Gina Carano is preparing for her long-anticipated clash with Ronda Rousey, set to air as Netflix’s first live MMA event. This historic matchup coincides with UFC CEO Dana White privately extending an apology to Carano and even offering her a fight.
Gina Carano on the Genesis of the Ronda Rousey Fight
Carano, who holds a 7-1 MMA record and has been inactive since 2009, appeared on the Jaxxon Podcast ahead of her May 16 bout against former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey. The event, held at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, is co-promoted by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions and will stream to Netflix subscribers at no additional cost. The fight is scheduled at featherweight, 145 pounds.
Carano indicated that Rousey ultimately dictated when this long-rumored fight would materialize, explaining the dynamic:
“From my perspective, the ball was basically in Ronda’s court of like what she wanted to do and where she wanted to take the fight and ultimately I think the fight went where she wanted it to go.”
Carano has previously suggested that Rousey was the primary mover behind the booking, reportedly approaching her and insisting that Carano was the “only one person” she wanted to return against.
Dana White’s December 2024 Call and Offer
Carano also disclosed a recent phone conversation with UFC CEO Dana White in December 2024. She noted this call came during a challenging period in her career, following her termination by Disney. She recalled:
“From my perspective, it was it I got a call from Dana White, December 2024 and he was like, because Dana actually is very cool with me… He was one of the first text messages that said, ‘Hey, you know, um it’s going to be okay.’ You know, and I was like, ‘Dana White like is texting me?’ And out of all the people that didn’t text me, Dana White’s the one that’s like, ‘Hey, you got this.’”
Reports from the podcast appearance highlighted that White’s December call included an apology for past issues and an offer to fight, although Carano reiterated her decision not to return to the traditional fighting circuit. She characterized their relationship as having evolved from past tensions—stemming from a previously failed Rousey bout and “disgusting” messages during earlier negotiations—into a more respectful connection.
The Personal Apology: “He Actually Knelt Down”
Carano further described an earlier incident that significantly altered her perception of White. At an event, while she was seated with her family, White approached her. She clarified her account on the podcast:
“He Knelt Down. He did! He could apologize and he did apologize. We were I was sitting at a table with my family… He got down on his knees. I was like, ‘Oh, wow.’ No, actually, no, he did. That’s respectful. Respectful. It was very nice.”
The original tension between Carano and White dates back to 2014 during stalled negotiations for a UFC fight with Rousey. Carano revealed that White had sent her a text message stating, “This b***h is effing us around.” She initially thought it was a mistake, but White allegedly confirmed it was meant for her. This exchange, combined with White making the negotiations public after she had requested six months to prepare, reportedly shattered her trust and effectively derailed the UFC version of Rousey vs. Carano until the Netflix deal revived it a decade later.
White’s subsequent in-person apology at a family event, where he knelt by her table, was a gesture Carano found deeply respectful and indicative of his character. This history now stands in stark contrast to his supportive December 2024 outreach, where he offered encouragement and a fight ahead of her Netflix return.
