Combat sports fans, this is not a drill: Ronda Rousey is officially back.
Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) have announced a blockbuster mixed martial arts event headlined by the long-awaited return of former UFC champion and Olympic medalist Ronda Rousey. She’ll step into the cage for the first time in nearly a decade to face fellow women’s MMA trailblazer Gina Carano.
The historic showdown takes place May 16 and marks two major firsts: Netflix’s debut live MMA broadcast and MVP’s inaugural MMA event. Even bigger? The entire card will stream live, globally, at no additional cost to Netflix subscribers.
The fight will be held inside a hexagon cage at Intuit Dome, promising a spectacle that blends legacy, rivalry, and mainstream star power.
“After the record-breaking success in boxing, we wanted our first MMA event to be truly legendary,” said Netflix VP of Sports Gabe Spitzer. “These are generational stars, and having them headline our MMA debut is a defining moment for us.”
How to Watch Rousey vs. Carano
What Weight Class Will They Fight In?
Rousey vs. Carano will be contested at featherweight (145 pounds).
Have Rousey and Carano Fought Before?
No — and that’s part of what makes this so special.
Rousey dominated women’s MMA from 2011 to 2016, redefining what was possible for female fighters. An Olympic judo medalist, she became known for lightning-fast finishes, a historic UFC title run, and later helping launch the WWE women’s division into the WrestleMania main event spotlight. Beyond the cage, she’s also a New York Times bestselling author and film star.
“Been waiting so long to announce this,” Rousey said. “Me and Gina Carano are gonna throw down in the biggest superfight in women’s combat sport history. This is for all MMA fans past, present, and future.”
Carano, often called the Face of Women’s MMA, was one of the sport’s earliest crossover stars. From 2006 to 2009, she became a mainstream sensation — long before women were even allowed to compete in the UFC. Her popularity helped bring women’s MMA to the masses, and she later transitioned into Hollywood, appearing in Haywire, Fast & Furious 6, Deadpool, and The Mandalorian.
“Ronda came to me and said there is only one person she would make a comeback for,” Carano said. “It’s been her dream to make this fight happen between us.”
Though fans dreamed about this matchup for years, it never became official — until now.
Fight Format & Rules
MMA allows fighters to strike, grapple, clinch, and take the fight to the ground — combining techniques from boxing, wrestling, judo, jiu-jitsu, and more.
How to Get Tickets
Tickets go on sale Thursday, March 5 via Ticketmaster.
Fans can also attend the official Rousey vs. Carano Kickoff Press Conference that same day at Intuit Dome.
This isn’t just a fight — it’s a moment. Two icons. One cage. And the biggest women’s MMA event in history.
Frank
