Gina Carano revealed that her highly anticipated fight with Ronda Rousey is finally happening on Netflix, coinciding with a private apology and a fight offer she received from UFC CEO Dana White. This significant event precedes their historic Netflix main event.
How the Ronda Rousey Fight Materialized
Carano, with an MMA record of 7-1 and inactive since 2009, discussed her upcoming fight against former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey on the Jaxxon Podcast. This highly anticipated bout is set to headline Netflix’s inaugural live MMA event on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. The featherweight fight (145 pounds), co-promoted by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, will be available to Netflix subscribers at no additional cost.
Carano explained that Rousey effectively dictated when this long-rumored matchup would finally materialize. She stated, “From my perspective, the ball was basically in Ronda’s court of like what she wanted to do and where she wanted to take the fight and ultimately I think the fight went where she wanted it to go.” Carano previously indicated that Rousey was the primary catalyst for the fight’s arrangement, stating that Rousey approached her directly and insisted Carano was “only one person” she wished to face in her return.
Dana White’s December 2024 Call and Fight Offer
Carano also disclosed a recent phone call with UFC CEO Dana White in December 2024, which she described as occurring during a challenging phase of her career following her dismissal from Disney. She recounted, “From my perspective, it was a call from Dana White in December 2024, and he was like, because Dana actually is very cool with me… He was one of the first text messages that said, ‘Hey, you know, um it’s going to be okay.’ You know, and I was like, ‘Dana White like is texting me?’ And out of all the people that didn’t text me, Dana White’s the one that’s like, ‘Hey, you got this.'”
Reports from the Jaxxon appearance confirm that during the December call, White not only apologized but also extended a fight offer, despite Carano’s firm stance against returning to the traditional fight scene. She describes their relationship as having progressed from previous friction—stemming from a failed Rousey bout and “disgusting” messages during earlier negotiations—to a more respectful connection.
The Memorable In-Person Apology: “He Knelt Down”
Carano recounted an earlier instance that significantly altered her perception of White, when he approached her at an event while she was with her family. Clarifying her recollection on the podcast, she stated, “He knelt down. He did! He could apologize and he did apologize. We were, I was sitting at a table with my family… He got down on his knees. I was like, ‘Oh, wow.’ No, actually, no, he did. That’s respectful. Respectful. It was very nice.”
The prior tension between Carano and White dates back to 2014. She claims Dana White sent her a message during stalled negotiations for a Rousey fight, which read, “This b***h is effing us around.” Carano explained that she initially believed the message was sent mistakenly and suggested White might have intended it for someone else, but he allegedly responded, “I don’t think I did.” According to her, this exchange, coupled with White publicly discussing negotiations after she had requested six months for preparation, destroyed trust and effectively ended the UFC’s attempt at Rousey vs. Carano until their Netflix deal revived the matchup a decade later.
White later approached her in person at a family event, kneeling by the table to apologize for his previous words and the resulting fallout, a gesture Carano described as respectful and indicative of his character. This historical interaction now stands in contrast to his December 2024 outreach, where he offered supportive contact and a fight proposition in anticipation of her Netflix comeback.