Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano to Face Off in Netflix's First Live MMA Fight

The two MMA legends will compete in a featherweight bout for the streamer's inaugural live event.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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UFC champion and Olympic medalist Ronda Rousey and combat sports trailblazer Gina Carano are set to face off in a featherweight bout for Netflix's first-ever live MMA broadcast. The fight, which marks Rousey's return to MMA after nearly a decade and Carano's first fight in 16 years, will take place on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

Why it matters

This highly anticipated matchup between two of the biggest names in women's MMA history is a landmark event for the sport, as it brings together two pioneering figures who have both found success in combat sports and Hollywood. The fight will also be Netflix's first foray into live sports broadcasting, signaling the streamer's ambitions to expand its content offerings.

The details

The fight will be a five-round featherweight bout with 4-ounce gloves. Rousey, the former UFC Bantamweight Champion, holds a 12-2 record with 9 submissions and 3 KOs, while Carano, a combat sports trailblazer, has a 7-1 record with 1 submission and 3 KOs. The event is a collaboration between Netflix and Most Valuable Productions, the company founded by boxer and influencer Jake Paul.

  • The fight will take place on May 16, 2026 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
  • Rousey and Carano will meet face-to-face in a press conference on March 5, 2026, hosted by combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani.

The players

Ronda Rousey

A former UFC champion and Olympic medalist in judo, Rousey is considered one of the pioneers of women's MMA. She has a 12-2 record with 9 submissions and 3 KOs, and is making a comeback to the sport after nearly a decade.

Gina Carano

A combat sports trailblazer, Carano was dubbed the 'Face of Women's MMA' and headlined the first major MMA event featuring two women in the main event. She has a 7-1 record with 1 submission and 3 KOs, and is returning to the sport after a 16-year hiatus.

Jake Paul

A boxer and influencer, Paul founded Most Valuable Productions, the company collaborating with Netflix to bring this MMA fight to the streaming platform.

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What they’re saying

“Been waiting so long to announce this: Me and Gina Carano are gonna throw down in the biggest super fight in women's combat sport history! And we're partnering with the fighter-first promotion MVP as well as the biggest and baddest streamer on the planet, Netflix. This is for all MMA fans past, present and future. More to come... much more.”

— Ronda Rousey (X)

“Ronda came to me and said there is only one person she would make a comeback for and it has been her dream to make this fight happen between us. She thanked me for opening up doors for her in her career and was respectful in asking for this fight to happen. This is an honor. I believe I will walk out of this fight with the win and I anticipate it will not come easy, which I welcome. This is as much for Ronda and me as it is for the fans and mixed martial arts community. What a time to be alive.”

— Gina Carano (X)

“Surreal moment. I started taking judo because of Ronda Rousey. Now I get to work with her and Gina Carano to bring MMA to Netflix. Here we go...”

— Jake Paul, Boxer and Influencer (X)

What’s next

Tickets for the event will go on sale on March 5, 2026 at Ticketmaster.com, and fans can sign up for presale access at www.rouseycarano.com. The event will also feature the return of MVP's exclusive VIP experiences, including the MVP Owner's Experience.

The takeaway

This highly anticipated matchup between two of the biggest names in women's MMA history is a landmark event for the sport, as it brings together two pioneering figures who have both found success in combat sports and Hollywood. The fight also marks Netflix's first foray into live sports broadcasting, signaling the streamer's ambitions to expand its content offerings and reach new audiences.