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Ronda Rousey's Comeback Fight with Gina Carano Lands on Netflix
Former UFC stars to headline MMA event promoted by Jake Paul's company
Mar. 10, 2026 at 9:19pm
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Ronda Rousey revealed that her highly anticipated comeback fight against Gina Carano was first offered to the UFC, but the deal ultimately fell through. The fight will now headline an MMA event promoted by Jake Paul and Nikisa Bidarian's Most Valuable Promotions and stream live on Netflix, marking the platform's first MMA broadcast.
Why it matters
Rousey and Carano are two of the most recognizable figures in women's mixed martial arts, and their long-awaited matchup has been highly anticipated by fans. The fight's move to Netflix also represents a significant milestone for the streaming platform as it expands into live sports programming.
The details
According to Rousey, the original plan was to stage the fight under the UFC banner around New Year's Eve under the promotion's traditional pay-per-view structure. However, when Carano asked for additional time to prepare, the timeline shifted, and the deal with the UFC fell apart. Rousey then began exploring other options, ultimately landing on a partnership with Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix.
- The fight is scheduled for May 16, 2026 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
- The fight was originally discussed to take place around New Year's Eve under the UFC's pay-per-view model.
The players
Ronda Rousey
A former UFC women's bantamweight champion and one of the most recognizable figures in women's mixed martial arts.
Gina Carano
A former MMA fighter and actress, also considered one of the most recognizable figures in women's mixed martial arts.
Dana White
The president of the UFC.
Jake Paul
A co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, the company promoting the Rousey-Carano fight.
Nikisa Bidarian
A co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, the company promoting the Rousey-Carano fight.
What they’re saying
“I wanted to bring this to him first. I said, 'I know I can do this on my own, but I would rather fight for you than to fight for me. Just make it make sense for me.'”
— Ronda Rousey
“Originally we were going to do a New Year's, and it was going to be the last fight under the pay-per-view model.”
— Ronda Rousey
“Once they moved into the streaming model, it's just not about putting on the best fights possible anymore.”
— Ronda Rousey
What’s next
The fight between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano is scheduled to take place on May 16, 2026 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
The takeaway
This high-profile matchup between two of the most recognizable figures in women's MMA represents a significant milestone for the sport, as well as for Netflix's foray into live sports programming. The fight's move from the UFC to an independent promotion also highlights the evolving landscape of combat sports distribution and the increasing influence of new media platforms.
