Ronda Rousey Returns to MMA, Criticizes UFC, and Promotes Netflix's Star-Studded Card

Ronda Rousey, making her return to the world of mixed martial arts, openly criticized the UFC, actively promoting Netflix's inaugural live MMA show while dismissively referring to the upcoming UFC "White House card" as a weak offering in comparison.

The former UFC bantamweight champion posted a message on X, reacting to the news that Francis Ngannou vs Philipe Lins had been added to the Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano event scheduled for May 16 on Netflix. She explicitly stated that the Ngannou-Lins bout "joins #RouseyVsCarano on @Netflix May 16th," calling it a "bamf laden double headliner." Rousey characterized this lineup as a result of an approach that "puts fighters and fans ahead of shareholders," tagging Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and concluding her message with a blunt comment: "@ufc's White House card sucks." This statement quickly spread across MMA media as a clear jab at her former employer and its June event in Washington, D.C.

The Netflix event itself promises to be one of the year's standout attractions. 39-year-old Rousey is set to return after a long hiatus to face 43-year-old Gina Carano in a featherweight bout. This fight will headline MVP's inaugural MMA show and will be the first live mixed martial arts broadcast on Netflix. The event is scheduled to be held at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 16, and will be available globally to subscribers at no extra charge, marking Netflix's official entry into the live MMA market after previous combat sports projects. Rousey has already shared training footage and updates about the upcoming match, fueling interest in a fight that has been discussed among fans for over a decade.

The show's appeal is further enhanced by Ngannou's return to MMA. MVP and Netflix confirmed that the former UFC heavyweight champion will face Brazil's Philipe Lins in a five-round heavyweight bout under unified rules, joining the Rousey-Carano fight as a key part of the same card. Ngannou, with an 18-3 MMA record including 13 knockouts, returns to the cage after stints in professional boxing and a PFL championship victory in 2024. Lins, holding an 18-5 record, is a former PFL tournament winner who departed the UFC after a four-fight winning streak without receiving a new contract.

Netflix executives have presented this lineup as a landmark event. The platform's Vice President of Sports described Rousey, Carano, and Ngannou as "generational icons" headlining the service's first MMA broadcast.

Rousey's criticism of the UFC is directly linked to this perceived contrast in presentation. The UFC's "Freedom 250" event, scheduled for June 14 at the White House to coincide with President Donald Trump's 80th birthday, is set to feature Ilia Topuria vs Justin Gaethje for the lightweight title and Alex Pereira vs Ciryl Gane for an interim heavyweight title. Although two championship fights are advertised, some fans and fighters have criticized the card after extensive hype that raised hopes for appearances by bigger names like Conor McGregor and Jon Jones, neither of whom were announced in the final lineup.

Rousey had previously stated that she attempted to negotiate a return to MMA with the UFC but could not reach an agreement with Dana White. Her decision to actively promote MVP's Netflix show can thus be seen as a public extension of their strained relationship.