How MMA fighters reacted to UFC's White House plans
BBC Sport speaks to UFC fighters, including Britain’s Tom Aspinall, as they give their thoughts on the proposed UFC event at the White House on US President Donald Trump’s birthday.
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Ronda Rousey, Gina Carano end MMA retirements to fight in May | Mixed Martial Arts News
Rousey will return to MMA for the first time in nearly a decade when she challenges Carano on May 16 in California.
Published On 18 Feb 2026
Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano will end their lengthy retirements from mixed martial arts (MMA) to fight each other on May 16 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
The two pioneering fighters announced their returns on Tuesday for a bout that will be staged by Most Valuable Promotions, the combat sports promotion established by influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul and his business partner, Nakisa Bidarian. The show will be broadcast on Netflix.
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The 39-year-old Rousey hasn’t fought since 2016, while the 43-year-old Carano’s eight-bout MMA career ended in 2009. They’ll fight at 145lb (66kg) for five five-minute rounds.
Despite their lengthy absences, Rousey and Carano remain two of the most iconic fighters in MMA history for their trailblazing careers. Carano led their once-outlawed sport into the mainstream of broadcast television, while Rousey secured the enthusiastic acceptance of women’s MMA by Dana White and the UFC.
Rousey (12-2) rose to become arguably the biggest athlete in all of MMA after winning an Olympic medal in judo in 2008. Her armbar finishes and cage charisma single-handedly prompted White to begin the promotion of women’s MMA, with Rousey at the centre of his plans.
Rousey won the UFC’s first-ever women’s bout in 2013 to claim the bantamweight title belt, and she still holds the promotion’s record with six title defences.
After ending 11 of her first 12 fights in the first round, her career abruptly stalled when she lost back-to-back bouts to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes, prompting her to move on to acting, professional wrestling and motherhood.
“Been waiting so long to announce this: Me and Gina Carano are gonna throw down in the biggest super fight in women’s combat sport history!” Rousey said. “This is for all MMA fans past, present and future.”
Carano (7-1) fought in the first Nevada-sanctioned MMA bout between women in 2006, and she won a series of fights that made her a network television draw in the sport’s early days. She was stopped by Cris “Cyborg” Justino in her most recent fight in August 2009, and she moved on to an acting career despite repeated rumours of a return to the cage.
“Ronda came to me and said there is only one person she would make a comeback for, and it has been her dream to make this fight happen between us,” Carano said.
“She thanked me for opening up doors for her in her career and was respectful in asking for this fight to happen. This is an honour. I believe I will walk out of this fight with the win, and I anticipate it will not come easy, which I welcome. This is as much for Ronda and me as it is for the fans and mixed martial arts community.”
Carano, who turns 44 in April, landed several prominent film roles and became a cast member of Disney’s “The Mandalorian” before her contract failed to be renewed in 2021, after she expressed controversial right-wing views in a series of social media posts.
Carano settled a lawsuit last year against Lucasfilm and The Walt Disney Company over her claim that she was fired for the posts.
Katie Price’s new husband challenges star’s cage fighter ex Alex Reid to MMA match ‘anytime, anywhere’ after wedding dig
FORMER glamour model Katie Price’s new husband has challenged her cage fighter ex to a mixed martial arts match for criticising her whirlwind wedding.
Lee Andrews, 41, wants to take on Alex Reid, 50, in a one-on-one because he called her latest marriage irresponsible.
The businessman goaded Reid as he told The Sun he wanted to fight him “anytime, anywhere” in Britain, Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
He also said he had spoken with Katie about the challenge only briefly, but insisted: “We do support each other.”
Lee — dubbed a “Walter Mitty” over his long list of outlandish or untrue claims including that he is Director of Philanthropy at The Prince’s Trust — confidently claimed he had his own experience in sparring, partial boxing and “elite fitness”.
He said he wanted it to be on an Ultimate Fighting Championship five-round match setting and said proceeds would go towards supporting mum-of-five Katie and charity.
It comes after Reid, who was Katie’s second husband, made his feelings plain over her fourth wedding.
He said: “It’s irresponsible on your family and the children to marry someone you don’t know.” Reid added: “I genuinely wish the man good luck marrying her.
“I hope the marriage lasts longer than the court-ordered debts that she still owes me and to many others, demonstrating accountability and responsibility.
“It’s not really her strong point. Maybe, he could be the best thing in the world to happen to her.
“He could help her pay her debts and be accountable with money.”
Former cross-dresser Reid, who divorced Katie in 2012 after a two-year marriage, was a professional in mixed martial arts from 2000.
Lee and Katie, 47, got married in Dubai at the weekend in a whirlwind wedding just days after meeting each other.
The union shocked fans and came shortly after she split from her boyfriend of two years, JJ Slater.
Her family are understood to be concerned about her, while an ex of Lee warned: “Run for the hills.”
Katie flew back to Britain by herself on Monday.
Lee claimed two days later that she went home early because of her children and insisted he had to “wrap a few things up” and would fly back the next day to join her.
But he appeared to U-turn when he posted an Instagram story yesterday seemingly still in Dubai.
He wrote: “Waiting for Katie.” And he said in the video: “I’m waiting for Katie to come out here, love you so much Katie.”