Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano to face off in highly anticipated MMA comeback fight

The two MMA pioneers will return from retirement for a five-round main event bout on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Former UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and pioneering MMA star Gina Carano are set to face off in a highly anticipated comeback fight on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The two women, who were instrumental in the early growth of women's MMA, have not competed in the sport for nearly a decade, with Rousey last fighting in 2016 and Carano's last bout coming in 2009. Despite their long absences, the fighters say this is the biggest fight that can be made in the sport currently.

Why it matters

Rousey and Carano were two of the most recognizable figures in the early days of women's MMA, with Carano becoming the sport's first mainstream star and Rousey later singlehandedly convincing the UFC to create women's divisions. Their long-awaited showdown represents a clash between two MMA pioneers and a chance for the sport to revisit its formative years.

The details

The bout will be a five-round main event fight promoted by YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions company. Rousey was initially interested in making her comeback with the UFC, but turned down the promotion's financial offer, saying the UFC's "corporate overlords have strangled fighter pay." Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou will also appear on the card, facing 40-year-old Philipe Lins.

  • Rousey and Carano will face off on May 16, 2026.
  • Carano has not competed in MMA since 2009.
  • Rousey last fought in 2016 before retiring to pursue entertainment opportunities.

The players

Ronda Rousey

A former UFC women's bantamweight champion who was instrumental in the growth of women's MMA, helping convince the UFC to create women's divisions.

Gina Carano

A pioneering MMA fighter who became the sport's first mainstream star in the 2000s before transitioning to an entertainment career.

Jake Paul

A YouTuber-turned-boxer who is promoting the Rousey-Carano fight through his Most Valuable Promotions company and hopes to promote more MMA events in the future.

Francis Ngannou

A former UFC heavyweight champion who will also appear on the Rousey-Carano fight card, facing Philipe Lins.

Dana White

The president of the UFC, who Rousey criticized for the promotion's financial offer being much smaller than what she is getting for this fight.

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What they’re saying

“This is the biggest fight in MMA right now. There are no two people in this sport with more international name recognition than me and Gina — except Conor (McGregor), but no one is going to sanction that.”

— Ronda Rousey (sfgate.com)

“We only get to live once, and this makes me feel so alive.”

— Gina Carano (sfgate.com)

“Now it's become about changing the entire landscape of the sport and challenging the monolith that the UFC has become.”

— Ronda Rousey (sfgate.com)

What’s next

The bout between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano is scheduled for five five-minute rounds on May 16, 2026 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

The takeaway

The highly anticipated comeback fight between MMA pioneers Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano represents a clash between two of the sport's most recognizable figures and a chance to revisit the formative years of women's MMA. The bout also highlights tensions between fighters and the UFC over compensation, as Rousey turned down the promotion's offer in favor of a more lucrative deal with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul's promotion.