UFC CEO Dana White has finally addressed Ronda Rousey’s long-awaited return to combat sports and why it won’t happen inside the Octagon.
Nearly a decade after stepping away from MMA, former women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is set to fight again. However, instead of returning to the UFC, Rousey partnered with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix to face Gina Carano on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
The announcement immediately sparked questions about why one of the biggest stars in UFC history did not make her comeback under the promotion that helped build her legacy. According to Rousey, conversations with Dana White had been ongoing for months before negotiations ultimately fell apart.
Speaking at the UFC Houston post-fight press conference, White confirmed that discussions about a comeback had taken place.
“Her and I have been talking about this since last year,” White said. “It just didn’t work out. But I’m happy for her.”
White also addressed his relationship with Gina Carano, noting that past tensions are now behind them.
“Listen, me and Gina are in a really good place — we weren’t at one point. I’m happy for both of them.”
Rousey later revealed that financial terms played a major role in her decision not to return to the UFC.
Negotiations reportedly began in 2025 before the promotion finalized its broadcast transition from ESPN to Paramount, a deal that eliminated the traditional pay-per-view structure starting in 2026.
Under the original framework, Rousey expected to earn one of the biggest purses of her career. Once the pay-per-view model disappeared, however, she said the financial structure no longer made sense.
“It no longer made sense for me to go over there because they didn’t want to pay us the money we deserve,” Rousey explained. “Because then from the rest of the time of the deal, they’re going to have to pay everybody else more. So then I decided to look elsewhere.”
That “elsewhere” became Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix, which plans to broadcast its first-ever MMA event with the Rousey vs. Carano matchup serving as the centerpiece.
Interestingly, Netflix previously explored a broadcasting partnership with the UFC but reportedly sought only major marquee events rather than full Fight Night programming. The UFC eventually secured a massive seven-year, $7.7 billion agreement with Paramount instead.
While fans expected Rousey’s comeback to happen under Dana White and the UFC banner, both sides appear to have moved forward on good terms. White’s reaction suggested there is no lingering animosity, leaving the door open, at least publicly, for potential collaboration somewhere down the line.
For now, Rousey’s return marks a new chapter outside the UFC spotlight, while Dana White and the promotion continue building their post–pay-per-view era without one of the sport’s most recognizable pioneers.
