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Andreas Hale
Multiple Authors
Former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is set to return to mixed martial arts after nearly a decade when she faces fellow trailblazer Gina Carano on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, as confirmed by Most Valuable Promotions to ESPN.
This highly anticipated matchup between two MMA legends will headline the inaugural professional MMA event organized by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions and will be streamed live on Netflix.
Rousey and Carano will compete at a weight of 145 pounds, with the fight being officially sanctioned under the Unified Rules of MMA. It will consist of five, 5-minute rounds using 4-ounce gloves, taking place within a hexagon cage.
“I’ve been eager to announce this: Gina Carano and I are set to engage in the biggest super fight in the history of women’s combat sports!” Rousey expressed in a statement to ESPN. “We’re teaming up with MVP, a promotion that puts fighters first, as well as Netflix, the biggest streamer out there. This is for all MMA enthusiasts, both past and present. Stay tuned… a lot more is coming.”
Rousey (12-2) made history as the first American woman to earn an Olympic medal in judo in 2008 and was the UFC’s first female fighter after a successful tenure in Strikeforce, where she held the last women’s bantamweight title. She disrupted the sport upon her UFC debut in 2013, becoming the inaugural UFC women’s bantamweight champion and still holds the record for the most consecutive title defenses at six.
At 39, Rousey quickly found fame and paved the way for women in MMA within the UFC, overwhelmingly defeating opponents with her signature armbar technique between her professional debut in 2011 and her retirement in 2015, finishing 11 of her first 12 bouts in the first round, with three of those in under a minute.
Rousey was dethroned in a shocking upset by Holly Holm in 2015, followed by a knockout loss to Amanda Nunes in 2016, which marked her last fight in MMA. She subsequently retired from MMA and achieved success in WWE from 2018 to 2022, becoming a three-time world champion. also, she is a New York Times bestselling author and has appeared in the “Fast & Furious” and “Expendables” franchises. Rousey was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018.
“Ronda Rousey is a unique athlete,” said Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions to ESPN. “What other female has managed to sell over 50,000 tickets to an event and generated millions through pay-per-views? She transcends combat sports, embodying what every aspiring athlete dreams to achieve. Her matchup with Gina Carano is a perfect blend to captivate audiences and deliver an unforgettable global MMA event.”
Carano (7-1) is widely hailed as a pioneer in women’s MMA, enhancing visibility for female competitors between 2006 and 2009. She faced Cris Cyborg for the inaugural Strikeforce women’s 145-pound title in 2009, ending her MMA career with a TKO loss.
After retiring, Carano, now 43, transitioned into acting, featuring in films like “Haywire,” “Fast & Furious 6,” and “Deadpool,” as well as the series “The Mandalorian.” She has long hinted at a comeback to MMA and will return from her 17-year hiatus for this dream matchup.
“Ronda approached me and expressed that there’s only one person she’d return for, and this fight has been her dream,” Carano stated. “She graciously acknowledged my contributions in opening doors for her career and respectfully requested this matchup. It’s an honor for me. I anticipate this fight will be challenging, which I’m ready for. This is just as much for Ronda and me as it is for the fans and the MMA community. What an incredible time to be alive.”
The Rousey vs. Carano bout will kick off with a news conference on March 5 at Intuit Dome. Additional MMA fights will be announced for the card in due course.
“MVP has always focused on innovation and delivering monumental moments in combat sports globally, and today we proudly extend that energy to MMA for the first time,” Paul and Bidarian stated. “Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano are two monumental figures in the history of women’s MMA; they are the icons who broke barriers and laid the groundwork for this sport. MVP’s commitment to women’s boxing succeeded because of Ronda Rousey, who was the biggest star in MMA during her era. Following our boxing partnership’s immense success, we aim to show that MVP and Netflix can create blockbuster live events across various sports that engage fans of all ages. This is our mission.”
