Rousey to return in blockbuster bout with gina carano at Intuit Dome

Ronda Rousey will end a decade away from mixed martial arts to meet gina carano in a high-profile superfight scheduled for May 16, 2026 (ET). The five-round featherweight contest is set for the 18, 000-seat Intuit Dome in California and will be streamed live on a major global streaming service, marking a milestone moment for women’s combat sport.

Fight details and stakes

The bout is contracted for five rounds at 145 pounds and promises to be one of the most-watched shows in recent MMA history. Rousey, 39, returns with a professional record of 12-2. Carano, 43, held a record of 7-1 in her fighting career and has not competed in MMA since her 2009 defeat to Cris Cyborg. The venue’s capacity and the decision to take the card to a large-scale live stream underline promoters’ intention to position this as a generational event.

Rousey announced her readiness to make the comeback that framed the match as the biggest super-fight in women's combat sports history. Carano confirmed that Rousey personally approached her to make the matchup happen, calling the opportunity an honor and expressing confidence that she will walk out of the cage with the victory. Both fighters bring crossover name recognition that extends beyond the octagon; Rousey has been a household name in sport and entertainment, while Carano built a high-profile acting career after leaving active competition.

Legacy, context and what to expect

For fans of the sport, this is the dream meeting that never materialized at the height of both fighters' popularity. Rousey blazed a path for women in MMA by capturing a major promotion’s bantamweight title, defending it with a string of dominant finishes, and then crossing into other entertainment arenas. Her background includes an Olympic bronze medal in judo and a subsequent stint in professional wrestling. She retired originally after consecutive knockout defeats and later cited concussion issues as a major factor in her decision to step away.

Carano, meanwhile, was a pioneering draw in the early days of televised women’s MMA, participating in landmark bouts that helped normalize and promote female competition. After retiring from active competition she forged a successful acting career, appearing in major film and television franchises. Her return will test whether the athletic instincts of former champions can translate after long absences, and whether ring rust or strategic adjustments will decide the contest.

Road to the cage and broader implications

Both camps have signalled serious preparation. Carano’s training activity last year suggested she had been testing her readiness for a comeback, while Rousey’s public comments indicate a focused desire to secure this specific matchup. The fight’s financial and cultural stakes are high: it is a marquee event for the sport’s expansion into big-venue shows and streamed live to a global audience, a first for a major MMA card on such a large platform. Promoters and matchmakers have long tried to stage this clash; the pairing finally coming to fruition closes a chapter in the sport’s history and opens another, with questions about competitive legitimacy, athletic safety, and commercial impact all in play.

Expect intense media attention, a high-profile build-up, and scrutiny over medical clearances and fight-day protocols as the bout approaches. Beyond the immediate sporting contest, the matchup will be judged as a cultural moment — a rare collision of pioneering fighters from different eras that will be dissected by fans, pundits, and industry insiders alike once the bell rings on May 16, 2026 (ET).