Two MMA legends set for a historic showdown
In the world of mixed martial arts, few names carry as much weight and influence as Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano. These two women helped put female fighting on the global stage in the first place, and for years fans have dreamed of seeing them square off in the cage. Recently Rousey explained why that dream fight wasn’t going to happen in the UFC after all and it’s not just about timing or readiness, but about money, business models, and how the sport is evolving.
The History and Anticipation
Ronda Rousey, a former undefeated UFC women’s bantamweight champion and the first woman inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, has nearly become synonymous with the rise of women’s MMA. After dominating the sport for years with a mix of elite judo and submission skills, she retired in 2016 only to explore wrestling, acting, and other combat sports ventures.
Gina Carano, on the other hand, was one of the earliest female MMA stars. Although she never fought in the UFC during her original MMA career, her exciting fights in Strikeforce and early MMA promotions helped open the door for women in the sport. After transitioning into acting and pop culture, including roles in The Mandalorian and major films, she remains one of MMA’s most recognizable figures.
Fans and fighters alike have long imagined a Rousey vs Carano fight not only for its sporting intrigue but for the cultural moment it would represent. When talks finally began between the two, excitement surged within the MMA community.
Why the UFC Didn’t Make It Happen
In a recent interview on The Jim Rome Show, Rousey explained the key reason the fight didn’t happen under the UFC umbrella money. At one point, talks with UFC President Dana White were promising. Rousey said White was enthusiastic about the match and even sent her an excited voice message when discussions began. But that was before major changes inside the UFC’s business model took shape.
Originally, the plan was to hold the fight under the UFC with a New Year’s date in mind. Rousey was even offered what was described as a record-setting pay-per-view deal, where she would have earned more per buy than any other fighter in history. Rousey said the numbers could have matched or exceeded everything she ever made in her career.
But then everything shifted
The UFC negotiated a massive $7.7 billion deal to broadcast events via Paramount+ and move away from traditional pay-per-view sales. While the new streaming agreement was designed to grow the sport, it also eliminated the lucrative PPV revenue model that fighters like Rousey relied on to earn significant money. Without the PPV points, the economics looked very different and far less attractive for elite fighters asking for guaranteed pay.