Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano are poised to make their returns to MMA later this month. More than a combined 25 years after their retirements, the two women’s MMA pioneers are set to meet Saturday, May 16, at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. Their fight will headline the first-ever MMA event to be broadcast live on Netflix.
The event features an 11-fight card staged by Jake Paul’s promotional entity, Most Valuable Promotions.
Rousey vs. Carano Fight Details
Rousey vs. Carano will be contested at 145 pounds over five five-minute rounds. MMA’s customary four-ounce gloves will be used. The entire event begins at 6 p.m. ET on Netflix with a five-fight preliminary card, followed by a six-fight main card beginning at 9 p.m. ET.
Rousey recently opened as a sizable betting favourite (-650) to win the fight at BetMGM sportsbooks, with Carano opening as a +450 heavy underdog.
Other Fighters on the Card
In addition to Rousey vs. Carano, the lineup includes several big names from the MMA world. Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou (18-3) is returning against ex-UFC contender Philipe Lins (18-5). Combat sports superstar Nate Diaz (21-13) is facing off against BKFC standout and fellow UFC veteran Mike Perry (14-8).
Ronda Rousey’s Impact on MMA
Rousey, 39, is one of the biggest draws and most influential athletes in MMA history. An Olympic medalist in judo, she played an integral role in UFC CEO Dana White opening the doors for women to compete in the UFC. After capturing the Strikeforce women’s bantamweight title in 2012, Rousey (12-2) then defended it six consecutive times in the UFC from 2013-15.
Rousey’s reign ended with back-to-back knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes, in 2015 and 2016 respectively. She then retired from MMA and transitioned into professional wrestling with the WWE. Rousey ultimately became the first women to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018.
Carano’s Career Before and After MMA
Carano, 43, was the biggest star in women’s MMA history prior to Rousey’s arrival. In 2007, she and Julie Kedzie competed in the first-ever women’s fight televised on Showtime. Two years later, Carano (7-1) made history again when she and Cris Cyborg became the first women to headline a major MMA event with their Strikeforce featherweight championship bout.
Carano retired from MMA following that bout and transitioned into acting, securing roles in numerous film franchises such as Fast & Furious, Deadpool and Star Wars. In a revealing conversation with Uncrowned, Carano opened up about her controversial departure from the Star Wars franchise ahead of the Rousey fight.
“I had so much anxiety in my body that my face hurt, my skin hurt me,” she told “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “I don’t know if anybody’s had that — it hurt so bad. My soul was just crushed. My heart was broken.”
The historic lineup is buoyed by several big names from the MMA world.