UFC Hall of Fame member Ronda Rousey attempted to get her newly announced fight with Gina Carano inside the Octagon, but there was apparently not enough interest from the UFC in hosting the matchup. Announced on Tuesday, February 17, Rousey will face Carano for the first time ever in what marks the first fight for both women in several years. A previous attempt to make the fight in the UFC years ago was famously derailed due to misrouted text messages to Carano.
Speaking to ESPN MMA on Tuesday, Rousey confirmed that she reached out to UFC President Dana White to gauge interest in hosting the bout. While she did not specify if the refusal came from White or broader TKO leadership, she noted that the lack of a deal led to the current partnership with Netflix.
“It didn’t exactly work out with the UFC, but it led us here today,” Rousey said.
The 145-pound featherweight fight is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. The event is promoted by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and will serve as Netflix’s first-ever live MMA broadcast. Rousey explained that the idea has been in development for over a year, stemming from a desire to help Carano, whom she credits for the success of women’s combat sports.
“We fought for this. We fought to fight each other,” Rousey stated, acknowledging the obstacles both women had to overcome to finalize the deal. “I owe her immensely.”
Rousey, 39, last competed in the UFC in December 2016, while Carano, 43, has not fought professionally since 2009. Carano noted in a separate statement that Rousey told her Carano was the only person she would make an MMA comeback for. The event will be professionally sanctioned under the Unified Rules of MMA and contested over five 5-minute rounds using 4-ounce gloves.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit ESPN MMA with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
