Ronda Rousey will face Gina Carano in a highly anticipated MMA match on May 16 at the Intuit Dome. This event marks Rousey's return to the cage after a hiatus following her UFC career.
After some time away, two trailblazers return to the cage to face off in a dream match on May 16. Ronda Rousey takes on Gina Carano inside the Intuit Dome.
Rousey (12-2) was the first UFC women's bantamweight champion. “Rowdy” Ronda brought women’s MMA to new heights and was an intimidating figure. However, following two brutal losses against Holly Holm (2015) and Amanda Nunes (2016), Rousey called it a career.
The former Strikeforce champion competed in WWE and appeared in movies during her time away. Now, Rousey is ready to make a statement in what could be a massive event for MMA.
“This is a chance for me to rewrite my ending,” Rousey told ESPN.
Another pioneer, Carano (7-1) fought Julie Kedzie in what was the first female televised fight on Showtime. Her last fight was in 2009, losing against another legend, Cris Cyborg, for the Strikeforce featherweight title.
Q&A
What is the date of the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano fight?
The fight is scheduled for May 16.
Where will the Rousey vs. Carano match take place?
The match will take place at the Intuit Dome.
What is Ronda Rousey's MMA record before this fight?
Ronda Rousey's MMA record stands at 12 wins and 2 losses.
What has Ronda Rousey done since her last MMA fight?
Since her last MMA fight, Ronda Rousey competed in WWE and appeared in movies.
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Carano has since appeared in movies and TV shows, though she was never officially retired. After all these years away, a healthy and motivated Carano is ready to make an impact in the cage once again.
“I’m coming from prediabetic, just in horrific condition, to becoming an athlete again,” Carano told The Hollywood Reporter. “And to do that in a year and a half — there’s just been so many different levels of it… I’m taking that opportunity. It’s been truly one of the hardest but healthiest things I’ve ever done for myself.”
Several decorated fighters, including a former UFC heavyweight champion and a former ONE FC champion, compete on the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano undercard.
Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano undercard
Here's a breakdown of all the action on the Rousey vs. Carano card.
Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins
Division/Weight: Heavyweight
Ngannourecord: 18-3
Lins record: 18-5
Belts at stake: N/A
One of the co-features will see Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins.
Ngannou (18-3) is a former UFC heavyweight champion. “The Predator” exited the UFC in 2023 following contract disputes, leaving the company as the lineal UFC heavyweight champion. Known for his devastating power, Ngannou competed in one fight for the PFL in 2024, and has fought in two boxing bouts.
Lins (18-5) won the 2018 PFL heavyweight tournament. He won four straight in the UFC before being let go, his last fight being in March 2024. Lins has nine wins via knockout.
Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry
Division/Weight: Welterweight
Diaz record: 21-13
Perry record: 14-8
Belts at stake: N/A
Another co-feature will see Nate Diaz take on Mike Perry in a battle of two durable fighters.
The winner of The Ultimate Fighter 5 lightweight tournament, Diaz (21-13) went 1-1 against Conor McGregor in two massive fights. He last competed in MMA in 2022 and has since dipped his toes in boxing, fighting Jake Paul and Jorge Masvial.
Perry (14-8, MMA, 6-0 BK) has become the face of Bare Knuckle FC after leaving the UFC on a two-fight losing streak. “Platinum” has eleven wins via knockout and has also competed in several boxing bouts.
Salahdine Parnasse vs. Kenneth Cross
Division/Weight: Lightweight
Parnasse record: 22-2
Cross record: 17-4
Belts at stake: N/A
Salahdine Parnasse faces Kenneth Cross.
Parnasse (22-2) started training in MMA at 11. The French fighter held gold in two weight divisions while with KSW. He has seven wins via knockout and seven via submission.
A wrestler at 14, Kross (17-4) competed on Dana White's Contender Series and has taken on all comers across various promotions. “The Boss” has eight wins via the power punch.
Junior dos Santos vs. Robelis Despaigne
Division/Weight: Heavyweight
dos Santos record: 23-10
Despaigne record: 5-2
Belts at stake: N/A
Further down the card, Junior dos Santos takes on Robelis Despaigne.
dos Santos (23-10) is a former UFC heavyweight champion who owns the longest win streak (nine) in the division's history. The 42-year-old last competed in the cage in 2024 and has since become Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA heavyweight champion.
A decorated taekwondo competitor, Despaigne (5-2) earned bronze in the 2012 Olympics. Competing in three UFC fights, his TKO win in his octagon debut made him stand out. "The Big Boy" has competed for Karate Combat, where he’s 7-0.
Namo Fazil vs. Jake Babian
Division/Weight: Welterweight
Fazil record: 9-1
Babian record: 6-1
Belts at stake: N/A
Namo Fazil and Jake Babian face off in welterweight action.
Born in Finland and fighting out of Kurdistan, Fazil (9-1) has competed for ONE FC, UAE Warriors, and more. The 29-year-old is on a six-fight win streak.
Babian (6-1) has won over 100 jiu-jitsu bouts. After losing his first fight, he's won six straight, including a six-second knockout in 2025.
Adriano Moraes vs. Phumi Nkuta
Division/Weight: Catchweight
Moraes record: 21-6
Nkuta record: 11-0
Belts at stake: N/A
Adriano Moraes takes on Phumi Nkuta, the latter replacing Muhammad Mokaev following visa issues.
A former three-time ONE flyweight champion, Moraes (21-6) is considered one of the best fighters in the division’s history. He competed in an epic trilogy against Demetrious Johnson, and the former Shooto Brazil champion has eleven wins via submission.
A flyweight champion for CFFC and A1 Combat, Nkuta (11-0) has also competed for Bellator and LFA. “Turbo" competes about two months after his last fight.
Jason Jackson vs. Jefferson Creighton
Division/Weight: Welterweight
Jackson record: 19-6
Creighton record: 12-2-1
Belts at stake: N/A
Jason Jackson takes on Jefferson Creighton.
Jackson (19-6) is a former Bellator welterweight champion. The 35-year-old went 2-2 in his last four fights between Bellator and the PFL. The Jamaican looks to return to his winning ways.
Creighton (12-2-1) replaces Lorenz Larkin. He's on a seven-fight win streak, earning those wins while with LFA, Bellator, and A1 Combat.
David Mgoyan vs. Albert Morales
Division/Weight: Featherweight
Mgoyan record: 8-1
Morales record: 19-10-1
Belts at stake: N/A
David Mgoyan and Albert Morales compete in featherweight action.
A former amateur world champion, Mgoyan (8-1) is 1-1 in his last two fights, with one being an audition on Dana White's Contender Series.
A BJJ black belt, Morales (19-10-1) has appeared in the cage of various promotions, including the UFC and Bellator. Competing after a stint in prison, Moraes has nine wins via knockout.
Aline Pereira vs. Jade Masson-Wong
Division/Weight: Catchweight
Pereira record: 2-2
Masson-Wong record: 3-2
Belts at stake: N/A
Aline Pereira takes on Jade Masson-Wong.
The sister of multi-division UFC champion Alex Pereira, Aline (2-2) has a black belt in kickboxing. Also a former kickboxer, Pereira has competed for LFA and won the Karate Combat women's championship last year.
A top contender for BKFC, Masson-Wong (3-2) has traded wins and losses in bare-knuckle action.
Chris Avila vs. Brandon Jenkins
Division/Weight: Catchweight
Avila record: 8-9
Jenkins record: 17-12
Belts at stake: N/A
Finally, Chris Avila faces Brandon Jenkins.
Avila (8-9) last competed in MMA in 2021, going 2-0 that year. Nate Diaz's training partner has consistently competed in boxing since then, going 6-1.
Known as "The Human Highlight Reel," Jenkins (17-12) has twelve wins via knockout. The 34-year-old is 1-1 in his last two fights, his last win being in 2024.
Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano tune-in info
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
Prelims****Start Time: 6 p.m. ET | 3 p.m. PT
Main Card Start Time: 9 p.m. ET | 6 p.m. PT
Main Event (Rousey vs. Carano**)**: Approx. 11:30 p.m. ET | 8:30 p.m. PT
The fight will stream exclusively on Netflix worldwide. Unlike traditional pay-per-views, there’s no extra PPV fee — it’s included with your Netflix subscription.
Netflix subscription options:
Standard with ads: $8.99/month
Standard (no ads): $19.99/month
Premium (4K + multiple devices): $26.99/month
Pro tip: Sign up or upgrade your Netflix plan ahead of fight night to avoid last-minute streaming issues.
