Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey leveled sharp criticism at the Ultimate Fighting Championship as she prepares for her return to mixed martial arts competition on May 16, 2026, against Gina Carano. The bout, a landmark event for both fighters and for combat sports broadcasting, will be streamed live on Netflix from the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, marking Netflix’s first foray into live MMA events and the debut of Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) in the sport.
During an appearance on The Jim Rome Show, Rousey detailed a negotiation with UFC President Dana White that ultimately fell apart due to concerns over a shifting pay-per-view landscape. Rousey claimed she sought a deal that would have compensated her more per pay-per-view buy than any other fighter in UFC history. According to Rousey, White initially offered a contract meeting that demand.
“I went to (Dana White) and said, ‘Dude, you always say that I’m the best fighter you ever worked with. Like, reward me for it. Don’t punish me for being uncomplicated to work with. Supply me the best deal you ever gave anybody,’” Rousey recounted. “He came back and he literally brought me a deal where I would make more per pay-per-view buy than anybody in history.”
However, the timing of the offer coincided with the UFC’s transition from traditional pay-per-view to a streaming model through its agreement with ESPN. This shift, Rousey asserted, prompted the UFC to reconsider its willingness to guarantee her the previously discussed compensation.
“It happened to travel to the other side of when ESPN deal and their pay-per-view model would be ending and they would be going to streaming,” Rousey explained. “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.”
Rousey characterized the UFC’s current approach as prioritizing cost-effectiveness over showcasing the most compelling fights. She argued that the promotion is incentivized to minimize fighter payouts to avoid setting higher standards for future negotiations. “It’s in their best interest actually not to set on the best fights possible, but to spend as little as money as possible so that they can keep it,” she stated.
This perceived reluctance to adequately compensate its top stars ultimately led Rousey to seek opportunities outside the UFC, culminating in the agreement with MVP and Netflix to face Carano. “It no longer made sense for for me to go over there because they didn’t want to pay us the money that we deserve because then for the rest of the the time of the deal, they’re going to have to pay everybody else more. And so then I decided to look elsewhere,” Rousey said.
The May 16 event will feature a unique hexagon-shaped cage, differing from the octagon traditionally used in UFC events. The fight will be a professionally sanctioned featherweight bout (145lbs) contested over five, five-minute rounds, utilizing four-ounce gloves, consistent with UFC championship standards. MVP’s previous success with Netflix, including the highly viewed Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match in 2024, reportedly drew 125 million viewers, contributed to the confidence in this venture, according to MVP officials.
A kickoff news conference for the fight is scheduled for March 5 at the Intuit Dome, coinciding with the start of ticket sales. Presale tickets are available through RouseyCarano.com.
