Ronda Rousey’s return to the world of mixed martial arts has been marked by sharp criticism directed at the UFC. The former UFC women’s bantamweight champion is actively promoting Netflix’s upcoming debut MMA event, while simultaneously dismissing the UFC’s anticipated White House show as “sucky” in comparison.
In a social media post, Rousey reacted to the announcement that Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins had been added to the May 16 Netflix main event – her fight against Gina Carano. She described the double headliner as “stacked with badasses” and stated that such a powerful lineup is possible when “fighters and fans are put ahead of shareholders,” tagging Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP). She concluded her post with a pointed remark: “UFC’s White House card sucks.” This statement quickly circulated within the MMA community as a direct jab at her former employer and its June event in Washington D.C.
Netflix Event: A Standout Attraction
The Netflix event promises to be one of the year’s standout attractions. 39-year-old Rousey returns 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 marks the first live mixed martial arts broadcast on Netflix. The event will take place on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles and will be available to subscribers worldwide at no additional cost, signifying Netflix’s official entry into live MMA broadcasting. Rousey has already been actively sharing training footage, building interest in a fight that fans have dreamed of for over a decade.
The card’s appeal is further heightened by Ngannou’s return to MMA. MVP and Netflix confirmed that former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou will face Brazil’s Philipe Lins in a five-round heavyweight bout under unified rules, making this another key attraction on the same night as Rousey vs. Carano. Ngannou (18-3 in MMA, 13 knockouts) returns to the octagon after a successful run in boxing and a 2024 PFL championship victory, while Lins (18-5) is a former PFL tournament winner who left the UFC after a four-fight win streak without a new contract.
Netflix executives are positioning this lineup as a landmark moment, describing Rousey, Carano, and Ngannou as “generational icons” headlining the platform’s first MMA broadcast.
UFC’s White House Card Under Fire
Rousey’s jab at the UFC is directly linked to the contrast in how these events are presented. The UFC’s Freedom 250 tournament, 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 belt. Although the card on paper includes two championship fights, some fans and fighters criticized it after a lengthy build-up that raised hopes for the appearance of bigger names like Conor McGregor and Jon Jones, neither of whom were included in the final announcement.
Rousey had previously stated that she tried to return to MMA with the UFC but could not reach terms with Dana White, making her decision to promote MVP’s Netflix show an extension of a strained relationship now playing out publicly.