MVP MMA 1 Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano: Preview, match card, news, timings & telecast details
The dream fight 17 years in the making finally arrives on Netflix.
Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano share a cage on Saturday night for a fight that was supposed to happen in 2009 and has been the subject of speculation, negotiation, and fan longing ever since. The historic fight night takes place on May 16, marking Netflix’s first-ever live MMA broadcast and MVP’s inaugural MMA event.
Headlined by Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, the event also includes Nate Diaz vs Mike Perry and Francis Ngannou vs Philipe Lins, bringing together some of the biggest names in combat sports live on Netflix. The massive fight, promoted by Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), will stream live globally only on Netflix at no additional cost to the platform’s 325+ million members.
“MVP delivered the most-viewed boxing event since the advent of cable, and now we’re set to break records again with the biggest viewership in MMA history,” said Nakisa Bidarian, CEO of Most Valuable Promotions.
MVP MMA 1 — Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano: Main Card
- Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano — Women’s Featherweight (145 lbs), 5 rounds
- Nate Diaz vs Mike Perry — Welterweight (170 lbs), 5 rounds
- Francis Ngannou vs Philipe Lins — Heavyweight (265 lbs)
- Salahdine Parnasse vs Kenneth Cross — Featherweight (145 lbs)
- Junior dos Santos vs Robelis Despaigne — Heavyweight (265 lbs)
MVP MMA 1 — Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano: Prelims (Tudum / MVP YouTube)
- Namo Fazil vs Jake Babian — Welterweight (170 lbs)
- Adriano Moraes vs Phumi Nkuta — 130-lb catchweight
- Jason Jackson vs Jeff Creighton — Welterweight (170 lbs)
- David Mgoyan vs Albert Morales — Featherweight (145 lbs)
- Aline Pereira vs Jade Masson-Wong — 130-lb catchweight
- Chris Avila vs Brandon Jenkins — 165-lb catchweight
Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano — Main Event (Women’s Featherweight, 145 lbs)
Carano was the face of women’s MMA during the EliteXC and Strikeforce era, the first woman a major American television network was willing to put on a fight night. Rousey was emerging as a judo-based finishing machine.
The matchup everyone wanted never materialised because Cris Cyborg ended Carano’s career with a first-round stoppage in August 2009. Seventeen years later, both women arrive at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood carrying very different kinds of rust and very different stories.
Saturday’s fight marks the first MMA bout for Rousey since her UFC run ended with back-to-back knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes in 2015 and 2016. Prior to those contests, Rousey was the most dominant fighter in women’s MMA. She opened her career with six armbar submission wins, winning and defending the Strikeforce women’s bantamweight title before the UFC bought that organisation.
Rousey, 39, is one of the biggest draws and most influential athletes in MMA history. An Olympic medalist in judo who parlayed her gifts into a lightning-in-the-bottle run as a prizefighter, she famously played an integral role in UFC CEO Dana White opening the doors for women to compete in the UFC.
Rousey was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018, becoming the first female inductee. Following her run with the UFC, Rousey went on to the WWE, where she would win the Raw Women’s Championship, the SmackDown Women’s Championship, and the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship, and also participated in the first women’s match to headline WrestleMania.
Nate Diaz vs Mike Perry — Co-Main Event (Welterweight, 170 lbs)
Diaz officially became an MMA legend when he upset Conor McGregor in 2016. A rematch resulted in a close decision loss but also left the door open for a trilogy down the road.
He left the UFC after his win over Ferguson in 2022 and fought Jake Paul in a boxing match, as well as Jorge Masvidal in an MMA loss he avenged in the ring. Perry’s 15-fight UFC run came to a close in 2021, and he has since made a major name for himself as BKFC’s “King of Violence.”
Expect chaos the second these two step into the cage. Fan favourite Nate Diaz brings his trademark pressure and unpredictability against the relentlessly aggressive Mike Perry in a matchup built for violence, swagger, and nonstop action.
Francis Ngannou vs Philipe Lins — Heavyweight (265 lbs)
The matchup marks Ngannou’s highly anticipated return to MMA following his crossover into boxing and a dominant PFL championship victory in 2024.
One of the most feared knockout artists in combat sports returns as Francis Ngannou steps back into the cage against the dangerous and durable Philipe Lins.
Lins has been knocked out four times in his professional MMA career and, having taken two years off, this is far from the ideal preparation to face a fighter with Ngannou’s power.
Date, Time, and Venue for MVP MMA 1 Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Event Name | MVP MMA 1: Rousey vs. Carano |
| Date | Saturday, May 16, 2026 (Sunday, May 17 in India) |
| Location | Inglewood, California, USA |
| Venue | Intuit Dome |
| Prelims Start Time | 6:00 PM ET (Sat) / 11:00 PM BST (Sat) / 3:30 AM IST (Sun) |
| Main Card Start Time | 9:00 PM ET (Sat) / 2:00 AM BST (Sun) / 6:30 AM IST (Sun) |
| Main Event Cage Walks | Approx. 11:00 PM ET (Sat) / 4:00 AM BST (Sun) / 8:30 AM IST (Sun) |
| Where to Watch (Global) | Netflix (Main Card) |
| Where to Watch (Prelims) | Netflix Tudum & MVP MMA YouTube |
| Where to Watch (India) | Netflix |
Where can fans watch MVP MMA 1: Rousey vs Carano?
The massive fight night will stream live globally only on Netflix at no additional cost to the platform’s 325+ million members. Prior to the main card, fans can catch the six prelim fights on Netflix’s Tudum companion site, as well as MVP MMA’s official YouTube channel.
What time does the main event between Rousey and Carano start?
Prelims begin at 6 PM ET and the main card starts at 9 PM ET at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. In India, the main card gets underway at approximately 6:30 AM IST on Sunday, May 17. UK viewers can catch the main card from 2:00 AM BST on Sunday. Fans in the United Kingdom are looking at the same early morning start time for the MVP MMA 1 main card that they are used to for UFC events, with the main card streaming exclusively on Netflix for those with subscriptions.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.
Blesson Daniel is a sub-editor who spends his days organizing words and managing social media, crafting bursts of creativity designed to make people smile. He occasionally dives into writing as well — whether it’s crafting articles, brainstorming ideas, or finding the perfect caption. Believing that every piece of writing offers an opportunity to tell a story, Blesson brings creativity and thoughtfulness to every project he takes on. When he’s not glued to his laptop, Blesson is likely planning his next travel adventure or losing himself in music. A passionate explorer of new places, sounds, and ideas, he believes in balancing work, play, and a good playlist in the background. Whether he’s editing, writing, or daydreaming about his next trip, Blesson is always chasing that sweet spot where creativity and curiosity collide to create something memorable.