Ronda Rousey’s return attracts US-record MMA viewership

Ronda Rousey, of the USA, middle, celebrates after defeating Gina Carano, of the USA, left, of their featherweight blended martial arts battle Saturday, Could 16, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Picture/Jae C. Hong )

LOS ANGELES— The primary dwell MMA occasion broadcast on Netflix — that includes a double-comeback bout between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano — attracted essentially the most U.S. viewers within the sport’s historical past.

Netflix and Jake Paul’s Most Helpful Promotions reported on Tuesday that Saturday’s occasion in Inglewood, California, drew as many as 17 million viewers worldwide, together with a peak of 11.6 million within the U.S.

READ: Ronda Rousey returns to MMA with stronger help system

The U.S. determine surpassed the earlier MMA document of 8.8 million in 2011 for UFC on FOX 1.

The 39-year-old Rousey, performing in a blended martial arts cage for the primary time in almost a decade, defeated the 44-year-old Carano along with her signature armbar transfer simply 17 seconds into the bout. Carano was combating for the primary time in 17 years.

Different featured bouts on the Intuit Dome on Saturday included a battle between UFC veterans Mike Perry and Nate Diaz. Perry received the welterweight matchup on a health care provider’s stoppage after bloodying Diaz.

In one other bout, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou knocked out Philipe Lins within the first spherical.