Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano Set for MMA Return in Netflix Superfight

Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey will return to mixed martial arts to face fellow trailblazer Gina Carano on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The bout, confirmed by Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), will headline the first professional MMA event promoted by Jake Paul’s MVP and will be streamed live on Netflix ESPN.

A Historic Matchup

The highly anticipated showdown between Rousey and Carano represents a significant moment in women’s combat sports. Rousey, 39, and Carano, 43, will compete at a catchweight of 145 pounds, with the fight sanctioned under the Unified Rules of MMA and contested over five 5-minute rounds using 4-ounce gloves inside a hexagon cage The Athletic.

“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!” Rousey stated ESPN.

Rousey’s Journey Back to the Cage

Rousey’s career has taken several turns since her departure from the UFC in 2016. She became the first woman inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018 and transitioned to professional wrestling, achieving three-time WWE champion status from 2018 to 2022 ESPN. She too appeared in the action film Mile 22 and gave birth to her first daughter in 2021 The Athletic. Rousey left WWE in late 2023, citing the demanding travel schedule as unsustainable.

Carano’s Pioneering Career

Carano retired from MMA in 2009, following a loss to Cris Cyborg, but remains a pivotal figure in the sport’s history. She paved the way for women in MMA, competing before Rousey’s arrival in the UFC.

MVP and Netflix Enter MMA

This event marks Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions’ first venture into MMA, building on their success in boxing, which includes 30 live events since its founding in August 2021, including a high-profile bout between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson streamed on Netflix in November 2024 The Athletic. The Rousey-Carano fight will also be Netflix’s inaugural MMA event, expanding the streaming platform’s sports offerings.

Rousey’s Record and Past Challenges

Ronda Rousey holds a professional MMA record of 12-2. She enjoyed a five-year unbeaten streak before losing her UFC bantamweight title to Holly Holm in a stunning upset in 2015. A subsequent knockout loss to Amanda Nunes in 2016 led to her initial retirement from the sport.