Former UFC Stars Unimpressed By Ronda Rousey And Gina Carano’s Event

Gina Carano and Ronda Rousey (Image Credits: Imagn)

Former UFC Stars Unimpressed By Ronda Rousey And Gina Carano’s Event

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Pavan Sharma | Last updated May 19, 2026 3:10 PM ET

The Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano Netflix card drew a massive audience and generated significant cultural buzz. Ben Askren and Daniel Cormier watched the same event and came away with very different takeaways from the casual viewer’s excitement. Neither man was impressed. And both had specific reasons why.

Askren went straight for the competitive imbalance that defined the night from top to bottom. It’s a fair criticism that cuts through the spectacle. Rousey finished Carano in 17 seconds. Mike Perry stopped Nate Diaz with cuts. Cormier approached it from a structural angle and identified what he sees as the fundamental problem with how the card was constructed.

“We need the highlights, we need the knockouts, we need these spectacular things, but the best thing we can get is a back-and-forth fight” Askren said. To which DC replied, “It’s not boxing, right? In boxing you build athletes by crushing people that aren’t on their level necessarily. So many of the fighters on that card were already established fighters.”

Ben Askren and Daniel Cormier were NOT impressed with Jake Paul, Ronda Rousey and Netflix’s MMA Event:

️ Ben: “Incredibly one-sided is the biggest thing that comes to mind.. You know, there wasn't a singular fight that was moderately competitive on the card.

And, you… pic.twitter.com/FVCFapfT8k
— MMA UNCENSORED (@MMAUNCENSORED1) May 19, 2026

The Netflix card mostly had famous fighters people already knew from many years ago. A lot of people watched at the Intuit Dome and on Netflix, so it was a huge chance for young fighters to become famous. But in the end, most viewers left talking about the same old names they already knew before the event started.

Ronda Rousey Finally Accepts That Her MMA Career May Be Over

Rousey finished Gina Carano in 17 seconds, walked out of the cage, grabbed a microphone, and delivered the most ‘Rowdy’ exit statement imaginable. “There’s no way I could’ve ended it better than this. I want to make some more babies,” Rousey said.

“There’s no way I could’ve ended it better than this. I want to make some more babies.”

That’s all for Ronda Rousey in MMA.

Legend #RouseyCarano pic.twitter.com/IV56ehLPpp
— Netflix Sports (@netflixsports) May 17, 2026

The statement captures something genuine about where Rousey is in her life right now. She came back for this specific fight, on this specific stage, to close a chapter that she felt deserved a proper ending. There was no lengthy speech about legacy, gratitude, or what the sport meant to her.

Askren and Cormier may have critiqued the card’s competitive balance. The casual Netflix audience may have wanted more than 17 seconds. But for Rousey personally, the night delivered exactly what she needed it to.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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