Netflix Enters MMA Live Events
Netflix will stream its first live MMA event on May 16 featuring Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. This marks Rousey's first MMA fight in a decade and Carano's first since 2009. The bout signals Netflix's high-profile entry into live MMA event broadcasting.
- The event is being promoted by Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), a company co-founded by influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul, marking its first venture into mixed martial arts after exclusively promoting boxing. - This fight is a key part of Netflix's expanding push into live programming, following a record-setting boxing event with Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul and a $5 billion deal to become the exclusive home of WWE Raw. - The featherweight bout is sanctioned for five, five-minute rounds and will operate under the Unified Rules of MMA, with fighters wearing four-ounce gloves in a hexagonal cage. - Carano, with a professional record of 7-1, is considered a pioneer of women's MMA and co-headlined the first major MMA event headlined by women in 2009. - Rousey, who holds a 12-2 professional record, was the first-ever women's champion in the UFC and was the first woman to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. - After her last fight, Rousey had a successful run in WWE, where she became a multi-time champion and co-headlined the first women's main event at WrestleMania. - Following her last bout in 2009, Carano pursued an acting career, with roles in films such as "Haywire," "Fast & Furious 6," and "Deadpool." - A potential fight between the two was a long-discussed "dream match" among fans and was even in negotiations years ago while Rousey was an active UFC champion, but the deal never materialized.
