Particle.news

Rousey vs. Carano Set for May 16 on Netflix After UFC Talks Collapse

Rousey says the UFC’s switch to a Paramount+ streaming model ended PPV-based guarantees, prompting her to take the fight to Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions on Netflix.

Overview

  • Two women’s MMA pioneers will meet at 145 pounds at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood on a Most Valuable Promotions card that marks Netflix’s first live MMA event, with both returning after long layoffs.
  • Rousey told The Jim Rome Show that Dana White initially offered a record PPV-points deal, but a delay to 2026 pushed the bout into the UFC’s new streaming era without PPV economics.
  • She says the promotion would not guarantee the payout she sought under the Paramount+ deal, framing the move as a shift toward cost-controlled matchmaking.
  • California officials confirmed over-40 medical protocols will apply, including MRIs, MRAs, cardiac screening and neurocognitive testing before either fighter is cleared.
  • Cris Cyborg offered to help train Carano and echoed Rousey’s criticism of UFC pay, while former UFC champion Sean Strickland dismissed the matchup as noncompetitive.