A New Chapter in the Feud Between Jake Paul’s Partner and Skye Nicolson
The powerful business partner of Jake Paul, Nakisa Bidarian, has extended a gesture of goodwill to Australian boxer Skye Nicolson, potentially signaling an end to their ongoing public feud. Bidarian, who co-founded combat sports business Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) alongside YouTube star turned fighter Paul in 2021, has expressed openness to featuring Nicolson on an MVP card in the future, possibly even in Australia.
His comments to Wide World of Sports on Tuesday come two weeks after the popular Queensland pugilist took another jab at the man who first publicly criticized her last year.
The History of the Feud
Bidarian and Nicolson have been exchanging public barbs since he accused her of avoiding a fight with MVP-backed British boxer Ellie Scotney, which the Aussie denied. Bidarian also called Nicolson “embarrassing” over allegations she failed to make weight for a fight, which she also said was not true.
Before defeating Mariah Turner in Melbourne last month to retain her WBC interim world super bantamweight title, Nicolson said MVP “need me” and urged Bidarian to put their feud aside so she could cash in on the lucrative female fights being promoted by him and Paul.
Now, the Canadian promoter says he is open to working with Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn to get a fight organised for the 30-year-old on a future MVP card. But he couldn’t resist having one more pop at the likeable Aussie.
“One, I appreciate Skye mentioning my name, but if you’re mentioning my name for a promotion then the promotion’s not going to go very well, because I’m not very relevant or viral,” Bidarian told WWOS.
“But two, I have respect for Skye and what she’s accomplished and the way she’s built her platform, and we would definitely be open to working with her, absolutely.”
Expanding MVP’s Reach in Australia
Hearn’s Matchroom promotions organised last month’s card in Melbourne, and the England-based company is increasing its presence Down Under. Bidarian, whose wife is from Adelaide, says MVP wants to host an event in Australia at some stage and is interested in working alongside Hearn to get it organised.
“We would love to do an event in Australia,” he said.
“Funnily enough, to Eddie Hearn’s credit he has come to me and said mate, let’s co-promote an event in Australia. We have Skye, you have Sugar Neeks (Cherneka Johnson), etcetera.
“We definitely want to do it, it has to be the right opportunity at the right time. I think Jake (Paul) would love to do an event out there and fight there as well.
“Australia is very close to my heart and I always say it’s the best sports market in the world, bar none.”
MVP already has Australian boxers Cherneka ‘Sugar Neeks’ Johnson, Ebanie Bridges, and Desley Robinson in its growing stable of athletes. While Nicolson hasn’t suggested she plans on quitting Matchroom to jump ship, she is hoping to at least fight on MVP cards which are offering the biggest purses ever seen in women’s boxing.
Future Prospects for Women’s Boxing
Last year Gold Coast star Johnson became undisputed world bantamweight champion, while former world champ Bridges is yet to fight for MVP after giving birth to her first child. Johnson is poised to defend her belts against Dina Thorslund later this year, but Bidarian wants to bring the four-belt champion to Australia to headline an event before too long.
For now, MVP is ramping up preparations for this weekend’s MMA event where fight legend Ronda Rousey is making a comeback to take on Gina Carano. The event will be streamed on Netflix and is expected to attract millions of viewers.
