Ronda Rousey: Netflix Fight will “Smash” Women’s Sports Pay Record

May 15, 2026

Ronda Rousey is ready to cash in on her first MMA fight in a decade. The former UFC bantamweight champion believes her comeback bout against Gina Carano this weekend will shatter the pay record for female combat sports athletes, undercutting the $5 million both Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor earned for their boxing trilogy last year. Rousey’s last UFC purse was $3 million before her 2016 loss to Amanda Nunes. The fight takes place Saturday, May 16 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, streaming live on Netflix.

Rousey is headlining the debut card for Most Valuable Promotions, a Netflix-backed venture positioning itself as genuine competition to the UFC. This isn’t her first choice. Rousey approached UFC president Dana White about orchestrating her return but talks collapsed. She recalled sitting down with UFC leadership while lactating after giving birth, claiming they didn’t take her seriously. “I think they’re regretting not making it happen now,” Rousey said at the final press conference. LOWKICKMMA