Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano to Headline Historic Netflix MMA Event

The two trailblazers of women's MMA will clash in a long-anticipated showdown on May 16 at Intuit Dome.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Nearly a decade after retiring from mixed martial arts, former UFC champion Ronda Rousey is returning to the cage for a highly anticipated showdown with fellow pioneer Gina Carano. The bout, promoted by Most Valuable Promotions, will stream live on Netflix on May 16, marking the platform's first live professional MMA event.

Why it matters

Rousey and Carano were instrumental in bringing visibility and legitimacy to women's MMA. Their fight is seen as a defining moment for the sport, as well as Netflix's expansion into live combat sports programming.

The details

The five-round main event will be contested at 145 pounds under the Unified Rules of MMA, with five-minute rounds and 4-ounce gloves inside a hexagon cage. A kickoff press conference is set for March 5, with additional bouts to be announced.

  • The fight is scheduled for May 16, 2026.
  • The kickoff press conference will be held on March 5, 2026.

The players

Ronda Rousey

A former UFC women's bantamweight champion and the first woman inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. She is returning to MMA after a decade-long hiatus.

Gina Carano

A pioneer of women's MMA who helped bring visibility to the sport before Rousey's rise. She has a 7-1 professional record and has since transitioned to a successful acting career.

Most Valuable Promotions

The company founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian that is promoting the Rousey vs. Carano fight, marking their first foray into MMA after promoting several high-profile boxing events.

Netflix

The streaming platform that will host the live broadcast of the Rousey vs. Carano fight, marking its first venture into live professional MMA programming.

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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 (Statement)

“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 (Statement)

What’s next

Tickets for Rousey vs. Carano will go on sale on Thursday, March 5 via Ticketmaster. Fans can also tune in as Rousey and Carano meet face-to-face at the Rousey vs. Carano Kickoff Press Conference on Thursday, March 5 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

The takeaway

The highly anticipated Rousey vs. Carano fight represents a landmark moment for women's MMA, as two of the sport's most influential pioneers come together for a historic showdown that will be broadcast live on the world's largest streaming platform, Netflix.