with WBO champion Xander Zayas. The thrilling showdown earned Baraou the MVP Performance of the Night bonus, presented by Caribe Royale.
Also on the main card, MVP’s newest signee, WBA lightweight world champion Stephanie Han (11-0, 3 KOs) successfully defended her title in her MVP debut, battling Medellin, Colombia’s Paulina Angel (7-2-2, 3 KOs) in a thrilling 10-round war at 135 lbs. Angel came forward relentlessly from the opening bell, even dropping Han in the first round, but Han stayed composed under pressure, answering with sharp combinations and high-volume counters that steadily broke through Angel’s guard. After 10 high-paced rounds, Han secured a unanimous decision victory (98-91 x3) to remain the WBA lightweight world champion. After the fight, Han praised Angel’s toughness and reiterated her desire to defend her title next against MVP’s Holly Holm, whether in El Paso, Texas, or Albuquerque, New Mexico.
On the main card, MVP’s undefeated lightweight contender “Prince” Lucas Bahdi (20-0, 15 KOs)—ranked #5 WBA, #6 IBF, #12 WBC, and #14 WBO, and owner of 2024’s most-awarded knockout—took on former WBA world champion Roger “The Kid” Gutierrez (29-7-1, 22 KOs) in a high-stakes 12-round WBA elimination bout to determine the mandatory challenger for Gervonta “Tank” Davis. Bahdi started sharp, controlling the early rounds before the experienced Gutierrez ramped up his offense in the third, using his reach and left hook to apply pressure. Bahdi answered back, flooring Gutierrez with a massive overhand right at the end of Round 6, then punishing him with heavy shots through the late rounds. The fight went to the cards, where Bahdi won a unanimous decision (117-110, 116-111, 115-112), preserving his perfect record and securing his spot as Tank’s next mandatory challenger. Post-fight, Bahdi celebrated his first 12-round victory and called out Tank ahead of his Friday, November 14 clash with Jake Paul.
Opening the main card, Stockton’s combat sports icon and Real Fight Inc/Team Nate Diaz mainstay Chris Avila (6-2) squared off against Tampa’s undefeated Ariel “Golden Hulk” Perez (8-0, 4 KOs) in a 175-lb light heavyweight bout. Perez controlled the early rounds, exploiting openings in Avila’s guard with sharp uppercuts and right hooks. Avila rallied, landing heavy overhand rights while absorbing Perez’s biggest shots in a tightly contested round. But the late surge wasn’t enough, as Perez earned a unanimous decision (58-56x2, 59-55) after six rounds. Post-fight, Avila showed respect, while Perez used the moment to call out UFC veteran Nate Diaz for his next fight.
In the preliminary card headliner, MVP’s newest signee, WBA super flyweight world champion Jasmine “Animal” Artiga (14-0-1, 7 KOs), delivered a statement performance in her first title defense against Swedish-Australian challenger and WBA #1 contender Linn Sandstrom (10-4-3, 2 KOs). Tampa’s first homegrown world champion came out firing from the opening bell, overwhelming Sandstrom — the WBA Gold champion — with a relentless barrage of blistering combinations. Artiga dictated every second of the fight, dismantling Sandstrom with ease before ending the fight with a dominant TKO at 1:01 of the third round to remain undefeated and retain her title. After the fight, Artiga thanked MVP, her Tampa community, and her grandmother, and made it clear she’s coming for unification next, calling out the IBF, WBO, and WBC champions.
Also on the preliminary card, Boxlab Promotions’ #8-ranked IBF, #10 WBO, #11 WBA, and #11 WBC super lightweight contender Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz (20-2-1, 10 KOs) delivered a flawless, one-sided dismantling of the Dominican Republic’s Ambiorix Bautista (19-3, 11 KOs). From the opening bell, Ortiz dictated every exchange, slicing through Bautista’s defense with precision combinations and relentless pressure. The bout was never in doubt, as Ortiz finished with a TKO at 1:32 of the third round.
MVP’s 15-time U.S. national amateur champion Nat “No Love” Dove (6-0-1, 2 KOs) continued to showcase her star potential in a 6-round super flyweight bout at 115 lbs against Rio Rancho, New Mexico’s Randee Lynn Morales (5-6, 3 KOs). Dove took early command of the fight, systematically breaking down Morales until the bout was stopped at 1:50 in the fifth round, adding a TKO win to her undefeated record. After the fight, MVP’s Jake Paul and Wanna Walton joined Dove in the ring, where Paul praised her rapid progression and called her a “star on the rise.” Opening the night in a 4-round light flyweight bout, Indio, California’s Jocelyn Camarillo (5-0) defeated Argentina’s Agustina Vazquez (4-5-2) by unanimous decision (40-36, 39-37 x2).
MVP Fight Night followed MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 14 as part of the first-ever MVP back-2-back weekend. The event was promoted by MVP and Boxlab Promotions and distributed globally by DAZN. CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, maker of lifestyle energy drinks, is the exclusive energy drink sponsor of MVP. Fansly, TORKLAW, and Event Ticket Center also sponsored the event.
For more information, follow on X via @MostVPromotions and @DAZNBoxing or on Instagram via @MostValuablePromotions and @DAZNBoxing.
About MVP
MVP was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. MVP have produced Jake Paul’s last six global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Perry match. The promotion company also signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head to head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. MVP made history again in November 2024 with Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2, the first-ever live professional sports event on Netflix. MVP’s Paul vs. Tyson streamed live globally on Netflix and shattered records, becoming the most-streamed sporting event ever with 108 million live viewers globally. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of Paul vs. Tyson and the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which was the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.
About DAZN
DAZN is the home of European football, women’s football, boxing and MMA, and the NFL (excl. USA). We are building the ultimate sports entertainment platform, based on premium sports rights, world-leading tech, and multi-platform distribution. DAZN believes that fans from across the globe should be able to watch, read, bet, play, share, socialise, buy tickets and merchandise, all in one place, with one account, one wallet, and on one app.
For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit dazngroup.com.
Material Courtesy of: Most Valuable Promotions Used with permission.
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