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Tag: Ronda Rousey

  • Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano 2026 Preview: Card, How to Watch

    Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano 2026 Preview: Card, How to Watch

    Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano share a cage on Saturday night for a fight that was supposed to happen in 2009 and has been the subject of speculation, negotiation, and fan longing ever since.

    Carano was the face of women’s MMA during the EliteXC and Strikeforce era, the first woman a major American television network was willing to put on a fight night. Rousey was emerging as a judo-based finishing machine. The matchup everyone wanted never materialized because Cris Cyborg ended Carano’s career with a first-round stoppage in August 2009.

    Seventeen years later, both women arrive at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood carrying very different kinds of rust and very different stories.

    Rousey, 12-2, closed her UFC career on back-to-back knockout losses that ended her aura. Holly Holm’s head kick at UFC 193 in November 2015 was the first crack. Amanda Nunes finished the job in 48 seconds at UFC 207 in December 2016. She has not competed in MMA since, spending the intervening years in WWE, becoming a Hall of Famer, marrying Travis Browne, and having two children. She turns 40 in February. 

    Carano, 7-1, is the larger unknown. She last fought professionally in August 2009 and has spent the intervening period in Hollywood, appearing in Haywire and Fast and Furious 6 before returning to public life in different circumstances. She is 44 years old. 

    Neither woman has competed at the 145-pound women’s featherweight limit. Neither has thrown a competitive punch in a very long time. The fight is scheduled for five rounds.

    Rousey vs. Carano headlines the first live MMA event in Netflix history, co-promoted with Most Valuable Promotions. Main card begins at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 16.

    Main Card (9 p.m. ET, Netflix)

    • Women’s featherweight: Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano
    • Heavyweight: Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins
    • Welterweight: Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry
    • Featherweight: Salahdine Parnasse vs. Kenny Cross
    • Heavyweight: Junior dos Santos vs. Robelis Despaigne
    • Flyweight: Muhammad Mokaev vs. Adriano Moraes

    Preliminary Card (6 p.m. ET, Netflix)

    • Welterweight: Jason Jackson vs. Jeff Creighton
    • Welterweight: Namo Fazil vs. Jake Babian
    • Featherweight: David Mgoyan vs. Albert Morales
    • 130-pound catchweight: Aline Pereira vs. Jade Masson-Wong
    • 165-pound catchweight: Chris Avila vs. Brandon Jenkins
  • Ronda Rousey Addresses Possible UFC Return Ahead of Gina Carano Bout

    Ronda Rousey Addresses Possible UFC Return Ahead of Gina Carano Bout

    Ronda Rousey has made it clear that Saturday’s fight against Gina Carano on Netflix is the end of her competitive career, regardless of the result, telling Ariel Helwani that a return to the UFC is not on the table and that her immediate priority after the fight is starting a family again.

    Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show ahead of her return to the cage for the first time since December 2016, Rousey was direct about why the Carano fight is her last.

    “To the UFC, to fight? No. I promised my husband that this is the last one. He is the one that I have to convince to get on board with this promoter shit after. He’s not going for the fighting at all after this. Honestly, I want to get started having babies again right away. I want to have at least two more, if I can. I can’t be taking detours anymore. This is the peak. I can’t go higher than this. This is the dream fight and the absolute pinnacle for me. This is the perfect way to end it.”

    Rousey has been absent from MMA competition since suffering back-to-back knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes in 2015 and 2016. In the years since, she has had multiple stints with WWE and has two children with her husband, Travis Browne.

    Rousey has also discussed her ambitions beyond fighting, including a potential leadership role in MVP MMA if the Netflix card proves successful, telling TMZ she believes she is more qualified than UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell to help guide the promotion’s expansion into MMA. That promotional ambition, rather than any competitive return, appears to be where her post-fighting energy is directed.

    Rousey vs. Carano takes place Saturday, May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Netflix.

  • Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano Card Suffers Big Blow After Fighter Withdraws Due to Visa Issues One Week Out From May 16 Event

    Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano Card Suffers Big Blow After Fighter Withdraws Due to Visa Issues One Week Out From May 16 Event

    A highly anticipated matchup between two of the world’s best non-UFC flyweights has fallen apart just days before the blockbuster Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano card.

    Most Valuable Promotions confirmed Saturday that Muhammad Mokaev has been forced out of next weekend’s Netflix event due to visa complications, resulting in a late opponent change for Adriano Moraes ahead of the May 16 card at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

    Instead, undefeated prospect Phumi Nkuta will now step in on short notice to face Moraes in a 130-pound catchweight bout.

    Muhammad Mokaev Suffers Frustrating Setback Ahead Of Massive Netflix Card

    Mokaev’s withdrawal is a significant blow to the event, given the intrigue surrounding the matchup. The undefeated flyweight was widely viewed as one of the standout names attached to the card, and many fans saw the fight as a potential statement opportunity that could help reopen the door to a UFC return.

    The 25-year-old remains unbeaten in professional MMA with a 16-0 record and previously went 7-0 inside the UFC before his surprising release in 2024. During his time with the promotion, Mokaev picked up victories over notable names such as Manel Kape, Alex Perez, and Tim Elliott.

    Since leaving the UFC, Mokaev has continued winning outside the promotion and even captured the inaugural Brave CF flyweight championship last year.

    His replacement, Nkuta, enters the spotlight carrying an undefeated 11-0 professional record. The South African-born flyweight has competed for promotions such as Bellator, LFA, and CFFC, where he previously held championship gold.

    Meanwhile, Moraes enters the matchup looking to rebound from recent struggles. The longtime ONE Championship standout famously defeated Demetrious Johnson during his title reign, though he has dropped three of his last four fights heading into the Netflix event.

    The May 16 card remains stacked despite the late change, featuring appearances from stars such as Francis Ngannou, Nate Diaz, and Junior dos Santos.

  • Merab Dvalishvili Makes Pick for Rousey vs. Carano After Being Blown Away in Training

    Merab Dvalishvili Makes Pick for Rousey vs. Carano After Being Blown Away in Training

    Merab Dvalishvili has trained with Gina Carano ahead of her May 16 Netflix fight against Ronda Rousey, and what he saw was enough to make him pick the significant underdog.

    Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, the former UFC bantamweight champion shared a genuinely surprised reaction to his experience working alongside Carano in camp.

    “It was a great honor for me to train with her. I was surprised with how good Gina is. Ronda Rousey has a judo background, and I also do, but I think Gina Carano will win this fight. When she was fighting, I was really young and had never seen her fight before, but when I trained with her, I was so impressed and went back and checked everything. She’s the real deal!”

    Dvalishvili also framed the potential upset in terms of what it would mean for the broader combat sports landscape.

    “It’s going to make UFC fighters look bad, and she’s going to make Judo also look bad, but I think she’s going to win. She’s training really hard. I’ve seen her body and her training change in this camp.”

    Carano has not won an MMA fight since a unanimous decision over Kelly Kobold in 2008, and last competed professionally in 2009. Rousey is entering as a big favorite despite being nearly a decade away from the sport. Dvalishvili is expected to return to the UFC Octagon later this year for a trilogy fight against Petr Yan.

  • Rousey Calls Out UFC’s Hunter Campbell, Says She Wants to be MVP’s Version of Dana White

    Rousey Calls Out UFC’s Hunter Campbell, Says She Wants to be MVP’s Version of Dana White

    Ronda Rousey has a plan that extends well beyond her May 16 comeback fight against Gina Carano, and it involves taking a leadership position in mixed martial arts if the Netflix event proves successful.

    Speaking to TMZ, Rousey made clear she sees herself as the right person to lead Most Valuable Promotions’ expansion into MMA, and she did not hold back when comparing herself to the UFC’s current business leadership.

    “I mean, I think nobody is more qualified than me. I’m definitely more qualified than Hunter f—ing Campbell.”

    She framed MVP’s approach as a direct contrast to what she sees as a UFC that has lost its way.

    “I think that MVP would be an incredible partner and that Nakisa and Jake Paul really believe in making sure the fighters are compensated fairly. The UFC, I think, has forgot that the fighters are the stars and that the characters are what people tune into see.”

    Rousey also described the broader opportunity she believes exists in the market for a promotion willing to prioritize fighters over corporate interests.

    “The sport is at a crossroads. There’s a huge opportunity here. If this event is a huge success, there’s a huge opportunity to take over the market share in MMA and show everybody what they’ve been missing.”

    Rousey last competed in late 2016 when Amanda Nunes knocked her out. She plans to retire from competition after the Carano fight unless an immediate rematch is warranted. The Netflix event takes place at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood on May 16.

  • Kayla Harrison Fires Back at Ronda Rousey: ‘I’m Chasing Greatness, You’re Chasing Money’

    Kayla Harrison Fires Back at Ronda Rousey: ‘I’m Chasing Greatness, You’re Chasing Money’

    Kayla Harrison has drawn a sharp line between herself and Ronda Rousey, and she did not soften the contrast when she delivered it.

    Speaking on the UFC Vegas 116 pre-fight show, Harrison responded to Rousey’s recent public attacks and framed their current situations as representing two fundamentally different approaches to a combat sports career.

    “I think that the part that bothers me most about Ronda is at one point she was a real athlete,” Harrison said. “She was training for the Olympics. She’s an Olympic bronze medalist. She became a UFC champion. She was really trying to chase greatness.”

    Harrison acknowledged Rousey’s historical significance to women’s MMA without hesitation before turning to where she believes the two part ways.

    “I will never take away the fact that Ronda is probably the most important female fighter. If it weren’t for her, for sure I wouldn’t be where I’m at. I wouldn’t have a job. But this fight is not the greatest fight of all time. It’s between someone who hasn’t fought in 10 years and is coming off two knockout losses and another woman, again another legend, another pioneer, but hasn’t fought in 17 years and is in her 40s. Don’t call it the greatest fight of all time. I’m chasing greatness. You’re chasing money. We’re different.”

    The feud between the two women began when Harrison called Rousey a liar over a training story from their judo days. Rousey responded by repeatedly calling Harrison a derogatory name while promoting her May 16 Netflix comeback against Gina Carano and claiming the event would outperform anything Harrison has accomplished. Harrison offered an alternative explanation for Rousey’s hostility.

    “I think that it would be really hard, I can’t imagine what it would be like for someone to come in and beat everything I’ve ever done. That would be hard. I get it. Imagine hating me and I’m just over here in my backyard feeding chickens. It’s got to be rough.”

    Harrison is currently recovering from neck surgery that postponed her planned title defense against Amanda Nunes at UFC 324 in January. She is expected to return before the end of 2026, with that matchup still waiting to be made.

  • Khamzat Chimaev Fires Back at Ronda Rousey’s UFC Pay Complaints

    Khamzat Chimaev Fires Back at Ronda Rousey’s UFC Pay Complaints

    Khamzat Chimaev has pushed back against Ronda Rousey’s criticism of UFC fighter pay, arguing that the promotion was fundamental to making her career possible in the first place.

    Chimaev posted a video ahead of his UFC 328 middleweight title defense against Sean Strickland on May 9, taking direct aim at Rousey’s ongoing complaints about compensation during her time with the UFC.

    “There would never have been Ronda Rousey without UFC,” Chimaev stated in the video.

    The comment frames Chimaev’s position clearly: whatever frustrations Rousey has expressed about pay, the platform the UFC provided was the foundation for everything that followed, including her Hollywood career, her WWE run, and her status as the most recognizable name in the history of women’s MMA.

    Rousey has been a consistent critic of the UFC’s pay structure since retiring from competition, and her comments have continued ahead of her May 16 return against Gina Carano at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Netflix. Chimaev’s response adds the voice of the promotion’s current middleweight champion to a debate that has included fighters on both sides.

    Chimaev enters his first title defense with a perfect 15-0 record. UFC 328 takes place May 9 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

  • Ronda Rousey Uses WWE Lessons to Give Blunt Career Advice to Next Generation of Female Fighters

    Ronda Rousey Uses WWE Lessons to Give Blunt Career Advice to Next Generation of Female Fighters

    Ronda Rousey has a direct message for the current generation of female MMA fighters: winning fights is not actually the job.

    Speaking at a press conference promoting her May 16 return against Gina Carano at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Rousey challenged fighters who treat promotional obligations as secondary to their training and offered a framework she developed through her WWE experience for approaching every matchup.

    “I think a lot of them need to realize that just going in and fighting isn’t the whole job and putting a lot of thought into like media and stuff like this and being able to get your message across because your job isn’t to win fights, it’s to get people to watch your fights,” Rousey said.

    She was pointed about what she described as an unprepared approach to media that she has observed across the division.

    “I think a lot of girls now are just going to do media and they’re just winging it. And it shows. You need to put just as much effort into promotion as you do into fighting if you want anyone to watch your awesome fight.”

    Rousey then shared a specific question she learned to ask in WWE that she believes applies equally to MMA.

    “There’s something that I kind of learned in pro wrestling is every single time that we had a match, we’d ask ourselves, ‘What’s the story of the match?’ I would advise everybody in MMA at any matchup that you have, think, ‘What is the story of my match? What is something unique that just the two of us bring to the table that you would never see in any other matchup?’”

    She closed with the bluntest version of the message.

    “It’s not your job to be cool, it’s to get people to watch your f**king fight. So, please think about it.”

    Rousey made her professional MMA debut in March 2011 and became UFC women’s bantamweight champion in 2013, spending several years as the sport’s most recognized global star before transitioning to Hollywood and WWE.

  • Matt Brown Makes Strong Prediction About Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano

    Matt Brown Makes Strong Prediction About Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano

    Matt Brown believes Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano will draw massive numbers on Netflix and leave the audience feeling like they wasted their time, and he has a blunt explanation for why.

    Speaking on The Fighter vs. The Writer, Brown drew a direct comparison between the May 16 fight and the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match, framing both as spectacles that generate interest without delivering the quality of competition that genuine fight fans want.

    “It will do big numbers but who is actually going to care?” Brown said. “How many times are going to walk away from a fight and kind of feel icky and wish that we didn’t watch it? I think we’re going to feel the same thing with this fight. Feel like we wasted our time. Maybe not feel icky but we’re going to feel like we wasted our time.”

    He also argued that fights like this one ultimately drive audiences toward the UFC rather than away from it. “People are going to become fight fans and they’re like, ‘I’m sick of this shit, can I just watch a real fight?’ Oh yeah, we have a place that does that. It has all the best fights in the world.”

    Brown was equally direct about Rousey’s ongoing attacks on the UFC and her comments about bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison, dismissing both as noise that nobody is taking seriously. “She seems like so angry about nothing sometimes. I don’t think anyone’s buying the schtick. Nobody believes that she’s going to do anything with Kayla Harrison.”

    On Carano’s motivations for returning after 17 years away from competition, Brown said the answer is straightforward. “She hasn’t fought in 17 years. Clearly she was done fighting and had no intention to fight again and then she gets a call and they offer her enough money where she’s like, ‘OK, well, I’ll do that.’ It’s hard to believe it’s anything other than a paycheck.”

    He closed with a question about whether anything either fighter could do in the remaining weeks before the fight would generate genuine excitement for the actual bout.

    “Even if they were at each other’s throats and throwing chairs at the press conference, you’d still be like, ‘you two aren’t really going to give us that great of a fight.’ There’s nothing exciting about this.”

    Rousey vs. Carano headlines the Netflix card on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

  • Gina Carano Breaks Silence On Viral Lip Bite Ahead Of MMA Return After 17 Years – ‘Total Stoner Moment’

    Gina Carano Breaks Silence On Viral Lip Bite Ahead Of MMA Return After 17 Years – ‘Total Stoner Moment’

    Gina Carano built her early reputation not just on performances inside the cage, but also on moments that carried far beyond it. One of the most enduring came in 2009, when a brief cageside reaction turned into a viral clip that has followed her for years.

    Back in 2009, during Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz, Carano was in attendance as a rising star in the promotion, with a highly anticipated bout against Cris Cyborg on the horizon. That night, cameras repeatedly caught her in the crowd, capturing a now-iconic moment in which she looked into the lens and bit her lip with a playful smile.

    The clip quickly gained traction and has since been immortalized across GIFs and memes, becoming one of the most recognizable non-fight moments in MMA history.

    Gina Carano Finally Explains Viral Moment

    During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Carano opened up about what was actually going through her mind at the time, and the explanation is far less calculated than fans might expect.

    “I don’t smoke weed, but I had smoked weed (that night), and I was just living in my head,” Carano said. “The cameraman just kept on putting (the camera on me) – and I thought it was in my head because I was a little bit stoned. … I was just in my head. I was like, ‘Is this guy putting the camera on me a lot, or am I just being super paranoid?’ It turns out he was putting the camera on me a lot. So what was going through my head: Just like, ‘Act normal, act normal.’ And that happened. It was a total stoner moment.”

    Rather than a deliberate attempt to create a memorable TV moment, “Conviction” described it as a spontaneous reaction to repeatedly being put on camera while feeling slightly out of it. The result, however, took on a life of its own.

    “I don’t know,” Carano said. “The cameraman just kept on putting—and I thought it was in my head because I was a little bit stoned. I don’t smoke weed anymore because I’m not a weed smoker; it’s just too much for me. I don’t like anything that, like, I don’t even really drink anymore, barely. I’m like a whole different person.

    “It was just in my head, I was like, ‘Is this guy putting the camera on me a lot or am I just being super paranoid?’ It turns out he was putting the camera on me a lot, so what was going through my head, just like, ‘Act normal. Act normal,’ and that happens. So it was a total stoner moment.”

    Now 44, Carano is set to return to competition for the first time since her 2009 loss to Cyborg, ending a layoff that has stretched close to 17 years. She is scheduled to face Ronda Rousey on May 16 in a bout that headlines Netflix’s first live MMA event at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

  • Gina Carano Reveals She Was Pre-Diabetic After Mandalorian Firing Left Her In Physical and Emotional Collapse

    Gina Carano Reveals She Was Pre-Diabetic After Mandalorian Firing Left Her In Physical and Emotional Collapse

    Gina Carano has given the most detailed account yet of how her firing from The Mandalorian in 2021 affected her health, revealing she became pre-diabetic during a five-year retreat from public life before fighting her way back.

    Speaking with Ariel Helwani on Wednesday, Carano described the immediate aftermath of the cancellation as a physical and emotional collapse that went far beyond losing a job.

    “I had so much anxiety in my body that my face hurt. Like my skin hurt me,” Carano said. “My soul was just crushed. My heart was broken. I felt like there was such injustice in what happened. It was just so harsh.”

    Paparazzi and stalkers began showing up at her door. She and her partner sold their Los Angeles home, bought an RV, tried Nashville, and eventually settled in Montana. By late 2024, her doctor delivered a serious warning.

    “You go to the doctor, you get your blood work, you’re pre-diabetic, you’re in trouble, you’re very sick. Time to get your life,” Carano said.

    September 2024 was the turning point. She committed to getting physically healthy, and by the time Dana White called her in December about a potential fight, she had already lost 30 pounds. The fight with Rousey, eventually made through Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix rather than the UFC, became the framework her recovery was built around.

    “I’m happy to have had it lead me here, because I’m doing this thing that saved my life in the beginning and now it’s saving my life again,” she said. “It’s fresh, it’s exciting, it feels groundbreaking, and I feel like I just had to get back to who I am. This is where it started.”

    Carano said she wants her comeback to carry a message for anyone else who has been in a similar place, and that she has moved well past any concern about how the story looks from the outside.

    “I want people to know, I’m over embarrassment by now, you’re never too far gone,” she said. “You can bring yourself back from cancellation, from being really obese. If you’re in an unhealthy state and something bad happens to you, that semi-healthy state turns into devastation on your body and it’s really hard to turn the corner on that.”

    Carano vs. Rousey headlines the first live MMA event on Netflix on May 16 from the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

  • Gina Carano Warns Ronda Rousey: ‘I Want Her To Feel Everything I Have’

    Gina Carano Warns Ronda Rousey: ‘I Want Her To Feel Everything I Have’

    Gina Carano made one thing clear in her conversation with Ariel Helwani on Wednesday: the friendship she and Ronda Rousey have built in the lead-up to May 16 ends when the cage door closes.

    Speaking ahead of their Netflix fight at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, Carano was direct about what Rousey should expect from her when the fight begins and pushed back on any suggestion that showing up would be enough.

    “Ronda’s been waiting to fight me for a very long time,” Carano said. “I don’t want to disappoint. I want her to feel everything I have. I want her to feel what she’s been chasing. It’s respectful to her. This is what I feel like, this is what this experience with me is going to feel like. So yeah, we’re going to go for it.”

    Helwani pressed Carano on whether the two women genuinely want to hurt each other. Her answer drew on what she described as a quality shared by most women who compete at a high level.

    “If you have females sparring in the gym, it’s really hard to not go heavy,” Carano said. “Women just cut that emotional thing off and it’s ‘me or you.’ Ronda has that. I have that. Most of the girls in the gym have that. So it’s just: we’re going to fight.”

    When Helwani asked whether the result even matters given the symbolic weight of the fight, Carano did not hesitate. “I really want to win. Like, I really want to win.”

    She framed May 16 as the proper conclusion to a chapter rather than the start of a new one. The fight is scheduled at featherweight with no one-pound allowance, matching the weight class she competed at throughout her EliteXC and Strikeforce career.

    “For me it’s purely about having gotten in shape, going through everything, getting back in there against an incredible opponent, putting on a great show. And really just going for that W and closing this part of my life.”

    She described the mindset shift that brought her to this point as a choice between two directions. “You can go left and choose to hate yourself and hate the world and all of that, or you can go right and get your shit together and say, ‘I’m going to do everything I can.’ I’ve chosen to go that direction, and I feel more alive than I’ve ever felt.”

    Carano vs. Rousey headlines the first live MMA card on Netflix on May 16 from the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

  • Gina Carano Says Dana White Called First About Fight Against Ronda Rousey

    Gina Carano Says Dana White Called First About Fight Against Ronda Rousey

    Gina Carano has revealed the full timeline of how her May 16 fight against Ronda Rousey came together, and the path ran through a collapsed UFC deal before Rousey stepped in to finish the job herself.

    Speaking with Ariel Helwani on Wednesday, Carano explained that Dana White made the first call in December 2024, months after she had already begun working on her own to get back into fighting shape.

    “Dana called in December,” Carano said. “From September 2024 to when Dana called in December, I had lost about 30 lbs by that point, but I had a long way to go.”

    White had spent the back half of 2024 publicly teasing a major announcement, which Carano confirmed was tied to her. She asked him to stay quiet while she found a gym and got into condition without public scrutiny. Those initial conversations were UFC conversations, and they eventually stalled.

    Carano was candid about where her negotiating leverage actually sat. “I didn’t really have that much negotiating power, except for the fact that Ronda wants to fight me. I’m the only one she wants to fight. So I was just like, ‘Ronda, go for it.’”

    When the UFC negotiations went nowhere, Rousey handled it personally. The two women, linked by dream fight hypotheticals for more than a decade, finally sat down together in person.

    “She really led the way, she led the way a thousand percent. I just said yes. And then when their negotiations weren’t going anywhere, she called me personally. And then we had dinner and actually talked about it,” Carano said.

    The fight landed at Most Valuable Promotions with Netflix as the distribution partner, making Carano the headliner of the first live MMA card the streamer has ever produced. For Carano, the entire process had a clarity that she found grounding.

    “When you have a purpose and a goal, this goal of a fight has really just consumed me and put a protective shield over me that I needed to experience,” she said. “It’s very selfish. Eat, sleep, train. I needed to live like this for a second. And I’m already going to miss it.”

    Carano vs. Rousey headlines the Netflix card on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

  • Ronda Rousey Blasts Kayla Harrison At NYC Presser: “Eat Your Groceries”

    Ronda Rousey Blasts Kayla Harrison At NYC Presser: “Eat Your Groceries”

    Ronda Rousey turned a question about Kayla Harrison’s “irrelevant” comments into a nearly four-minute demolition at the MVP MMA press conference in New York City on Wednesday, torching the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion over her legacy, charisma, pay, and even her recent neck surgery.

    The press conference at Palladium Times Square was held to promote the May 16 Rousey vs. Gina Carano showdown at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, which streams live on Netflix. Host Ariel Helwani relayed Harrison’s recent remark labeling Rousey and Carano irrelevant, and Rousey did the rest.

    Rousey Frames Harrison As A Product Of Her Own Legacy

    Rousey’s opening salvo built a legacy case before it threw a punch. She argued Carano is the reason the UFC’s 145-pound women’s division ever existed, and that Harrison only has a UFC job because of the foundation Rousey built.

    “Gina is so relevant that she’s the whole reason the 145-pound division even exists,” Rousey said. “And I am so relevant that the only reason she has a job at the UFC is because of me. And Kayla is so irrelevant that she couldn’t even keep the 145-pound division around.”

    From there, Rousey pivoted to a charisma attack that doubled as a shot at Harrison’s drawing power. “She’s just sour because no matter what she does or what she accomplishes, she can’t change the fact that she has the charisma of a wet towel and will always be in me and Gina’s shadow,” Rousey said.

    The “Neck Brace” Shot And The Groceries Line

    Ronda Rousey blasts Kayla Harrison

    Rousey didn’t spare Harrison’s recent medical issues. Harrison withdrew from her scheduled UFC 324 title defense against Amanda Nunes in January after being diagnosed with herniated discs in her neck, which required surgery.

    “She can’t look down at her feet because she’s too busy holding on to the belt and a neck brace,” Rousey said.

    The loudest moment came when Rousey weaponized a past act of kindness. Harrison had publicly credited Rousey in the past for buying her groceries when she was broke training in Japan.

    “What did she say after she won the belt? ‘Oh, I’m never going to say anything bad about Ronda. She took care of me when I was broke in Japan and bought me groceries,’” Rousey recounted. “How about you shut the f**k up and eat your groceries?”

    Rousey also pushed back on reports that Harrison questioned her judo training history in Canada. “Over the last decade and a half of being a public figure, I have cultivated a reputation for being unabashedly truthful,” Rousey said. “This b**ch just got here and was already caught in a lie.”

    The Pay Shot And A Paddy Pimblett Pitch

    Rousey then moved the argument to money, questioning how Harrison’s upcoming fight can be labeled the biggest in women’s MMA history when the UFC is booking it beneath a men’s interim title fight. Harrison’s planned title defense against Nunes has been rumored as a potential co-main to a Paddy Pimblett interim lightweight title bout.

    “Her and Hunter trying to act like her next upcoming fight is the biggest women’s fight of all time, then why is it being booked as a co-main to a men’s interim title fight?” Rousey said. “The fight isn’t even bigger than Patty the Baddy. No offense to Patty, I think he’s got more potential than anybody in the UFC, and he should call me when his contract runs out.”

    Rousey also claimed a pay disparity. “If she thinks her fight is the biggest women’s fight of all time, why is she getting paid less now than I was 10 years ago? So, is this b**ch overvalued or is she underpaid?”

    “The Biggest MMA Fight Of All Time”

    Rousey closed by reframing Rousey vs. Carano as an industry moment, not just a personal grudge. She pointed to Netflix’s global footprint and MVP’s fighter-first pitch as the reason the May 16 card matters.

    “This is the biggest MMA fight of all time. It’s going to get the most views on the biggest platform on a card with the biggest stars,” Rousey said. “And it was all assembled by and will be headlined by two women who dare to dream big. This dream is going to bring more opportunities and greater revenue share to fighters than they’ve ever had before, because this fight is bigger than just me and Gina.”

    Harrison, 35, captured the UFC women’s bantamweight title via second-round kimura submission of Julianna Peña at UFC 316 in June 2025. Rousey opened as a heavy favorite over Carano, who has not competed since 2009.

  • Ronda Rousey Shuts Down Age Critics Before Long-Awaited MMA Return On May 16 – ‘Not Like My Ovaries are ighting’

    Ronda Rousey Shuts Down Age Critics Before Long-Awaited MMA Return On May 16 – ‘Not Like My Ovaries are ighting’

    Ronda Rousey is set to make her long-awaited return to MMA nearly a decade after her last fight, and she is pushing back firmly against doubts tied to her age.

    The former UFC bantamweight champion will face Gina Carano on May 16 in a high-profile bout that will headline the first MMA event to stream live on Netflix. The matchup brings together two of the sport’s early stars, though it has also sparked debate due to the extended time both fighters have spent away from competition.

    “Rowdy”, now 39, has not competed since her loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in December 2016, where she was stopped in just 48 seconds.

    That result came after her first professional defeat against Holly Holm at UFC 193 in November 2015, which ended her dominant run as champion. Rousey holds a 12-2 record in professional MMA, including a 6-2 stint in the UFC.

    Ronda Rousey Addresses Criticism Over Age

    During a recent interview on CBS Mornings, Rousey dismissed the idea that her age should be seen as a limitation, as questions about her comeback continue to dominate discussion in the MMA community.

    “I never hear Jon Jones’ age being brought up as a disqualifying factor,” Rousey said. “It’s not like my ovaries are fighting. You know what I mean? Why are we even talking about this?”

    At her peak, Rousey was one of the most dominant fighters in the sport. She successfully defended the UFC women’s bantamweight title six times, often finishing opponents in under a minute, while becoming one of the promotion’s biggest crossover stars.

    Following her time in MMA, “Rowdy” transitioned into professional wrestling with WWE and appeared in several Hollywood films. Despite her long absence, she never officially retired, which left the possibility of a return open.

    “There was kind of like a cascade of things that led to it, but largely I wanted to rewrite my own ending in MMA,” Rousey said. “It was just unfinished. I never formally retired. Dana said I retired and I hadn’t fought in, like, 10 years, so I think I needed everyone to kind of give up on me coming back before I knew I was coming back just for me.”

    Carano, 43, has not competed since 2009, when she suffered a knockout loss to Cris Cyborg.

    For Rousey, the upcoming fight is expected to be a one-time return, aimed at closing her career on her own terms while rediscovering her connection to the sport.

  • Ronda Rousey Admits She Hated Her Coach Ahead of Gina Carano Fight: ‘I Was Like This Motherf***er Is So Fake’

    Ronda Rousey Admits She Hated Her Coach Ahead of Gina Carano Fight: ‘I Was Like This Motherf***er Is So Fake’

    UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey recently enlisted a familiar face for her corner ahead of her fight against Gina Carano on May 16. However, it’s a coach she once despised. Ricky Lundell, who worked with Miesha Tate during The Ultimate Fighter, is now training Rousey for her comeback bout.

    Lundell served as one of Tate’s coaches on the reality show when she faced Rousey in one of MMA’s most heated rivalries. Rousey couldn’t stand him despite his kindness toward her.

    “We were mortal enemies,” Rousey said on her YouTube channel. “He was coaching against me on The Ultimate Fighter and he was so nice, I was like this motherf*cker is so patronizing and fake and I hated his guts.”

    Rousey admitted Lundell’s genuine kindness seemed impossible to believe.

    “This is a common theme, by the way, that he’s so nice that everyone was like ‘this motherf*cker is not for real.’ He’s really just being a passive-aggressive assh*le, but he’s actually the nicest motherf*cker.”

    Even after defeating Tate for a second time, ‘Rowdy’ maintained her grudge. She later found herself around Lundell again when he coached her future husband, Travis Browne, who trained at the same Glendale gym.

    “I was still like f*ck that guy. He tried to hurt me. He tried to help somebody hurt me, and you’re dead to me.”

    Depression and Reconciliation

    The relationship shifted when Rousey dealt with mental health struggles, likely following her knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes. She stayed at Lundell’s house while Browne trained with him.

    “I fall into a deep depression and Trav goes and stays at Ricky’s house. I’m basically just in the one room, just smoking weed and playing World of Warcraft all day and I would only emerge to eat cereal. But you were really nice and kept me supplied.”

    Lundell’s kindness during that difficult period changed Rousey’s perspective. She eventually agreed to train him in judo when he expressed interest in earning his black belt.

  • Joe Rogan Warns Netflix Could Become MMA’s First Legit Threat To UFC’s Monopoly

    Joe Rogan Warns Netflix Could Become MMA’s First Legit Threat To UFC’s Monopoly

    Joe Rogan outlined why Netflix represents a fundamentally different kind of competitive threat to the UFC than anything the promotion has faced before.

    During a recent episode of the JRE MMA Show, the longtime UFC commentator hosted Dustin Poirier, and the conversation turned to Netflix’s growing push into live sports. They discussed the platform’s expansion into combat sports, highlighted by major boxing events, and its anticipated move into MMA through a partnership with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, slated for May 16.

    Rogan emphasized that this is not just another promotion trying to compete on the fringes, but a global platform with the financial muscle to potentially reshape the sport’s entire economic landscape. He also pointed to boxing as the model Netflix could replicate: fans follow fighters, not promoters.

    “It’s all about the name of the fighters. Just like boxing — nobody cares if it’s Golden Boy or Bob Arum. What they care about is who’s fighting whom. If Netflix can do the boxing thing with big-name stars, they could be a major player, and that will elevate everybody’s pay scale.”

    The Contract Expiration Window

    Joe Rogan’s most pointed observation was not about the upcoming Netflix MMA card itself, which is expected to feature some of the sport’s most recognizable names, such as Ronda Rousey, Gina Carano, Francis Ngannou, and Nate Diaz.

    Instead, the renowned podcaster’s focus was on what could follow if the event proves successful. He highlighted the real threat to the UFC’s dominance as the timing of expiring fighter contracts aligning with a well-funded competitor actively looking to sign top talent.

    “If she’s saying this and Netflix listens, and some shrewd businessman goes, ‘A lot of people’s contracts are coming up — when these people’s contracts come up, let’s get into negotiations,’ all of a sudden some people start drifting over.”

    He identified UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev as a potential domino in that scenario, suggesting that a move from a star of his stature could spark a broader shift among elite contenders.

    “If you get an Islam Makhachev who starts leaving and goes to fight on Netflix, and they can talk four or five top major contenders into going, look, it’s a big ask. But if that happens…”

    A Safety Net That Didn’t Exist Before

    Meanwhile, Dustin Poirier offered a fighter’s perspective on what a more competitive landscape would mean in practical terms. For most of his career, being cut from the UFC did not just mean losing a job, it often meant the possible end of a fighter’s career altogether.

    “Ten years ago, they cut you. There’s only one place to make money — they cut you. You’d have to get a job, maybe fight part-time. Now you can pivot and still have a career.”

    “The Diamond” added that he holds no ill will toward the UFC and sees only positives in the current multi-organization landscape.

    “I love the UFC. I spent most of my professional career there. But I love seeing these other organizations come up and people making money. It lifts everything. It creates more opportunities for fighters. It’s only a good thing.”

    Rogan floated an even wilder card at the end of the conversation: YouTube.

    “Hey guys, we’re YouTube. We’re even bigger than Netflix because YouTube is everywhere.”

    The UFC’s own Paramount era only began in January, and already the question of who else might enter the MMA broadcasting market is on the table. Francis Ngannou — who left the UFC over pay disputes — has already positioned himself as a symbol of what fighters can earn outside the organization.

  • Ronda Rousey Shocks Fans With Surprise AEW Revolution Appearance Ahead Of Long-Awaited MMA Return On May 16

    Ronda Rousey Shocks Fans With Surprise AEW Revolution Appearance Ahead Of Long-Awaited MMA Return On May 16

    Ronda Rousey stepped into an AEW ring on Sunday night at Revolution 2026 — but it’s her May 16 MMA comeback that has the combat sports world paying attention.

    The UFC Hall of Famer appeared at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles following a match between AEW’s Toni Storm and Marina Shafir, entering the ring to go face-to-face with Storm in a charged confrontation that quickly went viral.

    Security and referees separated the two before anything escalated, though Shafir — Rousey’s longtime friend landed a cheap shot on Storm in the melee. Full details on the wrestling segment are at SEScoops.

    Ronda Rousey’s Close Bond With Marina Shafir

    Ronda Rousey’s presence alongside Marina Shafir is far from coincidental. The two share a close bond that dates back well before their time in professional wrestling. Shafir previously trained under the former UFC women’s bantamweight champion, building a connection that later carried over into the wrestling world, where the pair even teamed together in Ring of Honor in 2023.

    Shafir has already confirmed that she will be in Ronda Rousey’s corner for her highly anticipated MMA showdown against fellow veteran Gina Carano.

    The bout is scheduled to take place on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, making Sunday’s appearance feel just as much like a show of support and alliance as it did a wrestling storyline.

    Two Months Out From The Biggest Fight Of 2026

    With her May 16 Netflix card now fully taking shape — Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins confirmed as the co-main event — Rousey’s public profile heading into the fight is exactly where Most Valuable Promotions needs it to be.

    Sunday’s AEW moment puts her in front of a mainstream wrestling audience of millions at a critical point in the promotional calendar.

    “Rowdy”, 39, hasn’t competed in MMA since her TKO loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in December 2016. Her opponent, Gina Carano, 43, last fought professionally in 2009. The fight will be contested at 145 pounds over five five-minute rounds under the Unified Rules of MMA inside a hexagon cage.

    The matchup has drawn high-profile support from Amanda Serrano, who called it a game-changer and praised both women as pioneers of combat sports.

  • Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins Official for May 16 Netflix Card

    Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins Official for May 16 Netflix Card

    Francis Ngannou is officially headed back to MMA. On Monday, it was confirmed that the former UFC heavyweight champion will take on Philipe Lins in a five-round heavyweight contest on May 16 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

    The bout joins the already announced Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano main event on a historic card that will stream live on Netflix. Per ESPN, Ngannou vs. Lins will serve as the co-main event for Most Valuable Promotions’ inaugural MMA show, listed on the official event graphic as a 5×5 professional MMA bout.

    For Ngannou, the fight marks his first MMA appearance since he stopped Renan Ferreira in the first round to win the PFL Super Fights heavyweight championship in October 2024. He parted ways with the PFL earlier this month, making his landing spot on the May 16 card his first bout as a free agent.

    Lins enters the matchup with experience across the UFC, Bellator, and PFL. ESPN noted that the Brazilian won the 2018 PFL heavyweight tournament and previously put together a four-fight winning streak in the UFC from 2022 to 2024.

    According to ESPN, the contest will be contested under the Unified Rules of MMA inside a hexagon cage with 4-ounce gloves. With Ngannou now officially added, the May 16 lineup has become one of the most high-profile MMA events of 2026.

  • Amanda Serrano Backs Rousey vs. Carano, Takes Aim at Critics

    Amanda Serrano Backs Rousey vs. Carano, Takes Aim at Critics

    Amanda Serrano has weighed in on the newly announced Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano fight, praising both women as pioneers and taking a shot at anyone who views the matchup negatively.

    Serrano, who signed a lifetime deal with Most Valuable Promotions in March 2025, shared her thoughts on social media following the announcement that Rousey and Carano will headline MVP’s first-ever MMA event on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, streaming live on Netflix.

    https://x.com/serranosisters/status/2024239427170500820?s=46

    “It’s so cool to have one of the Best combat Athletes back @RondaRousey vs another pioneer of combat sports the beautiful @ginacarano,” Serrano wrote. “Others shining lights won’t dim yours Unless you’re insecure, these women will break Numbers both in Viewerships & in live Attendance. I’m certain they will make a ton of money Raising the game!!”

    She continued, “I feel it for the Lames that think it’s all about them. Real Empowered Women Empower Women! Tissues for the rest.”

    Reactions to Rousey vs Carano

    Serrano’s comments come as the fight has drawn mixed reactions across the combat sports world. While Rousey, 39, hasn’t competed in MMA since her knockout loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in December 2016, and Carano, 43, last fought professionally in 2009, the pairing has generated massive buzz as a dream matchup that never materialized during their primes.

    The Puerto Rican boxing champion knows firsthand what MVP and Netflix can deliver. Serrano’s rematch with Katie Taylor in November 2024 became the most-watched professional women’s sports event in U.S. history with 74 million global viewers, and their trilogy at Madison Square Garden in July 2025 headlined the first-ever all-women’s boxing card at the iconic venue.

    MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian called Rousey and Carano “the two most formative figures in the history of women’s MMA” when announcing the bout. The fight will be contested at 145 pounds over five five-minute rounds under the Unified Rules of MMA.

    A kickoff press conference is scheduled for March 5 at the Intuit Dome, with additional fights on the undercard to be announced in the coming weeks.

  • Ronda Rousey & Gina Carano To Undergo Extensive Pre-Fight Testing

    Ronda Rousey & Gina Carano To Undergo Extensive Pre-Fight Testing

    The pre-fight medicals that Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano will have to go through ahead of their May 16 matchup will be more extensive than the usual for an MMA fighter.

    Per an update from ESPN, Andy Foster — California State Athletic Commission executive director — confirmed that Rousey and Carano will be mandated to go through medical and neurological testing that is more than what is normally required.

    Perhaps the most noteworthy of the additional medical requirements is that the 39-year-old Rousey must go through concussion battery testing.

    “We’re going to put her through neurological and concussion battery testing and make sure she’s OK,” Foster said. “We’re going to have our doctors take a look. The fighters are going to have to do a lot of medicals.”

    In her years away from the Octagon, Rousey has come clean about her history and battles with concussions. The inaugural UFC women’s bantamweight champion and former Olympic bronze medal judoka admitted that she kept concussion diagnoses hidden from the UFC and fight officials, fearing a premature end to her career, as well as a target being placed on her in fights.

    The 43-year-old Carano, however, will go through her own set of in-depth testing due to her inactivity and age. The CSAC requires fighters over the age of 40 must undergo the following: a magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, electrocardiogram (EKG), cardiac testing, an exercise stress echocardiogram, neurocognitive testing, blood work, metabolic panel and ophthalmologic eye exam.

    This is in accordance of recommendations from the Association of Ringside Physicians.

    In spite of the extensive testing, Foster assures that if both women pass everything, the fight will go through.

    “As long as these women pass their medicals and pass all their neurological batteries and do the things they need to do, there’s nothing wrong with this fight,” Foster said.

    Rousey, a 2018 inductee of the UFC Hall of Fame, has not fought in MMA since her sub-minute loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207. She has since had a couple of stints with the WWE, becoming a multiple-time women’s world champion.

    Carano, meanwhile, has not fought since her August 2009 loss to Cris Cyborg in Strikeforce. After the end of her MMA run, Carano had a successful transition to Hollywood, earning roles in films such as Fast & the Furious 6 and Deadpool, as well as the first two seasons of the Disney+ series The Mandalorian.

    Rousey vs. Carano will headline the first MMA card for MVP Promotions, taking place on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California, and airing on Netflix.

  • Ronda Rousey Predicts Netflix Fight Will Out-Draw UFC on Paramount+

    Ronda Rousey Predicts Netflix Fight Will Out-Draw UFC on Paramount+

    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.

    It’s the second public statement from Rousey since the fight was announced. She previously praised Most Valuable Promotions as the “fighter-first” promotion.

    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.

  • Gina Carano’s Coach: “She Has the Capabilities to Shock the World”

    Gina Carano’s Coach: “She Has the Capabilities to Shock the World”

    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.”

    “The Best Gina Carano You’ve Ever Seen”

    Wood was direct about where he stands on the outcome. Carano enters the fight as a significant underdog, a position Wood says he actually prefers.

    “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.”

    Rousey vs. Carano is set for May 16, 2026 on Netflix, promoted by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions. The fight was previously discussed for the UFC as far back as 2015 before those negotiations collapsed.

  • The Dana White Text That Killed Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano in UFC

    The Dana White Text That Killed Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano in UFC

    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.

    A Decade Later

    What the UFC couldn’t make happen in 2015, Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions has now delivered. Rousey vs. Carano is signed for May 16, 2026 — a fight that represents the resolution of one of women’s MMA’s most infamous “what if” stories.

    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.

  • MMA World Reacts to Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano

    MMA World Reacts to Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano

    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.

    Conor McGregor Intrigued

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.