Ronda Rousey Destroys Gina Carano in Seconds, Jake Paul Gets Booed in Netflix’s Spotty MMA Debut
In a highly anticipated showdown late Saturday night, Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano faced off in the Octagon at LA’s Intuit Dome. This historic featherweight bout was streamed live on Netflix, marking the streaming platform’s first foray into MMA fights. Hosted by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, the event featured two of the most influential female fighters in MMA history, both well past their prime. Rousey, aged 39, hadn’t fought since 2016, while Carano, aged 44, had her last fight in 2009 and reportedly lost 100 pounds to make the 145-pound limit for this match.
Both Rousey and Carano had previous experience in the world of action films, having appeared in “Fast & Furious” movies. Rousey famously had a fight scene with Michelle Rodriguez in “Furious 7,” while Carano featured in “Fast & Furious 6.”
The lead-up to the fight was also marked by controversies surrounding the fighters’ social media posts. Rousey faced backlash in 2013 for sharing a conspiracy video about the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims. She later apologized for the post in 2024. Carano, on the other hand, came under fire in 2021 for comparing the plight of Jews during the Holocaust to modern-day American conservatives, leading to her dismissal from Disney/Lucasfilm’s “The Mandalorian.”
The fighters also had contrasting political allegiances, with Carano aligning herself with the MAGA camp and Rousey distancing herself from former President Donald Trump. Trump, in turn, had publicly criticized Rousey after her loss to Holly Holm in 2015.
The fight itself, which began past midnight EST, ended in just 17 seconds with Rousey submitting Carano with an armbar. Despite the short duration of the fight, the two fighters shared an emotional embrace afterwards. Rousey announced that this would be her last fight and expressed her excitement about starting a family, while Carano considered just being back in the ring as a victory.
The event served as a precursor to UFC Freedom 250, set to take place on the White House’s South Lawn on June 14. This unique location choice adds to the already colorful history of events at the White House during the Trump administration.
