Ronda Rousey's highly anticipated comeback fight against Gina Carano on Netflix has shattered viewership records for mixed martial arts events. The spectacle, held at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, attracted an estimated 17 million global viewers and peaked at 11.6 million in the United States, surpassing the previous MMA record set by UFC on FOX 1 in 2011.
Record-Breaking Viewership
The Netflix event, which featured the main event between Rousey and Carano, drew massive audiences worldwide. The US peak of 11.6 million viewers marks a new milestone for MMA broadcasting, eclipsing the previous record held by UFC on FOX 1 over a decade ago. The global reach of the streaming platform contributed to the unprecedented numbers.
The Main Event
In the main event, Ronda Rousey defeated Gina Carano in just 17 seconds via her signature armbar submission. This victory marked Carano's first fight in 17 years and Rousey's first in a decade. Carano, 44, reflected on the loss on Instagram, describing it as 'humbling' and acknowledging that she tapped out to prevent a broken arm. She expressed gratitude for the support she received, including from former UFC champions.
Other Notable Bouts
The event also featured other exciting matchups. Mike Perry secured a welterweight victory over Nate Diaz, while Francis Ngannou delivered a first-round knockout against Philipe Lins. These fights added to the overall spectacle and contributed to the record-breaking viewership.
Ronda Rousey's return to the octagon has once again captured the attention of the sports world, demonstrating the enduring appeal of one of MMA's most iconic figures.
