So you put them togeather? or just showed them to each other?
Was the male building a bubble nest?
You can train a male to be more agressive.
I use a blue soap stone dolphin to get him to flare and chase it away. Works wonders.... Anything betta fish size and shape will work Paper cut out of a betta.... etc... Makes them feel stronger and more brave when they scare away other fish... Amps up their Agression... It's how they use to train them to "fight"