Ronda Rousey might be battling more than one women’s MMA pioneer on May 16.
The combat sports world received some shocking news this week, with an MMA fight between Rousey and Gina Carano being announced well over a decade after talk of that matchup happening in the UFC collapsed.
Rather than the sport’s leading organization, the former UFC bantamweight champion and the ex-Strikeforce contender will do battle on Netflix under the banner of Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions.
The very first MMA fight to air live on the streaming platform will take place at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
Cris Cyborg was among those criticizing the fight in her immediate reaction, but she has now offered to lend one side of the matchup a helping hand.
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Gina Carano could have Cris Cyborg on her team for the Ronda Rousey Netflix fight
Carano’s loss to Cyborg in Strikeforce 17 years ago marked the American’s most recent fight. The Brazilian never fought Rousey but has accused the ex-UFC champ and WWE star of “ducking” her.
With that in mind, it’s clear who the current PFL women’s featherweight titleholder will be rooting for on fight night this May.
And more than just hoping to see Carano having her hand raised, Cyborg is willing to help that result come to fruition.
In a recent social media post, Cyborg dismissed interest in a rematch with her ex-rival now that she is back and instead suggested that she could help the returning 43-year-old train for the Rousey fight.
“I would rather help @ginacarano prepare for her comeback if I can than compete against her,” Cyborg wrote on X.
Netflix’s entry into MMA could be huge
It is safe to say that 2026 has not gotten off to an electric start for the UFC. In a time when many have been complaining about a watered down product with thinner cards, the Paramount era has thus far not done much to change things.
Just one undisputed divisional title fight will take place in the first quarter of 2026, and that was the controversial rematch between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes.
The apparent plan to load up on title fights at the White House has meant a mixed bag of cards early this year, and that has only increased some of the frustration fans have with the UFC.
There has been a distinct lack of competition to put pressure on MMA’s leading promotion, but Netflix’s entry into MMA could change that.
Many expect more eyeballs to be on Rousey vs Carano than any UFC event this year, and the streaming giant could begin to make waves in the MMA realm with the likes of Francis Ngannou also potentially available for fights down the line.
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