Rousey Tried to Bring Carano Fight to UFC, But It 'Didn't Exactly Work Out'

The two MMA stars will face off in a highly anticipated bout, but not under the UFC banner.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Ronda Rousey revealed that she approached UFC CEO Dana White about setting up a fight between herself and Gina Carano, but the promotion ultimately did not get involved. Rousey said she thought the fight was something Carano 'needs' and that she herself 'needs this fight.' However, Rousey said the plan 'didn't exactly work out' with the UFC for unspecified reasons.

Why it matters

The Rousey-Carano matchup is one of the most anticipated fights in women's MMA history, pitting two of the sport's biggest stars against each other. The fact that it will not take place under the UFC banner is notable, as the promotion has typically been the home for the top fights in the sport.

The details

Rousey said she reached out to UFC president Dana White to see if the promotion would be interested in promoting the fight, but White declined to get involved. White has previously expressed reluctance about booking fights involving older fighters who are past their prime, which may have played a role in the UFC's decision not to be a part of this event.

  • The Rousey-Carano fight is scheduled for May 16, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

The players

Ronda Rousey

A former UFC women's bantamweight champion and one of the biggest stars in the history of women's MMA.

Gina Carano

A former MMA fighter and actress who was one of the first women to gain mainstream popularity in the sport.

Dana White

The president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the premier MMA promotion in the world.

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What they’re saying

“I always said that Gina is the one person I'd come back to fight for. I thought, 'She needs this. She needs this fight.' The more that I thought about it, I thought, 'I need this. I need this fight.' I reached out to Dana and asked him if he would be interested in it and it didn't exactly work out with the UFC.”

— Ronda Rousey (ESPN)

The takeaway

The decision by Rousey and Carano to book this fight outside of the UFC is a notable development, as the promotion has typically been the home for the biggest fights in women's MMA. It remains to be seen if the fight will be able to generate the same level of interest and attention without the UFC's promotional power behind it.