Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano's MMA event on Netflix drew 9.3 million viewers in the US. The event, which took place in May 2026, saw Rousey submit Carano in just 17 seconds.
What happened?
The UFC Freedom 250 event, held on the South Lawn of the White House, averaged 8.2 million viewers across the US and Latin America.
Why it matters for Ronda Rousey
Rousey's victory over Carano marked a significant milestone in her career, with the event generating over 410 million impressions across social media platforms.
What comes next?
MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian praised the success of UFC Freedom 250, stating that it was a great achievement for the sport, while also acknowledging that Rousey and Carano's event had set a high benchmark.
The event featured a series of knockout and TKO finishes, with Justin Gaethje upsetting Ilia Topuria to capture the lightweight title.
Rousey's 17-second armbar victory over Carano produced the largest domestic MMA audience since 2011.
Dana White celebrated the success of Freedom 250, revealing that Paramount executives were thrilled with the performance.
The UFC remains the standard-bearer in the sport, with Bidarian stating that MVP MMA's viewership numbers were impressive, given the dominance of the UFC brand.
Rousey's retirement announcement followed her victory over Carano, marking the end of an era in her career.
The success of Rousey and Carano's event has sparked discussion about the future of MMA, with many praising the achievement of the two pioneers in the sport.
The event's viewership numbers have been seen as a significant achievement, with Rousey and Carano's fight drawing a massive audience.
The UFC Freedom 250 event may not have surpassed the viewership numbers of Rousey and Carano's event, but it still marked a significant milestone in the sport, with a record-breaking audience for Paramount+.