Carlos Prates has taken to social media to put pressure on an unnamed opponent, posting an Instagram story urging them to sign a fight contract.
“I was told the offer is on your hands,” Prates wrote. “The fans are waiting, I’m waiting… Are we doing this or just playing around? Let’s give them the fight of the year. Sign this contract, man.”
While Prates did not name his target, the callout is widely believed to be directed at former UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena. The two have been publicly linked since their respective performances at UFC 322 in November, where Prates knocked out Leon Edwards while Della Maddalena lost his title to Islam Makhachev.
The back-and-forth has been building since December 2025. Della Maddalena accepted the challenge in January, telling streamer N3on he was “in” and predicting he would finish Prates in a five-round fight.
Despite mutual interest, delays have persisted, with reports linking the bout to a potential UFC Fight Night card in Perth on May 3.
However, the landscape may have shifted. Just yesterday, Fighting Nerds coach Flavio Alvaro told Sherdog that while he personally wanted the Della Maddalena fight, Prates’ next opponent could end up being someone different, with an announcement expected soon.
The matchup has captured fan interest due to both fighters’ elite finishing ability. Prates has scored knockouts in six of his seven UFC bouts, with his only loss being a decision defeat to Ian Machado Garry. Della Maddalena was riding an 18-fight win streak before his title loss to Makhachev and is looking to fight his way back into title contention.
Alex Pereira is still open to a future fight with Jon Jones despite the former champion’s recent revelation of severe arthritis in his left hip. Jones’ condition, serious enough to qualify him for a hip replacement, has cast doubt on his return to the Octagon.
Jones recently revealed he has severe arthritis, which could impact Pereira’s plans for a potential heavyweight bout. Jones last competed in November 2024, defeating Stipe Miocic via third-round TKO at UFC 309. He also re-entered the USADA drug testing pool in hopes of competing at a UFC White House event.
Jones stated the UFC knows the full extent of his arthritis condition and is considering retirement for a second time, though he remains interested in competing at a UFC White House event if the opportunity justifies the physical demands of his arthritis condition.
Speaking with Valter Walker, Pereira addressed Jones’ revelations stating, “I think every athlete has chronic injuries, serious injuries,”
He also expressed his willingness to face any opponent at light heavyweight or heavyweight.
“Whoever they put in front of me, I’ll be fighting,” Pereira said. “I love fighting, so it doesn’t matter weight classes — of course, if you say middleweight I can’t make that anymore. At the other two divisions, light heavyweight and heavyweight, [the opponent] is indifferent to me.”
Pereira remains interested in competing at the UFC event at the White House in June, even if Jones is not his opponent. He is keeping the door open for a move to the heavyweight division.
Gable Steveson returns to the cage tonight at Mexico Fight League 3 (MFL 3) in Monterrey, Mexico, where he’ll headline against heavyweight veteran Hugo Lezama. The event streams live and free on the official Mexico Fight League YouTube channel, and you can also watch through the free live stream right here at MMA News.
Steveson enters tonight’s fight at 2-0 with two first-round finishes to start his professional MMA career. The Olympic gold medalist made his debut with a 98-second TKO of Braden Peterson at LFA 217 last September, then followed it up with a 24-second knockout in his second outing.
Lezama, meanwhile, brings a 11-3 record and more than a decade of professional experience to the matchup. The Mexican heavyweight has a high finishing rate, making him Steveson’s toughest test to date.
MFL 3 prelims begin at approximately 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, with the main card kicking off around 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. Again, watch MFL 3 for free right here at MMA News.
Islam Makhachev has backed Kamaru Usman to beat every top welterweight contender, dismissing recent hype around Joaquin Buckley in the process.
Speaking with Ushatayka ENG, the lightweight champion was asked about a potential move up in weight and how Usman would fare against today’s elite at 170 pounds.
Makhachev didn’t hesitate to throw his support behind the former welterweight king.
“I’m confident that if you take those four, Kamaru Usman beats all of them. Recently, they were saying that Buckley is the new star. Kamaru doesn’t even break a sweat, and Buckley is already forgotten.”
Buckley has enjoyed a late surge at welterweight, scoring high‑profile wins that pushed him into the title conversation before dropping a unanimous decision to Usman in June 2025.
Makhachev’s comments underline how highly he still rates Usman’s skill set despite the Nigerian’s title loss and mileage, and they add further intrigue to long‑standing talk of a future super fight between the dominant lightweight champion and the former welterweight ruler.
Turki Alalshikh has given the world its first look at the official Zuffa Boxing championship belt, sharing a photo on X of himself holding the diamond-encrusted strap alongside UFC CEO Dana White and WWE/TKO president Nick Khan during a meeting in Las Vegas.
Zuffa Boxing Championship Belt
Alalshikh called it “the first Zuffa Boxing belt – made with beautiful diamonds” and described the reveal as “a huge start for Zuffa,” adding that only the very best fighters will be “lucky enough to win this belt.”
Today I am happy, I met with my brothers Dana and Nick in Las Vegas and they gifted me the first Zuffa Boxing belt – made with beautiful diamonds. This is a huge start for Zuffa, and only the very best will be lucky enough to win this belt. 💪🏻🥊🔥🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/yUpVUl222S
The belt features “Zuffa Boxing Champion” branding and is positioned as the promotion’s own world title line, separate from the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO. Early fan reaction online has been overwhelmingly negative, with many critics blasting the design and some calling it one of the ugliest belts in boxing history. Alalshikh reportedly limited replies on the original post amid the backlash.
The criticism hasn’t slowed Zuffa’s push forward. The promotion has already confirmed a streamlined championship system featuring just eight traditional weight classes — heavyweight (200+ lbs), cruiserweight (200 lbs), light heavyweight (175 lbs), middleweight (160 lbs), welterweight (147 lbs), lightweight (135 lbs), featherweight (126 lbs), and bantamweight (118 lbs). The back-to-basics approach eliminates all modern “super” divisions and lighter weight classes, with one champion planned per division.
First Zuffa Champion To Be Crowned March 8
The first fighter to hold the new belt will be determined at Zuffa Boxing 04 on March 8 from the Meta APEX in Las Vegas. Dana White has confirmed that Jai Opetaia vs. Brandon Glanton will headline the card with the inaugural Zuffa Boxing World Cruiserweight Championship on the line.
Opetaia (29-0, 23 KOs) is the reigning IBF and Ring cruiserweight champion, though those belts will not be at stake in the Glanton fight. The undefeated Australian signed with Zuffa Boxing last month and will be making his U.S. debut. Glanton (21-3, 18 KOs) is ranked No. 10 in The Ring’s cruiserweight rankings.
Zuffa Boxing 04 streams on Paramount+ as part of the promotion’s five-year broadcast deal that guarantees 12 cards in 2026.
Mexico Fight League 3 (MFL 3) takes place Thursday, February 19, 2026, from the Showcenter Complex in Monterrey, Mexico, headlined by Olympic gold medalist and former WWE star Gable Steveson making his third professional MMA appearance against veteran heavyweight Hugo Lezama.
The event streams live and free on the official Mexico Fight League YouTube channel. Prelims begin at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, with the main card kicking off around 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
MFL 3 Full Fight Card
Main Card (YouTube – approx. 10 p.m. ET)
Heavyweight – Main Event: Gable Steveson (2-0) vs. Hugo Lezama (11-3)
Welterweight – Co-Main: Irving “Mustang” Cardona (4-4) vs. “Smooth” Edgar Escarrega (12-4-1)
Bantamweight: Luis Solorzano (10-7) vs. Alexandro Bravo (5-3)
Bantamweight: Ricardo Hurtado (2-3) vs. Matias Molero (4-2)
Lightweight: Gael Resendiz (1-1) vs. Emanuel Arzola (1-0)
Prelims (YouTube – approx. 8 p.m. ET)
Welterweight: Kevin Javier Villareal (3-0) vs. Kevin Arreola (3-3)
Flyweight: Roberto Morales Gonzalez (0-0) vs. Kevin Rodriguez (0-0)
Bantamweight: Abraham Nava (7-5) vs. Omar Diaz (2-2)
Heavyweight: Hector “Negroe” Garcia (1-1) vs. Renzo Aldave (0-0)
Catchweight: Carolina Rojas (0-0) vs. Diana Serrano (0-0)
How to Watch MFL 3
MFL 3 is available as a free worldwide live stream on the official Mexico Fight League YouTube channel. No subscription or pay-per-view purchase is required.
Main Card: 10 p.m. ET / 9 p.m. CT / 7 p.m. PT / 3 a.m. GMT (Feb. 20)
A dominant showing for Steveson on Thursday would likely accelerate his push to land a UFC deal, something he’s been calling for publicly ahead of this fight.
Former UFC fighter Tiki Ghosn is going viral after elbowing Kick streamer and Misfits Boxing fighter DeenTheGreat in the face during a house party hosted by Quinton “Rampage” Jackson on Tuesday night.
The clip, which has racked up over 3 million views on X in a number of hours, shows DeenTheGreat (Nurideen Shabazz) provoking Ghosn before the former UFC featherweight delivered a decisive elbow strike that sent the streamer to the ground.
In the footage, DeenTheGreat approaches Ghosn and takes exception to the ex-fighter saying he doesn’t know who the streamer is. The exchange quickly deteriorated, with Shabazz telling Ghosn he doesn’t like him and threatening to slap him. Ghosn responded by asking if DeenTheGreat was “the guy that got slapped on video” (a reference to an incident less than 24 hours earlier) before delivering the elbow. Ghosn notably didn’t even drop his drink during the exchange.
Second Altercation In 24 Hours For DeenTheGreat
The incident at Rampage Jackson’s residence was the second physical confrontation for DeenTheGreat in a single day. On February 17, professional powerlifter and bodybuilder Larry Wheels slapped the streamer outside a restaurant after Shabazz reportedly made inappropriate comments toward Wheels’ wife during a livestreamed double date that Jackson had also helped organize.
🚨:🔥 DOUBLE-DATE DRAMA TURNS PHYSICAL🤣
Powerlifter star LARRY WHEELS slapped boxer DeenTheGreat💀
After he repeatedly complimented Larry’s wife, asked her for a hug, and allegedly disrespected him during a live double-date stream.
Several prominent MMA figures voiced support for Ghosn’s response. Jorge Masvidal replied with clapping emojis and a simple “Well done, Tiki,” while former UFC fighter Jason “Mayhem” Miller quipped that he only knows DeenTheGreat “from getting beat up at parties.”
DeenTheGreat, who claims a 7-0 professional boxing record and has competed on multiple Misfits Boxing cards, has built a following around provocative IRL content and confrontational streaming. However, the back-to-back incidents have drawn significant criticism online, with the majority of social media replies mocking the streamer for instigating both confrontations.
Ghosn, who competed professionally in MMA from 1998 to 2009 with a 10-8-1 record and fought the likes of Robbie Lawler, Chris Lytle, and Genki Sudo, has been Rampage Jackson’s longtime manager and close friend. He also manages a number of high-profile UFC fighters including Mackenzie Dern, Brian Ortega, and Dustin Poirier, and founded the Huntington Beach Ultimate Training Center in 2001.
The incident adds to a growing list of streamer-versus-fighter confrontations that have gone viral in recent years, highlighting the risks of provocation-based content creation when real combat sports professionals are involved.
Ronda Rousey is confident her upcoming return to MMA will make a major splash — and she’s not shy about saying so at the UFC’s expense.
On Wednesday, Rousey responded to coverage of her announced fight against Gina Carano, set for May 16 on Netflix, by taking a direct shot at her former employers. “This rivalry has so many layers – @netflix isnt playing around – bet you we can beat @paramountplus @ufc numbers,” she wrote on X.
The comparison isn’t exactly apples-to-apples, however. Netflix is available in significantly more homes than UFC’s streaming partner, with more than 325 million paid subscribers worldwide at the end of 2025. Paramount+ had approximately 79.1 million subscribers as of Q3 2025 — less than a quarter of Netflix’s footprint.
Interestingly, while Rousey’s marketing push involves taking shots at the UFC, she admitted on ESPN SportsCenter on Tuesday (Feb. 17) that she actually approached Dana White first about the Carano fight. “It didn’t exactly work out,” she said, which is what led her to partnering with MVP. MMA News previously reported on the UFC passing on the fight.
Rousey vs. Carano on May 16 marks the return of one of MMA’s most anticipated potential matchups, a rivalry that dates back to both women’s time as the faces of women’s MMA in the sport’s early mainstream growth period.
The main event features a Middleweight (185 lbs) clash between #1 seed Ante Eblen and #9 seed AC Battle. Both fighters are American, making it an all-USA showdown at the top of the card.
Also on the main card, #5 Chris Rosta takes on #3 Farrukh Kasanganay in another Middleweight bout. In the Women’s Flyweight division, #10 Bianca Basilio Da Silva of Brazil faces off against #5 seed Randi Inaba.
The Featherweight division sees #9 Tyler Pergande square off against Jesus Arce, and the card closes with a Bantamweight bout between #9 Yusuf Dayron of Cuba and Clay Thrall.
PFL Pittsburgh: Early Card Preview
The early card opens with a Bantamweight matchup between Lance Meredith and England’s Declan Cartwright. In Lightweight action, #7 Lucas Schulte meets #9 Mateusz Kaszuba of Poland, followed by Earl Watley vs. Cameron Bush.
The Welterweight division is represented by Pedro Rodriguez of Cuba taking on #7 seed Ryusei Kikuiri of Japan. The Women’s Flyweight division sees Ekaterina Postarnakova battle Larissa Dana of Brazil.
Rounding out the preliminary card, Cody Fremd faces Fares Al-Selawe at Middleweight, and Jimmy Goss meets Renan Dupras of Canada in a Featherweight bout.
Gina Carano’s head coach is not interested in just showing up on May 16. John Wood, head coach at Syndicate MMA, spoke to MMA Fighting this morning and made clear that Carano’s return against Ronda Rousey on Netflix is being treated as a genuine competitive fight – not a cash grab.
“She’s fired up and we’re firing on all cylinders already,” Wood said. “She’s coming out there to win that fight. There is no intention of just showing up. Showing up for me isn’t even acceptable. It’s we’re going out there to win the fight.”
A Serious Camp, Not a Cash Grab
Wood said he would have been upfront with Carano if she had walked into Syndicate looking like she wasn’t ready. That’s not what he found. Carano is training twice a day, taking her diet seriously, and has had to be reined in during sparring sessions.
“Had she come in and just been a pile of hot garbage, I’d have been like, ‘Hey, do you need the money? Cause we’ll do it for this, but…’ That’s not been the case, man. She looks great. She’s training every day, twice a day. She’s killing it.”
Wood also pushed back against the idea that this fight is a novelty act.
“This isn’t just a cash grab of like, hey, we’re going to do this. This is a woman.. two women, who actually want to fight and want to come back and get into it. And I can tell you that the fire is there.”
The Fighter Who Never Actually Retired
Carano’s last professional fight was in 2009. But according to Wood (and reportedly per Carano herself) she never formally retired. She just stopped fighting. Wood says the competitive instinct was never fully extinguished.
“Her goal is.. she misses the fight game. She still loves to fight. She’s a fighter at heart. I think she probably retired a little early and so I think there’s still that need to get out there and prove that she can still do it – and I know she can.”
Wood has known Carano for over 20 years, going back to her K1 days before her first MMA fight. He said her willingness to absorb new techniques has been one of the highlights of camp so far.
“She’s kind of like a sponge now, absorbing things. There’s not a lot of bad habits to break. So we’re learning new habits and she’s picking things up very, very fast.”
“I truly believe she has the capabilities to go out there and shock the world. And that’s what our plan is. Come May 16th, you’re going to see something that I don’t think has ever been seen from her before. You’re going to see the best Gina Carano that’s ever stepped into a ring or cage.”
Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez arrived at UFC Houston media day with one message: he’s not here to survive a main event, he’s here to take over the UFC middleweight division.
In a sit-down with Full Send MMA’s Shawny Mack, Hernandez laid out his strategy against former champion Sean Strickland and made clear the stakes couldn’t feel higher to him heading into Saturday night.
“I don’t know what I’m going to get, but at the end of the day I’m going to cut off the cage and I’m going to stay in his face and make him hate his life and regret calling me out,” Hernandez said. “I need that spot. I need this belt. This is the perfect fight for me.”
Who Goes Backwards First?
Much of the pre-fight chatter around this matchup has centered on which version of Strickland shows up. Will it be the aggressive pressure fighter or the more passive, disengaged version that appeared in some recent bouts? Hernandez isn’t building a game plan around either option. He’s focused on imposing his own.
“He says he always brings it and he comes forward. We’ll see who goes backwards first.”
His strategy is built on cage-cutting — suffocating Strickland’s ability to create distance and making the fight ugly and physical from the opening bell. The main event is five rounds, which plays directly into Hernandez’s relentless pace.
More Than a Grappler
Hernandez has built his eight-fight win streak largely on the strength of his wrestling and grinding pressure, but he pushed back firmly on being labeled a one-dimensional fighter. Against Strickland, he says, fans are going to see the full package.
“Everybody knows me as this grappling guy, but I’ve said it myself — I like to strike. I’m really good at grappling, but that’s just what I’ve done to win,” he said. “And now I finally get a guy that I can strike with. I’m planning on giving everyone a show. I’m going to go out there and show that I know how to do martial arts at the highest level of MMA. I’m going to mix it up and I’m going to keep it nasty. I’m going to make his life hell.”
Strickland, meanwhile, has said publicly he believes he’s the better wrestler and predicts the fight becomes a kickboxing match. Hernandez isn’t buying it — but he’s also not spending energy on the back-and-forth. His focus is the performance.
“Tune in. It’s two violent motherf***ers getting to face each other. I hope you guys enjoy the show.”
Islam Makhachev has clarified that a superfight with Ilia Topuria will not be happening at the UFC’s planned White House event in June, citing that the featherweight champion already has another opponent lined up.
Speaking to Russian outlet MatchTV, the welterweight champion stated there “definitely won’t be a fight with Topuria at the White House” because “he already has an opponent.”
The comments walk back Makhachev’s own public enthusiasm for the matchup just days prior, when he said he “liked” the idea and was “ready” if the UFC wanted to make it happen.
Makhachev had previously expressed interest in competing on the card, noting the timing aligns well with his post-Ramadan training schedule. However, reports have consistently pointed to Topuria being booked against another opponent at lightweight — with Justin Gaethje’s interim title situation frequently mentioned in connection with the show.
Makhachev has also questioned the legacy value of a Topuria fight if it required him to drop back down to lightweight again, suggesting his focus is on defending against top welterweight contenders going forward.
The Makhachev-Topuria superfight remains a compelling long-term possibility, but it won’t be materializing on the White House card.
With Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano finally signed for May 16, it’s worth revisiting the offensive text message from Dana White that killed this superfight a decade ago — and ended his relationship with Carano entirely.
In a 2019 interview with Ariel Helwani, Carano revealed the full story of how close she came to fighting Rousey in the UFC, and how spectacularly it fell apart over broken trust and a text message that was never meant for her to see.
The Setup: A Million Dollars and One Request
Around 2015, at the height of Ronda Rousey’s dominance, UFC president Dana White and then-owner Lorenzo Fertitta took Carano to a “nice dinner” and offered her $1 million to fight Rousey. Carano left the meeting “stoked” about the opportunity.
She had one specific request: six months to step away from her Hollywood career, find a legitimate gym, build a proper team, and get back into fighting shape. Most importantly, she asked White to keep the negotiations quiet during that preparation period.
White agreed.
The very next day, he began publicly discussing signing Carano.
“I asked him to just keep it quiet for six months while I built a team and got ready,” Carano told Helwani. “The next day, he’s talking about it publicly. That broke the trust.”
The Text Message
As public pressure mounted and Carano struggled to prepare under the media spotlight she’d specifically asked to avoid, White sent her a text message clearly intended for someone else:
“This b**** isn’t f**king us around.”
Carano’s response was ice-cold: “I think you sent that to the wrong person.”
White’s reply was even colder: “I don’t think I did.”
That exchange marked their last communication. The million-dollar superfight was dead.
Why It Hurt
The text wasn’t just offensive. It represented everything Carano had come to resent about her dealings with White and the UFC. Years earlier, when she was fighting for Strikeforce and preparing to face Cris Cyborg, White and Fertitta had approached her with an offer to join the WEC instead, specifically encouraging her not to take the Cyborg fight. Carano refused, stating she’d given her word to Strikeforce and her fans.
When the Rousey opportunity came around, the pattern repeated: an agreement made in private, immediately broken in public, followed by pressure tactics when she tried to hold White to his word.
“I have a problem with the abuse of authority. People holding money over my head has never been a turn-on for me. That’s ultimately what led to me cutting off communication.”
Gina Carano to Ariel Helwani
The Apology That Didn’t Matter
White did eventually apologize to Carano in person at a Sports Hall of Fame event where both her father and Mike Tyson were being honored. But by then, the damage was irreversible.
The text message had confirmed what Carano already suspected about how White viewed her — not as a partner in negotiations, but as someone to be controlled and pressured into compliance.
The fight is happening a decade late and under a completely different banner than anyone expected. Despite Rousey being heavily favored, at least Dana White won’t be anywhere near the negotiations.
Conor McGregor briefly sent the MMA world into a frenzy on Wednesday by posting — and then quickly deleting — a tweet confirming he had accepted a UFC fight offer. The Irish superstar posted on X:
“I have been offered an opponent and a date and I accept. Waiting on my contract.”
He deleted the post within minutes, but not before screenshots were captured and spread widely online. Notably, he did not reveal who his opponent would be or when the bout was scheduled to take place.
Conor McGregor’s Road Back to the Octagon
The tweet comes just days after UFC CEO Dana White confirmed he had been building a fight card for a historic event on the lawn of the White House this summer. White later walked back his comments slightly, clarifying: “I didn’t say it was done; I said the card was built.” McGregor has been linked to the event and has publicly suggested the White House card could be his comeback stage.
Several names have surfaced as possible opponents for McGregor’s return. Michael Chandler remains the most frequently mentioned, as the two were previously booked for June 2024 before McGregor withdrew with a broken toe. Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington, and Nate Diaz have also been floated as potential matchups. Diaz recently told TMZ he wants the McGregor trilogy, and McGregor responded on Instagram hinting at the same.
McGregor hasn’t competed since July 2021, when he broke his leg in the first round of his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. He becomes eligible to compete again on March 20, after completing an anti-doping suspension stemming from three whereabouts failures.
Gordon Ryan has announced his retirement from competitive grappling due to ongoing health issues. The seven-time ADCC champion and three-time IBJJ No-Gi World champion cited recurring stomach and immune system problems stemming from staph infections and antibiotics that damaged his gut biome as the reason for stepping away from the sport.
Ryan revealed on Instagram that he has been unable to train or lift intensely since January 2024 due to these health complications. Despite the challenges, he competed at ADCC 2024 at approximately 10% capability without proper preparation. His last competition was ADCC 2024, where he participated in three matches.
Ryan stated, “For now, I can confidently say, I am done.” He plans to focus on coaching and growing Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu with a global affiliation program.
While retiring from competition, Ryan left the door open for a potential return if his health improves. He also expressed interest in future matches against Vinny Magalhaes and Felipe Pena.
The MMA world erupted on Tuesday after Most Valuable Promotions officially announced Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano for May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The five-round featherweight superfight will headline Netflix’s first-ever live MMA event and marks Rousey’s first MMA bout since December 2016 and Carano’s first since August 2009.
Fighters, promoters, and combat sports personalities flooded social media with reactions ranging from excitement to disbelief. Here’s how the MMA community responded.
Jake Paul Credits Rousey as Inspiration
MVP co-founder Jake Paul, whose promotion is staging the event, called the moment “surreal” on X. Paul wrote that he started taking judo because of Rousey and expressed excitement about bringing MMA to Netflix alongside both women’s MMA legends.
Surreal moment. I started taking judo because of Ronda Rousey. Now I get to work with her and Gina Carano to bring MMA to Netflix. Here we go…@MostVpromotionspic.twitter.com/zphmZM47kO
Former UFC two-division champion Conor McGregor reacted with a shocked emoji on Instagram, signaling his interest in the matchup. McGregor, who headlined a record-breaking Netflix boxing card with MVP in 2024, is no stranger to the spectacle-driven events the promotion has built its brand around.
Cris Cyborg Takes Shots
The reaction with the most bite came from Cris Cyborg, who has long called for a fight with Rousey. Cyborg didn’t hold back, writing on X that Rousey spent years ducking her at 145 pounds when both were in their primes. She also took a shot at the legitimacy of the matchup, sarcastically referencing CTE concerns.
🤡 all those years of ducking me at 145 when we were both in our prime?!
The Cyborg-Rousey rivalry is one of the biggest “what if” fights in MMA history. Cyborg defeated Carano for the inaugural Strikeforce women’s 145-pound title in 2009 and has maintained that Rousey avoided her throughout her UFC career.
Fighters Celebrate Historical Significance
Former UFC middleweight Derek Brunson expressed intrigue, posting that he couldn’t believe the matchup was actually happening.
Damn they really put RONDA ROUSEY vs. GINA CARANO together ! I’m intrigued 🔥🔥🔥
Pearl Gonzalez offered a more reflective take, calling it a landmark moment for women’s combat sports and crediting Carano as the woman who opened doors, Rousey as the one who kicked them down, and Amanda Nunes as the one who helped cement the foundation.
Gina the first woman to unlock the doors, Ronda the first woman to kick them out.. And Amanda the woman who helped glue the pieces together! What a moment for Women’s combat sports! 🙏🏼💕🙌🏼👑 https://t.co/2Std4BBZD3
Yana Santos called Carano her “dream fight,” while Invicta FC, the all-women’s MMA promotion that helped develop many of today’s top female fighters, simply reacted with “WOW.” Boxing champion Claressa Shields also expressed shock at the announcement.
On the WWE side, former rivals Charlotte Flair, Liv Morgan, and Nikki Bella all posted supportive reactions to Rousey’s long-teased return to competition.
What’s Next
A kickoff press conference is scheduled for March 5 at Intuit Dome. Additional fights for the card will be announced at a later date. Rousey has already opened as a heavy -450 favorite, with Carano listed as a +350 underdog. The bout will be contested at 145 pounds under the Unified Rules of MMA inside a hexagon cage.
Rousey x Carano was close to happening in 2014. According to Gina the UFC offered her $1 million, but after Dana White didn’t honor her request to withhold the announcement—and later texted her calling her a “b*tch”—she called off all talks. pic.twitter.com/pfKEvIFTkY
Ronda Rousey has confirmed that her upcoming fight with Gina Carano was initially pitched to the UFC before ultimately landing outside the promotion for a May 16 event at the Intuit Dome.
Speaking on ESPN’s SportsCenter this afternoon, the former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion revealed that UFC President Dana White was her first call when she decided to return to competition.
“I reached out to Dana and asked him if he would be interested in it, and it didn’t exactly work out with the UFC, but it led us to here today,” Rousey said.
The comment suggests either the UFC passed on the fight or negotiations failed to produce terms acceptable to both sides. Rousey did not elaborate on why the UFC deal fell through.
Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano: Years in the Making
The fight has been over a year in the making, with Rousey beginning the process while still pregnant.
“This has been in the making since I was pregnant, which is over a year ago. It took a long time to get us here. We fought for this. We fought to fight each other, and there were a lot of obstacles along the way,” she explained.
Rousey’s determination to make the fight happen went beyond typical promotional efforts. She told Carano she would personally train her opponent if necessary to overcome the challenges standing in their way.
“I told her, ‘If I have to go out there and train you myself to fight me, I will.’ We had to work together to overcome every obstacle to get here,” Rousey said.
The matchup represents a collision between two pioneers of women’s MMA from different eras. Carano was instrumental in bringing mainstream attention to women’s MMA before the UFC opened its women’s divisions, while Rousey became the promotion’s first women’s champion and biggest star.
“She Needs This. I Need This”
Rousey explained her motivation for returning centers on helping Carano find purpose again through competition.
“She needs this. She needs this fight. And the more I thought about it, I was like, you know what? I need this. I really need this fight,” Rousey said.
The fight will take place at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, on May 16, presented by Most Valuable Promotions.
Rousey has not competed in MMA since her knockout loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in December 2016. The fight with Carano marks her return to the sport after nearly a decade away from competition.
Jorge Masvidal revealed Monday that Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA’s lightweight tournament is nearly fully assembled — and when it drops, it’s going to turn heads.
Speaking on Fighter vs. Writer on MMA Fighting, the Gamebred FC president confirmed the 16-man lightweight bracket is 12 fighters deep, with the final four signatures still in progress.
“We also have a lightweight tournament. We got about 12 guys. We’re missing four keynote people that we’re just working on getting their signatures. Once that one drops, I’ll come right back on here and let you know who these 16 lightweights are. So far confirmed, we got about seven UFC veterans, three PFL veterans, and four or five Bellator alumni.”
Best Fighters, Not Most Marketable
Masvidal explained the philosophy driving his fighter recruitment, distinguishing Gamebred FC from other promotions that prioritize name recognition over competitive quality. For him, the two are inseparable in the long run.
“I’m not trying to find the most marketable guy in the world — I know what business is doing, that’s what the other people on the team are doing. I’m trying to find the world’s best fighters, the biggest dogs, because I believe they will be the most marketable at the end of the day and the biggest engine for the company.”
Masvidal cited the old Pride FC and Dream tournaments as his model for why the format works, noting that the structure naturally produces compelling matchups with real stakes — no promoter thumb on the scale.
“Personally, some of the most exciting fights were those Pride tournaments. I participated in some of those as well. It’s pretty pure, right? There’s not too much matchmaking. We care about the wins but we also care about the performance.”
2026 Schedule and the $500K Prize
The heavyweight tournament — headlined by Anthony Smith vs. Chase Sherman in the opener — kicks off April 10 in the Dominican Republic. The full 2026 calendar runs through Miami events in May and December, with the heavyweight champion crowned on December 2.
Each tournament carries a $500,000 championship prize, a number Masvidal wants to grow significantly as the promotion scales. “I want that number to one day be like five million and get these fighters as much as I can, especially putting it all on the line with no gloves.”
Masvidal has built a reputation among fighters for paying talent and not cutting performers simply for losing, separating Gamebred FC from the standard UFC model. The lightweight tournament announcement, when it comes, figures to further cement the promotion as a legitimate destination for elite free agents.
Ronda Rousey is a heavy favorite to defeat Gina Carano when the two pioneers return to MMA on May 16 for their Netflix-streamed bout.
BetOnline released opening odds for the highly anticipated matchup, listing Rousey at -450 while Carano enters as a significant underdog at +350. The line indicates bettors would need to wager $450 on Rousey to win $100, while a $100 bet on Carano would return $350 in profit.
The odds reflect the dramatic difference in competitive experience between the two fighters. Rousey last competed in MMA at UFC 207 in December 30, 2016, while Carano’s last fight came against Cris Cyborg in August 15, 2009—nearly 16 years ago.
Tale of Two Careers
Rousey retired from MMA with a 12-2 record after consecutive losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes. Despite those setbacks, she remains one of the sport’s most accomplished competitors, having defended the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship six times.
Carano walked away from MMA with a 7-1 record, with her only loss coming via first-round TKO against Cyborg in the final Strikeforce women’s bout. She transitioned to acting and has remained largely inactive in combat sports since.
The 16-year layoff for Carano versus Rousey’s eight-year absence creates a significant gap in recent competition. Rousey also has the advantage of high-level training during her WWE tenure, while Carano’s athletic focus shifted entirely to Hollywood.
What’s Next for Rousey
Following the fight announcement, Rousey teased “much more to come” on social media, suggesting the Carano bout may be the first of multiple MMA appearances rather than a one-off return.
The Netflix platform provides a massive audience for both fighters, potentially setting up additional legacy fights if Rousey emerges victorious. The streaming giant has made aggressive moves into combat sports, making this a potential launching pad for future content.
The May 16 fight date gives both competitors roughly three months to prepare for their comebacks. Rousey’s status as a prohibitive favorite reflects the betting market’s skepticism that Carano can overcome such an extended absence against elite-level competition.
The former UFC bantamweight champion, who last competed in mixed martial arts in 2016, expressed her enthusiasm for what she’s calling “the biggest super fight in women’s combat sport history.”
“Been waiting so long to announce this: Me and @ginacarano are gonna throw down in the biggest super fight in women’s combat sport history!” Rousey wrote. “And we’re partnering with the fighter-first promotion @MostVpromotions as well as the baddest streamer on the planet @netflix! This is for all MMA fans past, present and future. More to come… much more ;)”
Been waiting so long to announce this: Me and @ginacarano are gonna throw down in the biggest super fight in women’s combat sport history! And we’re partnering with the fighter-first promotion @MostVpromotions as well as the baddest streamer on the planet @netflix! This is for… pic.twitter.com/vR9IxchOO2
The May 2026 bout marks a historic moment for Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), which is making its first foray into mixed martial arts after establishing itself in the boxing world.
The promotion has built a reputation around fighter compensation and athlete advocacy, something Rousey appeared to reference with her “fighter-first promotion” comment (a clear reference to UFC’s often-criticized fighter pay structure.)
Rousey’s cryptic closing line, “More to come… much more,” has already sparked speculation among fans about what else MVP might have planned for its push into mixed martial arts.
The Rousey vs. Carano matchup brings together two of the most influential figures in women’s MMA history.
Former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is coming back to mixed martial arts for the first time in nearly a decade, and she’s doing it against fellow women’s MMA pioneer Gina Carano.
The blockbuster matchup was confirmed Tuesday by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, with the fight set for May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The event will stream live on Netflix and marks MVP’s first professional MMA event.
Rousey (12-2) and Carano (7-1) will compete at 145 pounds under the Unified Rules of MMA, with the bout sanctioned for five, five-minute rounds using 4-ounce gloves inside a hexagon cage.
“Been waiting so long to announce this: Me and Gina Carano are gonna throw down in the biggest super fight in women’s combat sport history!” Rousey said in a statement to ESPN.
Rousey, 39, last competed in MMA in December 2016, when she lost to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207. Before that devastating knockout loss, Rousey had been the sport’s biggest star, winning her first 12 professional fights — 11 of them in the first round — and successfully defending the UFC women’s bantamweight title a record six consecutive times. She was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018 and spent four years as a WWE performer, winning three world championships.
Carano, 43, hasn’t fought since her lone career defeat against Cris Cyborg for the inaugural Strikeforce women’s 145-pound title in August 2009 — making this a return from a 17-year layoff. Carano was instrumental in bringing mainstream attention to women’s MMA during her career from 2006 to 2009 and went on to appear in films including Haywire, Fast & Furious 6, Deadpool, and The Mandalorian.
“Ronda came to me and said there is only one person she would make a comeback for and it has been her dream to make this fight happen between us,” Carano said. “This is an honor. I believe I will walk out of this fight with the win, and I anticipate it will not come easy, which I welcome.”
A kickoff press conference is scheduled for March 5 at Intuit Dome, with additional fights for the card to be announced at a later date.
Gable Steveson isn’t waiting for a UFC contract to start calling out the biggest names in the heavyweight division. In an interview with Submission Radio ahead of his third professional MMA fight on February 19 at MFL 3 in Mexico, the Olympic gold medalist made it clear he believes he already belongs with the division’s elite.
“Those three big names — Pereira, Aspinall, Gane — I can compete with most definitely. Especially right now,” Steveson told host Denis Shkuratov. “But if you keep giving me time, the gap will keep coming in — with the youthfulness that I have, with those guys being a little older. Tom is a little older, but Pereira — really older. Gane — really older. As time goes on, you don’t get any faster.”
It’s a bold claim from a fighter who is just 2-0 as a professional, but Steveson has never lacked confidence. The two-time NCAA Division I National Champion and 2020 Olympic gold medalist has been on an accelerated path toward the UFC since making his MMA debut at LFA 217 in September, where he finished Braden Peterson in 98 seconds.
Steveson Embraces the “Savior” Label
The heavyweight division has been in a state of uncertainty, with Jon Jones flirting with retirement and the top contenders jockeying for position. Many fans and media members have started attaching the “savior” label to Steveson, and while he deflects the title, he doesn’t shy away from the expectations that come with it.
“It’s a one of a kind thing when a lot of people put your name as the savior. But I’m young. I’m hungry. I’m ready to work, and I work hard every single day to make that possible,” Steveson said. “The next version of Gable you’ll see is even better than the one you saw last time.”
When asked about the pressure of being called a future UFC champion before even fighting in the promotion, Steveson pointed to his track record of performing under the brightest spotlights.
“That pressure has been put on Steveson and I feel like I’ve directed all the things you could possibly say about: can he do it or can he not? I feel like I’ve proved everyone wrong every single time,” he said. “Pressure makes diamonds, and the diamond in the rough is found now. It’s just me.”
White House Card and Getting Paid
Steveson also made his pitch for the UFC’s rumored White House card, an event he’s been vocal about wanting to be part of for months.
“It would be an honor to be on the White House card. I would love to be the face of it — Olympic champion from USA coming to support the American company, the UFC, and kind of grow myself in that area,” Steveson said. “But if it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, the world keeps going on. Whether I’m on the White House card or the next card or the one before that, people will watch.”
As for navigating the attention that comes with his rapid rise, Steveson offered a motto that captures his approach: “If they’re going to love you one day, they’re going to hate you the next day — just make sure you get paid both times.”
Steveson faces Hugo Lezama, a 14-fight veteran, on Thursday at MFL 3 in Mexico. A dominant performance could be the final step before the UFC call he’s been working toward.
Gable Steveson has named his Mount Rushmore of MMA heavyweights, and some fight fans on social media are outraged by one omission.
“My Mount Rushmore of heavyweights would probably be, Cain Velasquez, Daniel Cormier, Jon Jones, and I always have to throw Brock Lesnar in.”
Fedor Emelianenko’s omission is a choice, and has caused a stir on MMA Twitter. Many consider The Last Emperor to be the G.O.A.T., Steveson rationalized the decision by pointing to Lesnar’s undeniable results at the box office. “When Brock showed up, people watched and people cared.”
He called Lesnar one of the best combat sports athletes of all time, and added, “What an honor it was to be next to him in the Gopher wrestling room and in many other things. What a great time we’ve had.”
Gable Steveson on Jon Jones
Steveson spoke very highly of Jon Jones, who he considers a mentor and a really close friend. “I grew up watching the guy. He kind of watched my Olympic career. To kind of be friends now, it’s great. An amazing dude. He puts forth his best effort with me. When he comes into the gym, he’s always on me, and however long it takes to get something correct, he’s there the whole time.”
“Jon Jones is a legend in a great sport. A lot of people want to hate him one day and want to love him one day, but you can’t deny — he’s the one of one.”
Gable Steveson’s Next MMA Fight
Gable Steveson is 2-0 in professional MMA, with an upcoming third fight against Hugo Lezama at Mexican Fight League 3 on February 19, 2026.
The 2020 Olympic gold medalist, two-time NCAA Division I national champion, two-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner, four-time Big Ten champion, and five-time All-American at University of Minnesota, won his professional MMA debut against Braden Peterson at LFA 217 on September 12, 2025, and his second bout with a 24-second knockout in late 2025.
Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA is roaring back to life with an ambitious double-tournament series offering $1 million in total prize money across two weight classes.
The promotion announced plans for simultaneous 16-fighter tournaments at heavyweight and lightweight, each carrying a $500,000 grand prize. The tournament series launches April 10 in the Dominican Republic, followed by a second event May 1 in Miami, with all four rounds of both brackets scheduled throughout 2026.
The announcement marks Gamebred’s return after a 17-month hiatus since its last event on November 15, 2024. Masvidal revealed the extended break was necessary to secure funding for a full year of competition.
Heavyweight Tournament Kickoff Confirmed
Four heavyweight matchups for the April 10 opener have been confirmed:
Anthony Smith vs. Chase Sherman
Guto Inocente vs. Mohammed Usman
Alexandr Romanov vs. Nikolay Kovalenko
Bruno Cappelozza vs. Todd Duffee
The remaining four heavyweight bouts and all eight lightweight tournament matchups will be announced in the coming days. Smith’s inclusion marks a surprising return to competition for the former UFC light heavyweight title challenger, who retired in April 2025 and has since worked as a UFC broadcast analyst.
Masvidal: Filling a Void in Combat Sports
Speaking to MMA Junkie Radio, Masvidal positioned Gamebred as addressing a gap in the current combat sports landscape while prioritizing fighter compensation.
“I don’t mind taking the loss (from a smaller gate) for making a huge statement online,” Masvidal explained. “We’re giving as much money as we can to the fighters. Really, who’s doing anything right now? It’s just worked out perfectly.”
The promotion president expressed confidence that his timing aligns perfectly with the current state of regional MMA: “We’re coming in strong these next few years. People are going to have to move aside, brother.”
Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA operates under the Unified Rules of mixed martial arts without gloves—a distinct format from bareknuckle boxing. From mid-2023 to late 2024, the promotion held five events featuring UFC veterans including Junior Dos Santos, Roy Nelson, Alan Belcher, Hector Lombard, and Francisco Trinaldo.
“I never wanted to leave,” Masvidal said of the hiatus. “The whole time I was working, in the shadows in the back. It’s what business owners do. I was just hustling, brother. Seeing what I could do, what networks I could get on, what sponsors I could bring on board. I did everything to keep the dream alive, just like fighting. I was able to secure some funds, so here we go.”
With eight heavyweight spots and 16 lightweight positions still to be announced, Masvidal’s tournament series represents one of the largest prize pools in regional combat sports for 2026.
Michael Chiesa has announced that his upcoming fight against Carlston Harris at UFC Seattle on March 28, 2026, will be the final bout of his MMA career, ending a 14-year run in the UFC.
Chiesa revealed his retirement plans during an appearance on The Anik & Florian Podcast, confirming that the matchup at the Climate Pledge Arena will be his last time competing inside the Octagon.
The welterweight bout serves as a homecoming for “Maverick”, who hails from Spokane Valley, Washington, roughly four hours from Seattle. The Washington native will have the opportunity to compete in front of friends, family, and home-state supporters for his final walk to the cage.
Michael Chiesa announces his March 28th bout with Carlston Harris will be the last of his MMA career, finishing where he started with the UFC. (@MikeMav22)
Chiesa earned his UFC contract by winning The Ultimate Fighter: Live tournament in 2012, defeating Al Iaquinta in the finale. He compiled a 19-7 professional record with the majority of those bouts coming inside the Octagon.
Known for his grappling-heavy style and back-taking ability, “Maverick” earned double-digit submission victories throughout his career. The 38-year-old picked up notable wins over Rafael dos Anjos, Carlos Condit, and Diego Sanchez while competing at lightweight and welterweight.
After moving to 170 pounds, Chiesa enjoyed a strong surge with back-to-back wins over Condit and Sanchez. Most recently, he snapped a lengthy skid by defeating Court McGee at UFC Atlanta in June 2025.
It was an honor sharing the octagon with you tonight @Court_McGee. There isn’t many people in the fight game that I respect as much as you.
Chiesa has already built a decent presence as an analyst and commentator on various MMA broadcasts, positioning him for a seamless transition once he retires. Given his experience and comfort on the microphone, the welterweight veteran expected to remain a visible figure in the UFC and wider MMA landscape.
Harris enters the bout looking to halt his own struggles after dropping back-to-back fights, making this a pivotal matchup for both welterweights at UFC Seattle.
