Ronda Rousey believes her upcoming return to MMA will outperform the UFC’s viewership numbers on Paramount+ when she faces Gina Carano on Netflix this May. Speaking on The Jim Rome Show, the former UFC champion revealed that while she initially approached UFC President Dana White to stage the matchup in the Octagon, the UFC’s shift away from the pay-per-view model made the deal financially impossible for the promotion.
“Dana’s now legally obligated to maximize shareholder revenue. It’s not just about proving the concept of fighting and putting on the best fights possible and proving that this is a sport to be taken seriously, I think now that they’ve sold the company, it’s kind of out of Dana’s hands unfortunately,” Rousey said.
The UFC recently began a seven-year, $7.7 billion domestic media rights agreement with Paramount Global, which saw all events move to Paramount+ in early 2026. Rousey suggested that this massive guaranteed revenue stream has changed the promotion’s priorities, leading them to avoid high-guarantee contracts for individual stars that could “lift all the boats” and set a new precedent for fighter pay.
“How do I put it? They didn’t want to set a precedent of giving me the guaranteed money that I deserve because once I raise that tide it lifts all the boats. They just made a $7.7 billion deal at Paramount so it’s in their best interest actually not to put on the best fights possible but to spend as little money as possible so they can keep it,” she added.
The “Rowdy” vs. Carano superfight is now scheduled for May 16, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. The event will be produced by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and serve as Netflix’s first-ever live MMA broadcast. Both women will compete at 145 pounds in a five-round contest.
Current plans for the event include a kickoff press conference in Los Angeles on March 5 to announce the full supporting card. While Rousey is focused on her training in Albuquerque at JacksonWink MMA, Gina Carano has reportedly been receiving offers of help from former rival Cris Cyborg to prepare for her first fight in 17 years.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit The Jim Rome Show with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
