Dana White reacts to Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano happening on Netflix instead of UFC
MMA Fighting
February 22, 2026
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Dana White, the UFC President, expressed his reaction to Ronda Rousey’s decision to return to fighting on Netflix instead of competing under the UFC banner. Rousey, who hasn’t fought since 2016, has partnered with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix for her highly anticipated match against Gina Carano, scheduled for May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. Initially, Rousey reached out to White about facing Carano in the UFC octagon, but negotiations fell through due to financial disagreements.
White acknowledged Rousey’s decision during a press conference following UFC Houston, stating that talks between them had been ongoing since last year but ultimately didn’t materialize. He expressed happiness for both fighters and emphasized that he and Gina Carano are now on good terms. However, the crux of the issue revolved around financial terms, with Rousey revealing that she was offered a record-breaking deal by the UFC in 2025, which fell apart when the pay-per-view model was eliminated as part of the UFC’s $7.7 billion move to Paramount.
Rousey explained that the UFC’s refusal to guarantee her earnings after abandoning the pay-per-view model made it impossible for her to accept their terms. She chose to explore other opportunities, landing with Jake Paul and Netflix, which marks a historic moment in MMA history as Netflix will air its first-ever MMA card. This move highlights the growing competition between traditional sports organizations and emerging platforms willing to invest in high-profile matchups.
The situation also underscores the evolving business dynamics of MMA promotions. While Netflix initially pursued a broader broadcast deal with the UFC but was only interested in marquee pay-per-view events, the UFC’s decision to prioritize its new Paramount
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Originally published on MMA Fighting on 2/22/2026