Quick Read
- Gina Carano will return to MMA on May 16, 2026, against Ronda Rousey.
- The superfight will headline Netflix’s first-ever live MMA broadcast.
- The event takes place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles and will be a featherweight (145 pounds) bout.
- Both Carano and Rousey are pioneers of women’s mixed martial arts and have had successful acting careers.
- Tickets for the event go on sale March 5, 2026.
LOS ANGELES (Azat TV) – Mixed martial arts pioneer and actress Gina Carano is set to make a highly anticipated return to the octagon against former UFC Champion Ronda Rousey on May 16, headlining Netflix’s first-ever live MMA broadcast. The historic superfight, announced by Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Netflix, will take place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, marking a significant moment for both women’s combat sports and the streaming giant’s foray into live sports.
The matchup pits two of women’s MMA’s most iconic figures against each other for the first time, a fight that has been years in the making. Both Rousey and Carano expressed mutual respect and excitement for the bout, which will be contested as a featherweight clash at 145 pounds under the Unified Rules of MMA, spanning five five-minute rounds.
Gina Carano’s Return to the Octagon
Gina Carano, often recognized as the “Face of Women’s MMA” before the UFC introduced a women’s division, will step back into professional competition nearly two decades after her initial run. From 2006 to 2009, Carano built a remarkable 7-1 record, becoming one of the first combat sports stars to successfully transition into the entertainment industry. Her acting career includes major roles in films such as Haywire, Fast & Furious 6, and Deadpool, as well as the hit series The Mandalorian. This return marks a pivotal moment for Carano, who headlined the first major MMA main event to feature two women in 2009, a landmark achievement for the sport.
“Ronda came to me and said there is only one person she would make a comeback for, and it’s been her dream to make this fight happen between us,” Carano stated, acknowledging the mutual admiration between the two athletes. She added, “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.”
Ronda Rousey’s Comeback and Netflix’s MMA Debut
Ronda Rousey, a former UFC Bantamweight Champion and Olympic medalist in judo, will also be returning to the cage after nearly a decade away from professional MMA. Rousey (12-2) shattered records and glass ceilings for women’s MMA from 2011 to 2016 before transitioning to a successful career in professional wrestling with WWE and acting in franchises like Fast and the Furious and The Expendables.
“Been waiting so long to announce this,” Rousey told Netflix. “Me and Gina Carano are gonna throw down in the biggest superfight in women’s combat sport history, and we’re partnering with the fighter-first promoter, MVP, as well as the baddest streamer on the planet, Netflix.”
The event signifies Netflix’s ambitious move into live sports broadcasting, following its recent successes in boxing. Gabe Spitzer, Netflix VP of Sports, highlighted the significance of the event: “After the record-breaking success in boxing, we wanted our first MMA event to be truly legendary. These are more than just athletes — they are generational stars, and having them headline our MMA debut at the Intuit Dome is a defining moment for us.”
What to Expect from the Historic Superfight
The highly anticipated fight night on May 16 will be available globally to Netflix subscribers at no additional cost. Tickets for the live event at the Intuit Dome are scheduled to go on sale Thursday, March 5, the same day Rousey and Carano will meet face-to-face at a kickoff press conference in Los Angeles. The bout will utilize 4-ounce gloves, standard for MMA, and will allow techniques from various martial arts disciplines including boxing, jiujitsu, wrestling, karate, and judo.
The clash between Gina Carano and Ronda Rousey not only promises a high-stakes, competitive bout but also represents a powerful convergence of combat sports, entertainment, and streaming technology, potentially setting a new precedent for how major athletic events are delivered to a global audience.