UFC Freedom 250 and MVP MMA 1 are the two major MMA events of 2026, occurring a month apart. UFC Freedom 250 will be held at the White House, while MVP MMA 1 features Ronda Rousey's return against Gina Carano in Los Angeles.
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Dana white, Ronda Rousey, Ilia Topuria, Jake Paul
Credit: Getty
The two biggest MMA events of 2026 happen within a month of each other and for the first time — maybe ever — the UFC isn't promoting both shows. UFC White House aka UFC Freedom 250 will take place on June 14 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C.
On Saturday in Los Angeles at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, MVP MMA 1 takes place, with Ronda Rousey's return against fellow legend Gina Carano headlining the show. Both cards are packed with stars, but which is bigger? Let's look at both shows, what's at stake and potential impact.
Netflix is going to win this likely by a landslide. Paramount+ has a growing subscriber base, but it cannot compete with Netflix. When you also consider the novelty theme around MVP MMA 1 and Rousey's immense drawing power, it's clear to see the pure viewership winner.
The headliner names alone tilt the casual-fan tally. Rousey, Carano, Ngannou and Diaz form an MMA legends group chat that requires zero hardcore knowledge to sell, while a Netflix-only viewer can press play without adding a service.
UFC Freedom 250 is scheduled for June 14, 2026, at the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C.
MVP MMA 1 is headlined by Ronda Rousey, who will face Gina Carano.
The key differences include their locations, with UFC Freedom 250 at the White House and MVP MMA 1 in Los Angeles, as well as their respective headliners and promotional backing.
UFC Freedom 250's unique venue at the White House and the absence of UFC promotion for both events could significantly shift the MMA landscape and fan engagement.
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It depends on how you look at it. There's the patriotism piece with UFC Freedom 250 and two of the sport's best fighters will be in action on the card. However, MVP MMA 1 could be building something special here. If this is the start of real competition for the UFC, it's hard to determine which show matters more.
Freedom 250's results feed directly into the UFC's title pictures across multiple divisions, which is something MVP MMA 1 can't claim by design. But if the Netflix model creates a credible alternative for fighters and fans, the long-term significance flips harder than the one-night scoreboard suggests.
Both shows are big for the legacies of the promotions. This is a crowning achievement for the UFC, but it is an impressive first step for MVP MMA.
Full MVP MMA 1 card:
MAIN CARD (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on Netflix)
PRELIMS (6 p.m. ET/ 3 p.m. PT on Tudum and MVP YouTube)
A pro sporting event on the South Lawn is the kind of moment that becomes shorthand for an era — UFC positioning itself as the state sport of MMA. MVP's play is quieter and structural, with reporting around minimum purses and a deeper MMA push hinting at something the existing promotional ecosystem hasn't had: real competition.
MVP did a great job building a legit card to support Rousey-Carano, but still the UFC card is stronger top to bottom when it comes to quality MMA that goes beyond big names. Nate Diaz is a bigger name than Sean O'Malley, but he's nowhere near the same level of fighter at this point in his career — and O'Malley's fight against Aiman Zahabbi isn't even the co-main event.
Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane dwarves Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins and Ilia Topuria is a phenomenon that every MMA fan should see fight — especially on a stage this big. And Topuria is fighting arguably the most action-packed fighter in MMA history, Justin Gaethje.
If the question is which night you're more likely to remember a year from now, UFC 328's recent fallout is a reminder that competitive depth tends to age better than star wattage. Freedom 250 has both. MVP MMA 1 has the wattage and a chance to build the depth over time.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com