Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey and MMA pioneer Gina Carano are finally set to face each other in what is being billed as one of the biggest women’s MMA events ever. The highly anticipated showdown will headline MVP MMA 1 this Saturday and will take place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. The featherweight bout will be streamed globally on Netflix.
The fight has already created massive buzz across the combat sports world, mainly because both stars are making long-awaited returns to the cage. Rousey has not competed in MMA for nearly a decade since her UFC exit, while Carano is stepping back into action for the first time in 17 years after becoming one of the earliest mainstream faces of women’s MMA.
With both fighters returning after lengthy absences, fans are eagerly wondering what version of Rousey and Carano will show up on fight night. Despite the uncertainty, the matchup carries huge nostalgic value and marks a landmark moment for women’s combat sports, bringing together two of the biggest names who helped WMMA reach global popularity.
Ronda Rousey And Gina Carano Eye History-Making Showdown
Rousey, who became the UFC’s first female signing in 2012, said their bout will establish a new pay threshold for female fighters. Taking a swipe at UFC fighter pay while also responding to bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison, she said, “The biggest money fight is the biggest fight period. And we [Harrison] honestly have very different definitions of greatness. Mine is making history, making a cultural impact and influencing the future of the sport.”
Returning for her first bout since retiring after losing her last title fight to Amanda Nunes in 2016, the former UFC superstar said, “I’ve already won a record eight consecutive title fights, there’s nothing left for me to do in UFC. So now me and Gina are smashing the record for the most women have been paid in combat sports.” But the conversation didn’t stop there.
RONDA ROUSEY vs. GINA CARANO FACE OFF
Saturday May 16
LIVE only on Netflix#RouseyCarano pic.twitter.com/8na25MZzlP— Netflix (@netflix) April 15, 2026
Respect Fuels The Ronda Rousey–Gina Carano Clash
Ronda Rousey has for probably the first time in her career admitted that she does not feel the pressure to win to justify the sacrifice behind a fight camp. Gina Carano, the woman who stands opposite her is a big reason for that attitude.
“If anyone can steal my happiness and walk around with it, I’d be it’d be Gina,” Rousey said. “I’d be happy I could finally give back to her. Because everything I have in my life is because she inspired me while sitting on the couch one day.”
Despite it being a huge fight, the respect was still the main thing. Rousey remarked about Carano that “I feel like, however this goes, if she takes me out and puts me down on the canvas, I think that she’s going to be the first person to help me up.” If I bring her down to the mat and make her tap, I will be the first to help her get up. We can give each other our best without needing to hate each other.
