Ronda Rousey returns from retirement to fight Gina Carano in Netflix's MMA debut. Both fighters are influential figures in women's MMA history, with Rousey being the first women's bantamweight champion and Carano a pioneer of the sport.
Key points
Ronda Rousey returns from a decade-long retirement
Gina Carano is considered a pioneer of women's MMA
The fight marks Netflix's debut in MMA events
Rousey was the first women's bantamweight champion
Both fighters are influential figures in women's combat sports
Ronda Rousey is back. At the height of her popularity, Rousey rivaled Conor McGregor as UFC's biggest superstar. The former women's UFC bantamweight champion ends her decade-long retirement against Gina Carano in Netflix's MMA debut.
Saturday's headliners are two of the most influential women's fighters of all time. Rousey's rise was unlike anything the sport had seen. The inaugural women's bantamweight champion stopped her first 12 opponents, all but one of whom faltered in Round 1. The Olympian parlayed her stardom into Hollywood blockbusters and a main event WWE run. She raised the bar for women in combat, but another woman laid that foundation.
Carano is widely considered the pioneer of women's MMA. The Strikeforce and Elite XC alum brought new eyes to women's MMA. She rode that popularity to an inaugural Strikeforce women's featherweight title fight. Carano faltered to Cyborg, one of the most dominant fighters of any gender, before retiring.
Rousey and Carano haven't fought in 10 and 17 years, respectively. They return in a long-lost dream match in Los Angeles.
Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions is behind Netflix's foray into MMA. They've assembled arguably the most impressive non-UFC card in a decade. Nate Diaz and Mike Perry, two of the most popular active fighters on the free market, duke it out in a welterweight co-main event. Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou will fight Philipe Lins on the card.
Other notable names competing are former UFC champion Junior dos Santos, former Bellator welterweight champion Jason Jackson and former ONE Championship flyweight titleholder Adriano Moraes.
Below is the complete fight card for MVP MMA, along with the latest odds. Check back all week long for the latest news, features and other content around this massive event.
MVP MMA fight card, odds
Ronda Rousey -535 vs. Gina Carano +400, women's featherweights
Mike Perry -218 vs. Nate Diaz +180, welterweights
Francis Ngannou -1450 vs. Philipe Lins +850, heavyweights
Salahdine Parnasse -1100 vs. Kenneth Cross +700, lightweights
Robelis Despaigne -500 vs. Junior dos Santos +380, heavyweights
Q&A
When is the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano fight scheduled?
The fight is scheduled for Saturday, May 12, 2026.
What is the significance of Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano in MMA?
Ronda Rousey is the first women's bantamweight champion, while Gina Carano is considered a pioneer of women's MMA, helping to popularize the sport.
What can fans expect from Netflix's MMA debut featuring Rousey and Carano?
Fans can expect a highly anticipated matchup that showcases the return of Rousey and the historical impact of both fighters in women's MMA.
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