Ronda Rousey earned a disclosed $2.2 million minimum purse for her quick 17-second armbar submission win over Gina Carano in the main event of MVP Promotions’ historic debut MMA card on Netflix. The event took place on May 16, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
Full Disclosed Purses from CSAC Athlete Payoff Sheet
The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) released the official minimum guaranteed purses (excluding undisclosed bonuses, sponsorships, Netflix incentives, or PPV-style cuts). Here’s the complete breakdown:
Main Card Highlights:
- Ronda Rousey — $2,200,000
- Gina Carano — $1,050,000
- Francis Ngannou — $1,500,000 (KO win over Philipe Lins)
- Nate Diaz — $500,000
- Mike Perry — $400,000 (TKO win over Diaz)
- Philipe Lins — $100,000
Other Notable Purses:
- Jason Jackson: $110,000
- Adriano Moraes: $80,000
- Junior Dos Santos: $80,000
- Salahdine Parnasse: $70,000
- Phumi Nkuta: $60,000
- Multiple fighters (including prelims): $40,000–$50,000 minimum
Key Fact: Every fighter on the 11-bout card earned a guaranteed minimum of $40,000 — significantly higher than many entry-level UFC contracts.
Fighters also faced standard California deductions for licensing, fines, and taxes, with net pay figures reflecting those adjustments.
Rousey vs. Carano: Biggest Female MMA Payday?
Rousey’s $2.2M disclosed purse more than doubled Carano’s $1.05M, highlighting her star power draw despite both fighters returning after long layoffs (Rousey since 2016, Carano since 2009). The bout ended in just 17 seconds, leading to memes about “$129K per second” for Rousey.
These figures represent only the guaranteed minimums filed with the CSAC. Total earnings for top stars likely increased substantially through performance bonuses, sponsorships, and potential Netflix subscriber or viewership incentives.
Context: MVP’s Push for Better Fighter Pay
Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), co-founded with Nakisa Bidarian, positioned this event as a fighter-friendly alternative. They emphasized flat guaranteed purses plus bonuses, contrasting with traditional show/win models.
The $40K floor drew praise for elevating lower-card fighters, though social media reactions mixed excitement with skepticism about event profitability, short fight times, and high top-end costs.
Full Event Results Snapshot
- Ronda Rousey def. Gina Carano — Submission (armbar), R1, 0:17
- Mike Perry def. Nate Diaz — TKO (corner stoppage), R2
- Francis Ngannou def. Philipe Lins — KO, R1
- Multiple first-round finishes highlighted the card’s explosive action.
Why This Matters for MMA Fans and the Industry
This Netflix debut combined nostalgia (Rousey-Carano, Diaz, Ngannou, JDS) with emerging talent. It tested whether free-to-subscribers streaming (no PPV) can sustain big-money MMA outside the UFC.