Nearly a decade after her last fight, Ronda Rousey is stepping back into the cage for a blockbuster showdown against fellow pioneer Gina Carano.
The two women’s MMA trailblazers will meet on May 16 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The fight will headline the first professional MMA event promoted by Most Valuable Promotions, the company co-founded by Jake Paul, and will stream live on Netflix.
The bout will be contested at 145 pounds under the Unified Rules of MMA, scheduled for five five-minute rounds inside a hexagon cage using four-ounce gloves.
Rousey (12-2), 39, was the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in judo in 2008 and later became the inaugural UFC women’s bantamweight champion. She dominated the division from 2013 to 2015, defending her title six consecutive times — a UFC record — and finishing 11 of her first 12 professional fights in the first round, many via her signature armbar.
After suffering knockout losses to Holly Holm in 2015 and Amanda Nunes in 2016, Rousey stepped away from MMA. She transitioned to professional wrestling, becoming a three-time WWE world champion, and was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018. She also built a successful acting career and became a New York Times bestselling author.
Carano (7-1), 43, was one of the earliest stars of women’s MMA, competing from 2006 to 2009 and helping bring mainstream visibility to the sport. She challenged Cris Cyborg for the Strikeforce women’s featherweight title in her final MMA bout before moving into acting, with roles in major films and television series.
Carano has long hinted at a return to fighting, and this matchup ends a 17-year hiatus from professional MMA competition.
In statements released Tuesday, both fighters described the bout as a dream matchup years in the making. Rousey said Carano was the only opponent who could draw her back to the sport, while Carano called the fight an honor and predicted a hard-fought battle.
The event marks a significant expansion for Most Valuable Promotions, which has primarily focused on boxing. Company executives described the fight as a generational moment for women’s combat sports, pairing two athletes widely credited with breaking barriers and helping establish women’s MMA on a global stage.
A kickoff news conference is scheduled for March 5 at Intuit Dome, with additional fights expected to be announced for the card in the coming weeks.
For longtime fans, the matchup represents more than just a comeback. It’s a clash between two foundational figures of women’s mixed martial arts — finally meeting in the cage after years of speculation.
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