Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian’s Most Valuable Promotions have announced their first foray into MMA. MVP will host a professional MMA bout between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano. The entire event will take place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on May 16, 2026, and will be live on Netflix. Both fighters, Paul and Bidarian, have all given their reactions via an MVP press release.
Jake Paul’s MVP announce Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano
MVP and Netflix have both confirmed the historic MMA showdown between UFC legend Ronda Rousey (12-2, 9 Submissions, 3 KOs) and combat sports trailblazer Gina Carano (7-1, 1 Submission, 3 KOs). They compete in a featherweight bout at 145lbs. The bout will be sanctioned under the Unified Rules of MMA and contested over five, 5-minute rounds using 4oz gloves, inside a hexagon cage.
This will be MVP’s inaugural MMA event, and Netflix’s first-ever live MMA broadcast. The streaming giant has made a huge impact in boxing, and will now look to replicate that success in MMA.
Rousey vs Carano announced by Jake Paul & Co
Rousey’s impact on martial arts cannot be overlooked. She was the UFC’s first and most dominant female fighter and Bantamweight Champion, and the first woman inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
She was also influential in moving the WWE division towards its first WrestleMania main event, as the self-proclaimed “Rowdy” Ronda. Reacting to the news, Rousey said: “Been waiting so long to announce this: Me and Gina Carano are gonna throw down in the biggest super fight in women’s combat sport history!”
“And we’re partnering with the fighter-first promotion MVP as well as the biggest and baddest streamer on the planet Netflix. This is for all MMA fans past, present and future. More to come… much more,” added Rousey.
Carano has an impressive record in both MMA and Muay Thai. She has moved to acting, having appeared in films such as Fast & Furious 6, Deadpool, and The Mandalorian.
“Ronda came to me and said there is only one person she would make a comeback for and it has been her dream to make this fight happen between us,” said Carano.
“She thanked me for opening up doors for her in her career and was respectful in asking for this fight to happen. This is an honor. I believe I will walk out of this fight with the win and I anticipate it will not come easy, which I welcome. This is as much for Ronda and me as it is for the fans and mixed martial arts community. What a time to be alive,” added Carano.
Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian share their thoughts
Via a press release, Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian have given their thoughts on signing Rousey.
“MVP has always been driven by disruption and delivering the biggest moments in combat sports on a global scale, and today we are officially bringing that energy to MMA for the first time,” said Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. “Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano are the two most formative figures in the history of women’s MMA; they are the icons who shattered the glass ceiling and helped build the foundation this sport stands on. MVP’s conviction in women’s boxing was driven by the success achieved by Ronda Rousey, who was the biggest star of the entire sport of MMA during her career. Following the unprecedented success of our boxing partnership, we are proving that MVP and Netflix can create blockbuster live events in multiple sports that engage fans across generations. This is what we do.”
