Ronda Rousey Makes Shock Return To MMA

 In a bombshell announcement that has sent shockwaves through the combat sports world, former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey is returning to MMA for the first time in nearly a decade. The 39-year-old trailblazer will square off against fellow pioneer Gina Carano in a highly anticipated featherweight superfight on May 16, 2026, at the state-of-the-art Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

The bout, promoted by Most Valuable Promotions, the fighter-first company co-founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, will be streamed live globally on Netflix, marking the streaming giant’s first-ever live MMA event. The five-round contest will be contested at 145 pounds under the Unified Rules of MMA, inside a hexagon cage with 4-ounce gloves.

Rousey (12-2, 9 submissions, 3 KOs) last competed in MMA on December 30, 2016, suffering a first-round TKO loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207. Since then, she has built a successful career in WWE, acting, authorship, and motherhood.

Whether this marks the start of full comebacks or a one-night-only spectacle for the ages, one thing is certain: on May 16, two legends who helped build the foundation of modern women’s MMA will finally share the cage, and the world will be watching on Netflix.