Ronda Rousey return on Netflix as May 16 event approaches
Fans are bracing for a blockbuster night: ronda rousey will fight for the first time in 10 years on 16 May, headlining an event on Netflix organized by Jake Paul and his company Most Valuable Promotions (MVP).
What Happens When Ronda Rousey Headlines?
The main card will pit former UFC champion Ronda Rousey against Gina Carano, who has not competed since 2009. The event is being presented on Netflix and organized by Jake Paul and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP). The bout marks Rousey’s first fight in a decade and Carano’s first professional appearance in the sport in many years, creating a high-profile headline pairing for the promoted card.
How does Francis Ngannou’s addition reshape the undercard?
Francis Ngannou has been added to the undercard of the Ronda Rousey headlined event. Ngannou, who left the PFL after three years and just one fight, is set to face Philipe Lins. Ngannou, 39, holds an 18-3 record and boxed in recent years, dropping a controversial decision to Tyson Fury in October 2023 before suffering a KO by Anthony Joshua in March 2024. His most recent MMA appearance was the stoppage of Renan Ferreira in October 2024, when he claimed the PFL Super Fights heavyweight title.
Philipe Lins enters with an 18-5 record and a four-fight win streak but has not fought since his final UFC bout in March 2024. Like Ngannou, Lins previously competed in both the UFC and the PFL, and their matchup at the Intuit Dome in California will be the former’s first fight since the PFL title win.
What are the stated ambitions and messaging around the card?
Ngannou framed his return in emphatic terms: “While the world was busy talking, I was busy evolving, ” he said. “Silence shouldn’t be mistaken for absence – it’s the sound of a predator closing the distance. Stepping back into the cage isn’t just a return; it’s a reclamation. My return to MMA demanded a stage that matched the scale of my ambition, and partnering with MVP to bring this event to Netflix ensures the entire world is watching. I am ready for this new chapter, and I cannot wait to entertain my fans again and remind the world exactly who I am and what I am capable of delivering on a highest stage. “
Promoters framed Ngannou’s presence as a major boost to the card, with Jake Paul and business partner Nakisa Bidarian stating in a joint statement, “Francis Ngannou is unequivocally the best heavyweight MMA fighter in the world, and his addition creates star power on one card like never before seen in the sport. Francis is one of the most-feared knockout artists the sport has ever seen, and his return to MMA instantly makes this a historic night. “
The promoted night at the Intuit Dome now combines a high-profile, cross-era headliner with a heavyweight undercard attraction. The lineup brings together fighters with recent activities across MMA and boxing, and the assembled statements signal an emphasis on global reach through the Netflix presentation.
As preparations continue for the Netflix card on 16 May, ticketing and broadcast details remain tied to the event organizers and the platform; viewers should watch communications from the promoters for final fight-night information. For now, the card’s new shape centers on Ronda Rousey and the added marquee presence of Francis Ngannou.
ronda rousey closes this reshaped fight night as the undisputed anchor of the promoted Netflix event.
