The official Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano salary payouts have yet to be released, but “Rowdy” is expected to take home more than one of Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) biggest stars.
As you probably know by now, Rousey will be making her long-awaited return to mixed martial arts (MMA) later tonight (Sat., May 16, 2026) LIVE on Netflix from inside the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, Calif., as the former UFC women’s bantamweight champion meets women’s MMA legend, Gina Carano, in the main event.
Despite Rousey not competing in nearly a decade and Carano coming out of hiding after a 17-year hiatus (and 100-pound weight loss), the two women are still expected to produce overwhelming numbers on the Netflix platform.
Given that Rousey’s comeback was too rich for UFC’s blood fight fans figured she’d be banking a huge payout for her clash with Carano. While the numbers aren’t official at this time, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) co-founder, Paul, revealed earlier this week that Rousey is expected to earn more than most UFC superstars on the roster today. This includes reigning UFC lightweight champion, Ilia Topuria, who made a substantial $3.5 million payday for his most recent victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 back in 2025.
“Here’s what I can say: I know how much Ronda Rousey is making for this event and it’s a lot more than what Ilia Topuria makes for fighting,” said Paul during an interview with Jorge Masvidal earlier this week (watch HERE).
“Definitely more than the UFC by a lot,” Paul added when asked for a specific number.
It should be noted that Rousey’s highest UFC salary was $4.88 million for her loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 back in 2016. Will Rousey walk home with more than that or is Paul blowing some pre-fight smoke?
Let us know!
