Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano to Face Off in MMA Bout

The two MMA legends will compete in a sanctioned fight at Intuit Dome in May, streamed live on Netflix.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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Gina Carano, a trailblazer in women's MMA, and Ronda Rousey, the first female UFC fighter and bantamweight champion, will come out of retirement to face off in a sanctioned MMA bout on May 16 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The fight will be the first live MMA event streamed on Netflix and promoted by Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions.

Why it matters

This highly anticipated matchup between two of the most influential figures in women's MMA history is a landmark event that will bring renewed attention to the sport and its pioneers. The fight also marks Netflix's first foray into live MMA streaming, potentially opening up a new avenue for the platform to expand its sports content offerings.

The details

Carano and Rousey will compete in a featherweight bout under the Unified Rules of MMA, with five 5-minute rounds. Both fighters will use 4-ounce gloves and compete inside a hexagon cage. Carano, who last fought professionally in 2009, and Rousey, whose final MMA fight was in 2016, are both making comebacks for this highly anticipated matchup.

  • The fight will take place on May 16, 2026.
  • Tickets for the event will go on sale on March 5, 2026.

The players

Gina Carano

A trailblazer in women's mixed martial arts, Carano's final professional fight was in 2009, four years before women began competing in UFC.

Ronda Rousey

UFC's first female fighter, its first women's bantamweight champion, and the first woman inducted into its Hall of Fame. Her final professional MMA fight was in 2016.

Jake Paul

The influencer-turned-boxer founded Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), which will promote the Carano-Rousey bout, and has produced 30 live boxing events since 2021.

Nakisa Bidarian

The former UFC executive co-founded Most Valuable Promotions with Jake Paul.

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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! This is for all MMA fans past, present and future.”

— Ronda Rousey (latimes.com)

“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.”

— Gina Carano (latimes.com)

“MVP has always been driven by disruption and delivering the biggest moments in combat sports on a global scale, and today we are officially bringing that energy to MMA for the first time.”

— Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, Co-founders, Most Valuable Promotions (latimes.com)

What’s next

Tickets for the Carano-Rousey fight will go on sale on March 5, 2026.

The takeaway

This highly anticipated matchup between two of the most influential figures in women's MMA history is a landmark event that will bring renewed attention to the sport and its pioneers, while also marking Netflix's first foray into live MMA streaming.