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Tag: Gina Carano

  • Mark Shapiro: Rousey vs. Carano Was More Of A Stunt Than A Meaningful Event

    Mark Shapiro: Rousey vs. Carano Was More Of A Stunt Than A Meaningful Event

    The biggest women’s fight in MMA history ended in 17 seconds, but TKO’s President doesn’t feel it was meaningful.

    Two of the biggest names in women’s MMA clashed on May 16 at the Intuit Dome on Netflix for the MMA clash between Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano. At the end of the night, Rousey was victorious with their signature armbar finish.

    While speaking at the JP Morgan Global Technology and Media Conference, TKO President Mark Shapiro was asked about it and explained why he chose to stay away from it rather than invest into the fight.

    “It was pitched to us and we did turn it down. That’s to take nothing away from Netflix. They are a great partner and clearly they know what they are doing across the board. They’re in the big event business. They want big spectacle events, and they saw that this is a big spectacle event. We’re in the true MMA business on a meaningful and consistent basis. When we looked at this potential match-up, keep in mind there is a real art and skill to match-making. When you ask Hunter Campbell and Dana White what they think of that matchup prior to it happening, the answer was, ‘That fight will be over in 20 seconds.’ They were off by a few seconds. I don’t think a fight like that, just the way it played out, is really good for MMA. Especially because it’s Netflix and they have an incredible global audience. For them to go to that fight and think that’s what MMA is, I don’t think is good for the sport long-term. We saw it that way and decided to pass on it. Taking nothing away from the legend of Ronda Rousey and the win she got. I guarantee incredible viewership numbers. For us, it was more of a stunt than a meaningful MMA event,” he said.

    Rousey has stated that this was her way of rewriting the ending to her legendary MMA career and she did just that on Saturday, May 16 against Carano in the biggest women’s MMA fight of all time.

     

  • Ronda Rousey: Hunter Campbell Is A Chauvinist Prick

    Ronda Rousey: Hunter Campbell Is A Chauvinist Prick

    Ronda Rousey did not keep her words light when she spoke about the Chief Business Officer of the UFC.

    Most Valuable Promotions is set to bring the biggest fight in Women’s MMA history on May 16 between Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano. Carano retired in 2009 after suffering her first loss in the sport to Cris Cyborg and would transition to the world of acting in entertainment.

    However, Rousey would go on to dominate the sport for the next couple of years, bringing MMA to the UFC, and retaining the Women’s Bantamweight Championship consecutive times before losing her first MMA fight to Holly Holm, then Amanda Nunes a year later in her attempt at reclaiming the throne.

    Speaking with Ariel Helwani, Rousey opened up about how the UFC and her idea for this fight did not work out and who she blames for it not happening on that side of the world of MMA.

    “No, it wasn’t personal. With Hunter it was personal because he was a fucking asshole about it,” she said. “He was just being such a chauvinist prick and so dismissive. Just trying to get me and Gina to value ourselves less from the get go and acting like this isn’t the greatest thing that has fallen into his lap since he’s been there. He’s like, ‘Oh, you guys are so much older. I don’t know how it’s going to do.’ Who the fuck is this guy? I didn’t even know who he was. I was told, ‘He’s the lawyer that is going to come and show you your pay-per-view numbers.’ Fine, I’m going to knock this out of the park. I love having my pay be performance-based. Fuck you, I’ll show you. Dana mentioned that he wanted me and Gina to fight for the 145 title because it was vacant and it was a way to retire the belt. Hunter is like, ‘Yeah, then we can get rid of that division.’ The way he spoke of it and how dismissive he was and the disdain he had for the fighters at that weight, motherfucker, my husband is 6’7”, my girls are not going to be 135. This is what you think about women who are heavier than 135 pounds, that they can’t offer you anything and are worthless? It just really rubbed me the wrong way. This fucking guy is going to be shepherding the company that I helped build? It rubbed me the wrong way. I was talking to my mom about it. He was like, ‘I met your mom, she is so great. Tell her I said hi.’ After the meeting, I’m like, ‘Mom, do you know who Hunter Campbell is?’ ‘Yeah, he’s a fucking asshole. Screw that guy.’ ‘Why don’t you like him?’ ‘He’d sell tickets to Christians being fed to lions.’”

    Rousey vs. Carano is set to headline the first-ever MMA event held by Most Valuable Promotions at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

    h/t to Fightful for the transcription.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Killer Kross Talks Upcoming Rousey And Carano Fight

    EXCLUSIVE: Killer Kross Talks Upcoming Rousey And Carano Fight

    Killer Kross Weighs In On Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano.

    Former WWE Superstar Killer Kross is looking ahead to one of the most anticipated potential matchups in combat sports, offering his thoughts on Ronda Rousey’s upcoming MMA fight against Gina Carano.

    Speaking in a recent interview with Bodyslam.net’s Kyle Collison, Kross shared his excitement for the clash between two of the most influential figures in women’s mixed martial arts.

    “I think it’s exciting. I mean, she has fans all over the world and pro wrestling and in mixed martial arts. I mean, she introduced MMA to people who never even watched MMA for the for the attraction of a dominant woman being showcased on all these cards and stuff like that. And of course, Gina Carano did as well. She was kind of the OG in my opinion. That was the fight everybody wanted to see it first. When they were in strike force, that was the girl girl. I’m going to watch the fights. I’ve met both of them. I was on the road with WWE with Rhonda. She was super cool student of the game. Always wanted to learn. No matter what anybody’s preconceived notion is or they’re basing an opinion off of something that she said that’s like out of context or whatever. They have these negative opinions. I’ve been around her for real. She’s an awesome human being and I met Gina a long time ago. God, I can’t remember what gym it would have been in Las Vegas, but it would have been maybe in 2013 or maybe even before that.. but I met her briefly. It was a long a by super cool. Very grounded. I can’t wait to see them go at it. It’s going to be a battle of the legends man.”

    You can check out the entire Killer Kross interview with Bodyslam.net’s Kyle Collison at Astronomicon 9 below.

    Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano will stream live on Netflix on May 16th, 2026.