Fighting for a bigger cause - the Rousey show returns

"She'll text me 20, 30 times every other day around specific fighters, or specific fights, and why this match-up would be great."

Rousey has criticised how much the UFC pays its fighters, saying she wants to help "challenge the monolith" it has become.

In the UFC, under 20% of revenue goes to fighter pay while in boxing, fighters can expect to receive as much as 60% of event revenue.

Bidarian says the minimum payment for every fighter on the card will be $40,000 (£28,800), before performance-based bonuses.

In comparison, the UFC pays about $12,000 (£8,960) to $20,000 (£14,900), plus performance-based bonuses, to its entry-level fighters.

"It's so much more meaningful now because previously it would have just affected our careers but now it's affecting the sport's future," said Rousey.

"It has become bigger than us.

"It's about giving them their power back and reminding people it's about the fighters."

'This will be the biggest fight in the world'

Image caption,

Rousey was paid a reported $3m for her last UFC fight in 2016

Bidarian worked at the UFC during Rousey's historic run from 2013, where she defended her bantamweight title six times before defeat by Holly Holm.

He says during her prime, Rousey had no equal.

"Only two females in history at any moment in time in professional sports have been the biggest male or female in their genre, or in their sport," said Bidarian.

"One is Ronda Rousey, and one is Serena Williams."

Because of this, Bidarian says Rousey is the perfect person to spearhead MVP's debut in the MMA market.

Rousey wants to set a new record for the most viewed MMA fight of all time, aiming for nine million-plus viewers.

That goal is being debated relentlessly, as is Rousey's return. Can she compete again?

With Carano 44 years old and having not competed for 17 years, the competitiveness of the bout has been questioned.

Both fighters have had extra concussion tests with Rousey acknowledging she was forced to retire from the UFC in 2016 because of repeated concussions.

She lost her last two UFC fights via knockout, leaving the octagon a shadow of the fighter people had known.

Rousey has pushed those concerns aside, insisting "it's not like my ovaries are fighting" and describing the contest as the "biggest fight in the world".

"I'm so grateful - not just that this moment is happening - but where and with who," said Rousey.

"This is the best way to be able to end it. It's the ending that it deserves."

Despite Rousey hinting the fight may be the last of her storied career, Bidarian is hoping she kick-starts a new era for MMA.

"This is a test. Let's see how it goes. If it goes well, 1,000% there's going to be more MMA on Netflix," said Bidarian.

"We would introduce our own belts and build out a roster.

"And Ronda has been pretty clear that she wants to be the 'Dana White' of that entity."