Netflix dives into MMA with Ronda Rousey-Gina Carano bout

Most Valuable Promotions is entering a new era.

The Saturday event in Inglewood, Calif., sees the Jake Paul-backed, primarily boxing-based promotion finally try its hand at mixed martial arts. Broadcasting to a global Netflix audience, the card is headlined by a monumental clash between former UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and Strikeforce icon Gina Carano.

Both Rousey (12-2 MMA) and Carano (7-1 MMA) forged unique paths to this stage, diverging heavily from the traditional combat-sports trajectory. Rousey walked away from the Octagon in December 2016 following a first-round loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207, a failed comeback bid 13 months after dropping her bantamweight title to Holly Holm at UFC 193.

Still, Rousey remains the definitive pioneer of modern women's MMA, having successfully defended her UFC bantamweight title six times between February 2013 and August 2015. Her star power was so undeniable that it forced UFC CEO Dana White to walk back his infamous 2011 TMZ claim that women would "never" fight in the UFC.

A successful WWE stint followed, plus the fame that came with it. Rousey gave up pro wrestling for good in October 2023, citing the importance of family and the company's direction at the time. Then, a switch flipped, as Rousey described, late last year.

In several interviews leading up to her MMA return, a five-round featherweight fight vs. Carano, Rousey stated that the matchup is bigger than a personal milestone. If all goes well, she hopes the fight will change the industry forever.

Those ideals were validated Thursday at the pre-fight press conference. Rousey wants MVP to differ from the UFC's business model in multiple areas, including fighter contracts, competitive matchmaking and fan-driven decision-making.

"They're regretting not making it happen now," Rousey said of the UFC missing out on her return. "There's no way that they could have seen how this one fight would reverberate into creating this entire card, bringing MVP into MMA and Netflix into MMA."

Carano, meanwhile, hasn't competed in MMA since August 2009. Her focus shifted to Hollywood, where she made several appearances in movies and television shows, including "The Mandalorian," from which she was fired. Her wrongful-termination suit was settled last year.

Her reason for returning to the cage: the opportunity to fight Rousey, a matchup that had previously had a dark cloud hung over it upon an initial falling out between Carano and White that since has been resolved.

"Me and Ronda have never trained together," Carano said. "There's just not going to be a problem with the aggression at all."

Rousey concurred, putting a bow on the bottom line.

"We don't need to hate each other to give each other our best," Rousey said.

The Netflix card also will feature former Ultimate Fighter winner Nate Diaz (21-13 MMA), who most notably earned a March 2016 win over former UFC two-division champion Conor McGregor, facing bare-knuckle standout and ex-UFC veteran Mike Perry (14-8 MMA).

The so-called "triple main event" also will include the return of former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who will oppose Philipe Lins.

Ngannou (18-3 MMA) makes his return to the cage after a two-fight stint in boxing that saw him drop matches against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Lins (18-5 MMA) enters the fight on a four-match winning streak, as he finished his UFC career record at 4-2.

The 11-fight card culminates with the Netflix portion beginning at 9 p.m. ET.

Main card running order:

Main event: Ronda Rousey (12-2) vs. Gina Carano (7-1), featherweight -- five rounds (non-title)

Co-Main Event: Nate Diaz (21-13) vs. Mike Perry (14-8), welterweight -- five rounds (non-title)

Francis Ngannou (18-3) vs. Philipe Lins (18-5), heavyweight -- five rounds (non-title)

Salahdine Parnasse (22-2) vs. Kenneth Cross (17-4), lightweight

Junior dos Santos (23-10) vs. Robelis Despaigne (5-2), heavyweight

--Field Level Media