Ronda Rousey reveals minimum pay for Netflix MMA debut, says ‘UFC can’t say the same’

Photo by Hans Gutknecht/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images

Ronda Rousey reveals minimum pay for Netflix MMA debut, says ‘UFC can’t say the same’

Originally posted on HITC | By Kyle Dimond | Last updated Apr 16, 2026 2:54 PM ET

Plenty of people have been drawing parallels between the UFC and Netflix’s debut into MMA, especially with how the streaming giant has been promoting its first event.

If Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano hits the numbers they’re expecting on May 16, Most Valuable Promotions plans to put together more MMA events down the line.

More competition for the UFC doesn’t just mean more options for fans; it also creates new opportunities for fighters and can help boost their market value.

MVP has always positioned itself as a promotion that wants to treat athletes better than other organizations. While they’ve still got a way to go in some areas, they are off to a strong start with this new venture into MMA.

Ronda Rousey says every MVP MMA fighter will make at least $40,000 on May 16

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

While Gina Carano wanted to fight Ronda Rousey in the UFC, them taking their matchup elsewhere gives them the opportunity to try and make some change in the sport.

Kenny Cross has already stated that he’s earning five times what a debuting UFC fighter makes for his upcoming bout against Salahdine Parnasse on May 16.

During Tuesday’s press conference, Rousey revealed that there is a minimum guarantee for every fighter on the card, regardless of any other factors.

She said: “One thing I’m really proud of in this fight is the absolute minimum that anybody will walk away with, even if they don’t have a big, long record and even if they lose is $40,000. If you fight three times in a year, that is much more than a living wage and that’s something that the UFC cannot say. I hope that everybody sitting here today is getting the biggest payday of their career.”

The details behind this will become clear once May 16 has passed due to where it takes place.

The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) discloses how much each fighter earns from an event which makes it easy for fans to see if this promise from MVP holds up.

The numbers are only expected payouts though as there are often undisclosed performance bonuses or contract-based increases on top of those purses which aren’t made public information.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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