Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano Headlines MVP MMA’s Historic Netflix Debut

Women’s MMA pioneers Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano will return to the cage this weekend as they headline MVP MMA’s first-ever event.

The bout, which will be streamed live on Netflix, will take place at featherweight (145 lbs) and be contested over five five-minute rounds.

Both women will come out of retirement to compete in the bout, with Rousey’s last fight taking place in 2016 when she faced Amanda Nunes at UFC 207.

Carano returns from an even lengthier hiatus, having not competed since 2009, when she suffered the only defeat of her professional career at the hands of Cris Cyborg.

To put that into perspective, Max Holloway’s entire MMA career, both amateur and professional, has taken place since Carano last stepped into the cage.

Nine and a half years away from the sport compared to 16 and a half means there is, without a doubt, an element of the unknown surrounding this fight.

During that time, Carano spent years working as an actress, appearing in productions such as The Mandalorian, while Rousey transitioned into professional wrestling with WWE.

With both women returning after career-ending losses, each will be looking to rewrite the final chapter of her MMA career and ultimately leave the sport on a high note.

Despite their time away from the cage, it is unlikely either woman will stray far from her primary strengths.

Rousey, an Olympic medallist in judo, will look to implement her patented grappling.

During her career, she became known for her exemplary armbar, which she typically set up through judo throws and trips from the clinch.

As a result, nine of her 12 professional wins came by armbar, earning championship titles in both Strikeforce and the UFC.

It could be argued that Rousey’s armbar remains one of the most dangerous weapons in the history of women’s mixed martial arts.

Carano’s preferred method of violence is through the stand-up.

Before entering the cage, Carano compiled a strong 12-1-1 record in Muay Thai, developing the foundation for her MMA striking.

“Conviction” brought that background into her MMA game, using slick, fast combinations to overwhelm opponents on the feet.

Come Saturday night, Carano, a 15-to-4 underdog, will look to keep the fight at range and exploit any potential holes in Rousey’s stand-up that have been exposed in the past.

The clinch is something she will want to avoid at all costs in order to defy the bookmakers, as it could spell disaster for her comeback.

The entirety of MVP MMA: Rousey vs. Carano will stream live on Netflix at no additional cost to subscribers.

Other main card bouts include Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry, as well as Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins.
The bout marks Ngannou’s first MMA appearance since his dominant victory over Renan Ferreira in the PFL, a performance that reaffirmed his status as one of the most dangerous heavyweights in combat sports.

This marks another collaboration between MVP and Netflix, which previously hosted Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua using the same format.

By leveraging Netflix’s platform, MVP MMA will gain access to more than 325 million subscribers worldwide, instantly reaching new audiences and demographics, including viewers who may not typically follow combat sports.

In doing so, both parties continue to challenge the traditional pay-per-view model often used for boxing and MMA events featuring the sport’s biggest stars.

With no paywall standing in the way, time will tell whether this approach translates into record-breaking viewing numbers.