Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Rousey vs. Carano Headlines May 16, Record Purse

5/16/2026

25 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The main event will take place on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, where Ronda Rousey (MMA fighter) will face Gina Carano (MMA fighter).
Rousey (39, 12-2) last fought Dec 30, 2016, while Carano (44, 7-1) last fought Aug 15, 2009.
Rousey says this will be her final MMA bout and expects to break the women’s purse record.
MVP guarantees each fighter a minimum $40,000 purse plus performance bonuses.

History

Historical Context

In February 2013, Ronda Rousey defended the inaugural UFC Women’s Bantamweight title against Liz Carmouche at UFC 157, the promotion’s first women’s fight, drawing 450,000 pay-per-view buys. That breakthrough convinced UFC president Dana White to expand female competition, leading to women’s cards and Rousey’s Hall-of-Fame induction in 2018. The 2026 Intuit Dome showdown builds on that legacy, positioning women’s MMA as a proven revenue driver.

1 of 2

Story summary

The main event will take place on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, where Ronda Rousey (MMA fighter) will face Gina Carano (MMA fighter).
Rousey (39, 12-2) last fought Dec 30, 2016, while Carano (44, 7-1) last fought Aug 15, 2009.
Rousey says this will be her final MMA bout and expects to break the women’s purse record.
MVP guarantees each fighter a minimum $40,000 purse plus performance bonuses.

1 / 2