MVP MMA 1 payouts: How much are Ronda Rousey, Gina Carano & others getting paid? Reported & estimated salaries
(Courtesy : MVP)
MVP MMA 1 emanates from Inglewood, California!
Most Valuable Promotions makes its long-awaited MMA debut as MVP MMA 1: Rousey vs Carano lands at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
Headlining the historic occasion is a women’s featherweight showdown between former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda “Rowdy” Rousey and women’s MMA pioneer Gina Carano, a fight that was supposed to happen in 2009 and has been the subject of speculation, negotiation, and fan longing for the better part of two decades.
The event marks Netflix’s first-ever live MMA broadcast, streaming globally at no additional cost to the platform’s 325+ million subscribers. Commentary duties fall to Mauro Ranallo on play-by-play, Kenny Florian as color analyst, and Sean Wheelock as rules analyst.
Beyond the main event, MVP MMA 1 packs an impressive triple main event structure. Nate Diaz and Mike “Platinum” Perry square off in a five-round welterweight co-main event, while former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou returns to MMA to face 2018 PFL Heavyweight Tournament winner Philipe Lins.
The undercard features heavyweights Junior dos Santos and Robelis Despaigne, lightweight contender Salahdine Parnasse against Kenneth Cross, and a string of compelling bouts filling out one of the most stacked non-UFC cards in recent memory.
Notably, MVP has guaranteed every fighter on the card a minimum purse of $40,000, more than three times the UFC’s typical introductory show pay, with bonuses also available.
Also Read: Latest betting odds for MVP MMA 1 Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano
Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano’s estimated payout
Ronda Rousey is widely considered among the most influential athletes in MMA history, and her financial standing at the top of the sport reflects that legacy.
According to unsealed court documents from a 2023 antitrust lawsuit against the UFC, Rousey earned an estimated $15 to $17 million in total compensation from the UFC across her career. Her biggest single payday came in her final UFC appearance at UFC 207 against Amanda Nunes, where she took home approximately $4.8 million despite lasting just 48 seconds in the cage.
Heading into MVP MMA 1, her first MMA bout in nearly a decade, Rousey is expected to command her highest-ever non-UFC payday. Given the Netflix platform, the marquee matchup, and her role in co-promoting the event, her purse for this fight is estimated to be in the range of $5–7 million when factoring in base pay, revenue share, and promotional stake.
Gina Carano, meanwhile, last competed in MMA in 2009, when she suffered a first-round TKO loss to Cris Cyborg in Strikeforce. In a 2019 interview, Carano revealed that the UFC had once offered her a flat $1 million purse to fight Rousey, which she declined. For her long-awaited return here, and given the scale and platform of the event, Carano is estimated to earn in the region of $1–3 million.
Nate Diaz and Mike Perry’s estimated payout
Nate Diaz’s biggest MMA paydays came in his two blockbuster bouts against Conor McGregor, netting approximately $3 million for the first fight and $4 million for their rematch at UFC 202.
He also reportedly earned $20 million from his boxing crossover against Jake Paul. His MVP MMA 1 purse is expected to fall closer to his peak MMA pay, in the range of $2–4 million.
Mike Perry has steadily built his own pay scale since leaving the UFC. His profile and recent activity put his estimated purse for this card at $500,000–$1 million.
Francis Ngannou and other fighters’ estimated payout
Francis Ngannou’s return to MMA is among the most anticipated subplots of the evening. After UFC success, he fought Tyson Fury to a closely contested split decision before being stopped in two rounds by Anthony Joshua in 2024.
He also scored a stunning first-round knockout over Renan Ferreira in PFL, reportedly earning around $10 million for that appearance. His MVP MMA 1 purse is expected to rank among his highest MMA paydays, estimated in the range of $2–3 million.’
Philipe Lins, who won the 2018 PFL Heavyweight Tournament and its $1 million prize, is estimated to earn in the $150,000–$300,000 range for his bout against Ngannou.
MVP MMA 1 main card fighter payouts
| Fighter | Reported / Estimated Payout |
|---|---|
| Ronda Rousey | $5,000,000 – $7,000,000 |
| Gina Carano | $1,000,000 – $2,000,000 |
| Nate Diaz | $2,000,000 – $4,000,000 |
| Mike Perry | $500,000 – $1,000,000 |
| Francis Ngannou | $2,000,000 – $3,000,000 |
| Philipe Lins | $150,000 – $300,000 |
| Salahdine Parnasse | $100,000 – $200,000 |
| Kenneth Cross | $40,000 – $80,000 |
| Junior dos Santos | $100,000 – $200,000 |
| Robelis Despaigne | $60,000 – $100,000 |
All figures are estimated unless otherwise noted. Estimates are based on prior reported fight compensation data and analyst projections. Official CSAC-reported purses will be made available following the event.
Where can fans tune in to catch MVP MMA 1: Rousey vs Carano?
The entire main card streams live globally on Netflix, included with all Netflix plans at no extra charge. The preliminary card is available to watch for free on Netflix’s Tudum platform and the MVP’s YouTube channel. There is no regional pay-per-view requirement for any part of the event.
What time does the MVP MMA 1 main event between Rousey and Carano start?
Main event cage walks are expected at approximately 11:30 PM ET in the United States, 4:30 AM BST in the UK, and around 9:00 AM IST in India (Sunday, May 17).
What time do the MVP MMA 1 prelims and main card start?
The preliminary card begins at 5:00 PM ET / 10:00 PM BST / 2:30 AM IST, with the main card getting underway at 9:00 PM ET / 2:00 AM BST / 6:30 AM IST. Main event cage walks are expected at approximately 11:30 PM ET / 4:30 AM BST / 9:00 AM IST (Sunday, May 17).Share
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