In her highly anticipated return to mixed martial arts, Ronda Rousey has launched a direct criticism against the UFC, simultaneously promoting Netflix’s inaugural live MMA event and lambasting the UFC’s forthcoming ‘White House card’ as distinctly inferior.
On X (formerly Twitter), the former UFC women’s bantamweight champion reacted to the announcement that Francis Ngannou versus Philipe Lins had been added to the May 16 Ronda Rousey versus Gina Carano event on Netflix. Rousey declared that Ngannou vs. Lins “joins #RouseyVsCarano on @Netflix May 16th” and hailed it as a “bamf laden double headliner.” She attributed this powerful lineup to a philosophy of “put[ting] fighters and fans ahead of shareholders,” tagging Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP). Her message concluded with a blunt postscript: “@ufc’s White House card sucks.” This direct statement quickly resonated across MMA media as a sharp attack on her former employer and its scheduled June event in Washington, D.C.
Ronda Rousey Hypes Netflix Doubleheader, Dismisses UFC’s Event
The Netflix event itself is shaping up to be one of the year’s most significant attractions. Rousey, at 39, is emerging from a lengthy hiatus to face fellow pioneer Gina Carano, 43, in a featherweight bout. This fight is set to headline MVP’s initial MMA show and marks the first mixed martial arts card to stream live on Netflix. Scheduled for Saturday, May 16, at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, the event will be globally accessible to subscribers at no additional cost, signifying Netflix’s official entry into live MMA following earlier combat sports ventures. Rousey has already generated considerable interest by sharing training footage and updates regarding the matchup, a fight that has been a subject of fantasy matchups for over a decade.
Further enhancing the card’s appeal is the return of Francis Ngannou to MMA. MVP and Netflix have confirmed that the former UFC heavyweight champion will compete against Brazil’s Philipe Lins in a five-round heavyweight bout under unified rules, positioning it alongside Rousey vs. Carano as a major draw on the same bill. Ngannou, who boasts an 18–3 MMA record with 13 knockouts, steps back into the cage after a stint in boxing and a 2024 PFL championship victory. Lins, with an 18–5 record, is a former PFL tournament winner who departed from the UFC after a four-fight winning streak without securing a new contract.
Netflix executives have presented this lineup as a landmark moment. The platform’s VP of Sports described Rousey, Carano, and Ngannou as “generational icons” headlining the service’s debut MMA broadcast.
Rousey’s criticism of the UFC directly relates to this stark contrast in presentation. The UFC’s ‘Freedom 250’ event, slated for June 14 at the White House to coincide with President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday, is reportedly set to feature Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje for the lightweight title and Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane for an interim heavyweight belt. While this card technically includes two championship fights, some fans and fighters have expressed disappointment, particularly after an extended buildup that fueled expectations of appearances by bigger names like Conor McGregor and Jon Jones, neither of whom were part of the final announcement.
Rousey previously stated that she attempted to return to MMA with the UFC but could not agree on terms with Dana White. Her decision to vigorously promote MVP’s Netflix show can therefore be seen as an extension of a strained relationship that is now playing out in the public eye.
