TLDR
- Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano will fight May 16, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, streaming on Netflix
- The featherweight bout will be five five-minute rounds, marking Rousey’s first fight since 2016
- Carano has not competed since 2009 and holds a 7-1 professional record
- Most Valuable Promotions is entering MMA for the first time as the event promoter
- Tickets go on sale March 5 with a press conference scheduled the same day
Sources: MMA Mania | MMA Fighting | ESPN | Bleacher Report
Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano will face each other in a mixed martial arts bout on May 16, 2026, at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. The fight will stream exclusively on Netflix and marks the first time the two pioneers of women’s MMA will meet inside the cage.
Most Valuable Promotions announced the matchup on Tuesday. The bout will take place at featherweight (145 pounds) and will be contested over five five-minute rounds inside a hexagon cage.
“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 said in a statement. “And we’re partnering with the fighter-first promotion MVP as well as the biggest and baddest streamer on the planet Netflix.”
Carano revealed that Rousey personally approached her about the fight. “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,” Carano said.
Long Layoffs for Both Fighters
Rousey, 39, last competed in late 2016 when she suffered back-to-back knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes. The former UFC bantamweight champion holds a professional record of 12-2 and spent several years in WWE following her MMA retirement.
Carano, 43, has been out of action even longer. Her last fight was a technical knockout loss to Cris Cyborg under the Strikeforce banner in August 2009. That defeat remains Carano’s only professional loss, as she holds a 7-1 record.
“She thanked me for opening up doors for her in her career and was respectful in asking for this fight to happen,” Carano said of Rousey’s request. “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.”
Recent training videos posted by Carano had sparked speculation about a possible return to competition. Those rumors have now been confirmed with the official announcement.
MVP Enters MMA Promotion
The event marks Most Valuable Promotions’ first venture into MMA after establishing itself in boxing. Co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian emphasized the historical importance of both fighters.
“Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano are the two most formative figures in the history of women’s MMA; they are the icons who shattered the glass ceiling and helped build the foundation this sport stands on,” Paul and Bidarian said in a joint statement. “MVP’s conviction in women’s boxing was driven by the success achieved by Ronda Rousey, who was the biggest star of the entire sport of MMA during her career.”
The promoters also highlighted their partnership with Netflix. “Following the unprecedented success of our boxing partnership, we are proving that MVP and Netflix can create blockbuster live events in multiple sports that engage fans across generations,” they said.
Tickets for the event will go on sale March 5 through Ticketmaster.com. A press conference in Los Angeles is also scheduled for March 5 to begin promoting the fight.
Carano acknowledged the significance for MMA fans. “This is as much for Ronda and me as it is for the fans and mixed martial arts community,” she said. “What a time to be alive.”
The undercard for the Rousey vs. Carano event is expected to be announced in the coming days.
