Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano reaction: Is this the biggest MMA fight of 2026?
MMA Fighting
February 17, 2026
SAN JOSE, CA - AUGUST 15: Cris Cyborg (R) battles Gina Carano during their Middleweight Championship fight at Stikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg on August 15, 2009 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ronda Rousey is back. And so is Gina Carano. And it’s all thanks to Jake Paul, Most Valuable Promotions, and Netflix.
On Tuesday, MVP announced that former UFC megastar Ronda Rousey and women’s MMA pioneer Gina Carano are set to face off in a five-round fight that airs live on Netflix on May 16 from Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. This marks Rousey’s first fight since 2016 and Carano’s first since 2009.
This incredible comeback clash came out of nowhere, so MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee gave their reaction to the unexpected matchup and what it means for Rousey, Carano, and the future of MMA on Netflix. Is this a one-off showdown or will we see Rousey and/or Carano resume their fighting careers? And what other marquee stars can we expect to see on the May 16 card?
Catch the reaction show in the video above. An audio-only version of the show can be found below and on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your pods.
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Originally published on MMA Fighting on 2/17/2026