The Hottest MMA Fight of 2015 is Official
Ronda Rousey Meets Gina Carano in the "Hexagon" in May of 2026.
One of the wildest things about being a former pro wrestling pundit is that I thought this whole thing was fake. However, my mind was blown when I, and most of the world, got wind that former mixed martial artist Ronda Rousey was going to face former mixed martial artist Gina Carano in an actual athletic contest in 2026.
Yeah, the year is super important as Rousey will be 39 when she enters the cage in May, whereas Carano will be 44. And sure, age is just a number, but really, who was asking for this fight at all? Video clip time:
Saturday, May 16th, is the date, and Netflix is the platform. Apparently, this contest comes from the people who brought you Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson. So for me, that means we’re getting like four hours of prelims, buffering issues, and a main event that goes, “That’s it?” Look, I don’t mean to sound harsh, but I honestly thought these decorated competitors had simply moved on. Carano (MMA record 7-1) had the makings of an acting career, give or take a Star Wars role. Have you seen her in “Haywire?”
I mean, it was a thing.
And even though Rousey’s (MMA record 12-2) movie successes were negligible, she had a decent run as a professional wrestler with the WWE. Was she a good wrestler? Well…
That’s up for debate. And while there’s a handful of wrestlers who have gone back to MMA, the transition has historically been less than seamless. Okay, I’ll be frank, they usually get their asses kicked.
So this whole thing just kind of lends itself to “why?” Why in 2026? Carano was a trailblazer, and Rousey was the torchbearer. Totally understand that, but neither fighter is going to be in “prime shape.” This could end up hurting both their legacies, Netflix’s position as a sports authority of must see events, AND the promotion company behind it.
Or not. I’m probably going to end up watching the clips of the aftermath anyway, because why not?