Netflix's inaugural live mixed martial arts event, headlined by the long-awaited double-comeback bout between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, has smashed viewership records across the United States.
Record-Breaking Viewership
Netflix and Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions announced on Tuesday that Saturday's spectacle at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, drew an estimated 17 million viewers worldwide. Crucially, it peaked at 11.6 million viewers in the US, eclipsing the previous MMA record of 8.8 million set in 2011 by UFC on FOX 1.
Other Notable Fights
The event also featured UFC veterans Mike Perry and Nate Diaz, with Perry securing a welterweight victory via doctor's stoppage after bloodying Diaz. Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou delivered a first-round knockout against Philipe Lins.
The Main Event
The bout marked Carano's first fight in 17 years and Rousey's first in a decade, as the trailblazers of women's MMA finally clashed. The action ended swiftly, with former UFC champion Rousey taking down Carano and locking in her signature armbar. Carano tapped out almost immediately, ending the bout in just 17 seconds.
Carano's Reflections
Carano, 44, later shared her thoughts on Instagram: 'This was one of the best rides of my life. I felt locked in fight night. No fear just focused positive adrenaline. Love to my team.' She added, 'My heart is heavy, I wanted to throw, battle, win, but I kicked when I should have moved and was down and done. If I hadn't tapped she would've broken my arm, as it had begun to crackle.'
She acknowledged the disappointment of losing but found perspective from legends. 'Jon Jones and Cain Velasquez came up to my table after the fight. They set my mind straight. Jon said, "You haven't fought in 17 years? Do you know how big your balls have to be to get back in there after that long? Did you set some sort of record or something? Respect!" That's exactly what I needed to hear from the best to ever to do it.'
Comeback Context
Rousey had last competed in 2016, suffering a first-minute knockout by Amanda Nunes in a UFC title fight. One year earlier, she was knocked out by Holly Holm. Carano had not fought since suffering the first and previously sole defeat of her career, a KO by Cris Cyborg.
