Gina Carano, a pioneering figure in women’s mixed martial arts, is set to return to the cage for a highly anticipated Netflix event on May 16, 2026. Born on April 16, 1982, Carano, standing at 5’8″ with a 66.5″ reach and fighting orthodox, was once hailed as the “face of women’s MMA.” Now at 44, she will compete at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles against Ronda Rousey.
Gina Carano’s MMA Career
Carano began her combat sports journey in Muay Thai, achieving a record of 12-1-1. She transitioned to MMA in 2006, securing a first-round knockout victory in her debut against Leiticia Pestova at WEF: Orleans Arena. Her professional MMA record stands at an impressive 7-1-0, with three knockouts, one submission, and three decision wins.
Notable victories in her career include a 39-second knockout of Pestova on June 10, 2006; a second-round TKO over Rosi Sexton on September 15, 2006; a unanimous decision against Elaina Maxwell on December 8, 2006; a decision win over Julie Kedzie on February 10, 2007; a first-round submission of Tonya Evinger on September 15, 2007; a doctor’s stoppage TKO against Kaitlin Young on May 31, 2008; and a unanimous decision victory over Kelly Kobold on October 4, 2008.
Her sole professional loss occurred via first-round TKO to Cris Cyborg on August 15, 2009, in the main event of Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg. This historic fight was the first women’s MMA bout to headline a major promotion and garnered significant mainstream attention in the United States.
From 2006 to 2009, Gina Carano played a pivotal role in bringing women’s MMA into the spotlight. She participated in the first sanctioned women’s MMA bout in Nevada in June 2006 and headlined the groundbreaking 2009 Strikeforce event with Cris Cyborg. Her combination of striking prowess, derived from her Muay Thai background, along with her striking looks and engaging personality, captivated audiences and even inspired Ronda Rousey to consider MMA as a career path. UFC President Dana White has acknowledged her as a trailblazer who opened doors for female athletes in the Octagon.
Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano: The Upcoming Bout
Ronda Rousey is set to make her return to MMA after a decade-long hiatus, facing Carano in a featherweight bout at 145 pounds. The match will consist of five five-minute rounds contested under Unified Rules of MMA, featuring four-ounce gloves within a hexagonal cage. The event will be streamed live globally on Netflix via Most Valuable Promotions. A press conference for the fight was held on March 5, 2026. Rousey enters the fight with a professional record of 12-2, comprising nine submissions and three knockouts, while Carano brings her 7-1 ledger.
Gina Carano’s Film and Television Career
Carano made her acting debut in “Ring Girls” (2005) and later appeared in “Blood and Bone” (2009). Her breakthrough performance came in Steven Soderbergh’s “Haywire” (2011), where she starred alongside Michael Fassbender and Channing Tatum. Her subsequent roles include an agent in “Fast & Furious 6” (2013), the lead in “In the Blood” (2014), a role in the TV series “Almost Human” (2014), and appearances in “Extraction” (2015), “Heist” (2015), “Kickboxer: Vengeance” (2016), and “Deadpool” (2016).
More recent credits include “Scorched Earth” (2018), “Daughter of the Wolf” (2019), “Madness in the Method” (2019), her prominent role as Cara Dune in the Disney+ series “The Mandalorian” (2019-2020), “Terror on the Prairie” (2022), and “My Son Hunter” (2022).
Gina Carano’s Lawsuit
In 2021, Carano was dismissed from “The Mandalorian” by Disney and Lucasfilm due to controversial social media posts that drew parallels between contemporary U.S. politics and Nazi Germany, alongside comments regarding COVID-19 masks and transgender issues. In February 2024, she filed a lawsuit for wrongful termination and discrimination, seeking either $75,000 or reinstatement. The lawsuit was backed by Elon Musk. A settlement was reached in August 2025, with the specific terms remaining confidential. Both parties expressed openness to potential future collaborations.
Gina Carano is returning to the public eye with her upcoming Netflix MMA fight against Ronda Rousey on May 16, 2026, at the Intuit Dome. Her journey has seen her evolve from an early MMA trailblazer with a 7-1 record to a notable action star in films like “Haywire” and “The Mandalorian,” and more recently, navigating a high-profile lawsuit settlement with Disney. This matchup is highly anticipated, not only for the historical significance of pitting Carano’s striking against Rousey’s grappling in a five-round featherweight bout but also for its celebration of women’s MMA roots. The event is expected to be a standout card, testing both fighters at the 145-pound mark.