The main event begins on Saturday night, but there are a few more games before the main event. Here’s what to know.
WASHINGTON — Olympic champion Ronda Rousey is stepping into the cage for the first time in nearly a decade.
Rousey and Gina Carano will headline Saturday night Netflix hosts live MMA event for the first time. The fight marked the first meeting between MMA fighters and a comeback for both athletes.
“It took so long to make this announcement,” Rousey told Netflix. “Gina Carano and I will be victorious in the biggest superfight in the history of women’s combat sports. This is dedicated to all MMA fans past, present and future.”
Rousey was dominant from 2011 to 2016, dominating and changing the sport of women’s mixed martial arts. She went on to become the UFC bantamweight champion and was known for ending fights in explosive fashion, often within the opening minute, according to Netflix. She also transitioned into acting, starring in the Fast and the Furious and The Expendables franchises.
Carano is considered one of the original stars of the women’s MMA sport. She competed in the show from 2006 to 2009 before launching into an acting career, appearing in Out of Control, Fast & Furious 6, Deadpool and The Mandalorian.
“She thanked me for opening doors in her career and respectfully asked for this fight,” Carano said of the Rousey matchup. “It’s an honor. I believe I’m going to come out of this fight with a win, I don’t expect it to be easy and I welcome that.”
When does Ronda Rousey face Gina Carano?
The main event will take place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET. Preliminaries will begin at 5 p.m. ET.
The fight will consist of 5 rounds of 5 minutes each using 4 oz MMA gloves. The two will fight next MMA Uniform Rulesallowing the fighter to use strikes, grapples, submissions, and takedowns. Unlike boxing, MMA combines techniques from the disciplines of boxing, wrestling, jiu-jitsu, karate, and judo, and fights can take place both standing and on the ground.
If you have a Netflix subscription, you can watch this match without paying per view.
“After achieving record-breaking success in boxing, we want our first MMA event to be a true legend,” Netflix Vice President of Sports Gabe Spitzer said in a press release. “These are not just athletes, they are generational stars, and having them make our MMA debut at the Intuit Dome is a defining moment for us.”
Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano Match: Full Card
- Ronda Rousey VS Gina Carano
- Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry
- Francis Ngannou vs Philip Lins
- Saladin Parnas vs. Kenneth Cross
- Junior Dos Santos VS Robellis Despaigne
- Mohammad Mokaev vs Adriano Moraes
- Jefferson Clayton VS Jason Jackson
- Namor Fazil VS Jack Babian
- David Mgoyan vs Albert Morales
- Erin Pereira VS Jed Mason-Huang
- Chris Avila vs. Brandon Jenkins
