Netflix is moving into mixed martial arts with its first live event, featuring a comeback fight between former UFC champion Ronda Rousey and former Strikeforce star Gina Carano.
The May 16 card in Inglewood, Calif., will stream live on Netflix and is promoted by Most Valuable Promotions, the company founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian. Organizers presented the event during a press conference on Tuesday and confirmed that the platform will host its first MMA broadcast.
“Two pioneers … are coming your way on May 16 live and exclusively on Netflix, broadcasting its very first mixed martial arts event,” the event host said while announcing the card.
The event will take place at the Intuit Dome and will see Rousey compete in MMA for the first time in a decade. Carano has not fought since 2009, when she lost to Cris Cyborg in a Strikeforce title fight.
Rousey built her reputation as the UFC’s first female star, helping the promotion bring women’s MMA to the Octagon in 2013. Carano was one of the sport’s early pioneers during the Strikeforce era, becoming one of the first female fighters to headline a major card.
The fight will be a wider card that also includes former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, against UFC veteran Philipe Lins. Both fighters appeared at the press conference and confirmed their participation in the event.
For Netflix, the event is another step into live combat sports. The streaming platform previously tested the format with boxing events promoted by Most Valuable Promotions and will now expand that approach to MMA. Promoters have described the card as the first of several potential MMA events on the platform if the launch proves successful.
Additional bouts are expected to be announced in the coming weeks as the card is finalized ahead of the May event. The event is scheduled to stream globally on Netflix as the company continues to experiment with live sports programming.
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Last updated on 2026/03/10 at 21:41
