Alexander Volkanovski recently expressed his opinions about the highly anticipated MMA fight between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, scheduled for May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. This event marks the return of both fighters from retirement and will be held inside a hexagonal cage across five rounds, streamed live on Netflix. The bout is promoted by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP).
The fight has generated excitement due to Rousey and Carano’s legendary status in mixed martial arts. In a video on his YouTube channel, Volkanovski, who is the current UFC featherweight champion, elaborated on why this matchup is beneficial for the sport.
Volkanovski Highlights the Broad Appeal and Reach of the Fight
Volkanovski emphasized the significance of the fight being available on Netflix, noting how it brings MMA to a wider audience beyond traditional fans. He stated,
“Ronda Rousey, [Gina] Carano, now in a lot of movies. WWE. It being on Netflix, a whole different audience, which I like. Me, being a UFC athlete, me just being an MMA fighter, I think it’s great for the sport. I think more people might tune in… Or it’s just on Netflix. I think just MMA being on Netflix is massive.”
He further explained the potential boost in viewership, suggesting that while hardcore fans may have mixed reactions based on their memories of the fighters, the event could attract many new viewers outside the usual MMA circles:
“Why is it good for the sport? If we’re talking numbers, I think you might get some numbers. I think it’s a decent fight. Are you going to get the hardcores going nuts about it? Maybe, because they remember what these fighters used to be. But I think you’re going to get a lot more people outside of fighting that are going to tune in, so that’s something that I think would be good for the sport.”
Divergent Opinions: Sean Strickland’s Take on the Matchup
In contrast, Sean Strickland, a former UFC middleweight contender, expressed a dismissive attitude toward the Rousey-Carano fight. Speaking before his UFC Houston bout against Anthony Hernandez, Strickland downplayed the matchup’s significance and predicted a one-sided result.
Strickland criticized the quality of women’s MMA during Carano’s era and showed no interest in watching the fight. He remarked in an interview with Newsweek,
“Ronda Rousey’s gonna steamroll her. Ronda Rousey was an Olympian that was a multi-time world champion. Gina Carano was pretty in a time when women’s MMA sucked. It’s still not very good, but when Gina Carano was fighting, it was significantly worse… We’re just gonna watch two middle-aged women, f**ing going through menopause, fight each other… I have no interest in that. Who gives a f**k?”
Potential Influence on MMA’s Popularity and Audience
The upcoming Rousey-Carano fight has sparked contrasting reactions within the MMA community, from Volkanovski’s optimistic view of expanding the sport’s fanbase to Strickland’s blunt dismissal. Regardless of opinions, the event’s broadcast on Netflix and high-profile promotion by MVP ensures significant attention.
This fight demonstrates how MMA continues to evolve, blending athletic competition with entertainment and mainstream appeal. Its success could influence how future events are marketed and potentially attract new fans, contributing to the sport’s growth on a global scale.
Sean Strickland on Ronda Rousey’s return:
“We’re just gonna watch two middle-aged women going through menopause fight each other. Who gives a f*ck?” 😅pic.twitter.com/vgtUvpSAOU
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) February 18, 2026
