Gina Carano and Ronda Rousey to receive much higher fight earnings from MVP compared to UFC
Gina Carano Vs Ronda Rousey is almost here as Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) is set to make its MMA debut.
The blockbuster event live on Netflix is headlined by the ex champion and The Mandalorian actor on Saturday at Intuit Dome in California.
Fight fans will know that Carano was one of the pioneers who brought women's mixed martial arts into the mainstream media spotlight during the mid-2000s.
In August 2009, she headlined the first-ever major MMA event featuring women in the main event, and would go on to star in movies like Haywire and Deadpool, as well as playing Cara Dune in The Mandalorian.
Advert
Rousey, meanwhile, is considered the most influential female athlete in mixed martial arts history, famously forcing UFC CEO Dana White to reverse his stance that women would never fight in his promotion.
She went on a legendary 12-0 run and became the inaugural Strikeforce and UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion, defending her UFC title six times.
Carano and Rousey fight purse
The magnitude of the MVP-hosted fight means that Rousey, now 39, and Carano, now 44, will set a new purse record for female fighters.
"The biggest money fight is the biggest fight period. And we [Harrison] honestly have very different definitions of greatness. Mine is making history, making a cultural impact and influencing the future of the sport," Rousey, who reportedly earned $3 million in her last fight in 2016, told BBC Sport.
"I've already won a record eight consecutive title fights, there's nothing left for me to do in UFC.
"So now me and Gina are smashing the record for the most women have been paid in combat sports."
Carano's last fight was 17 years ago
While Carano hasn't fought in nearly 17 years, Rousey says 'if anyone can steal my happiness, I'd be happy for it to be Gina because she inspired me when I was sitting on the couch one day, and I've never been able to give back to her'.
"I've worked so hard. Having Ronda as the goal got me out of bed every morning," added Carano.
"I've pictured the fight, I can't see it going any other way, having my hand raised. As sick as I was a year and a half ago, I feel this is already a victory."
MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian said on The Ariel Helwani Show that all fighters on the card will be paid a minimum of $40,000, more than UFC’s typical introductory fighter salary of $12,000 to show and $12,000 to win.
"That's guaranteed, and then every fighter has a performance bonus in addition to that, which there are different levels depending on the fighter,” Bidarian told Uncrowned.
"We will have a Fight of the Night. Jake and I need to kind of discuss it, and we'll announce it at the right time. But every fighter does have a performance bonus incentive."
Ronda Rousey Vs Gina Carano start time
The pair are expected to make their entrances at approximately 4am BST, with the main event to start shortly afterwards.
Main Card:
Ronda Rousey (12-2) vs Gina Carano (7-1) — Featherweight (145 lbs)
Nate Diaz (21-13) vs Mike Perry (14-8) — Welterweight (170 lbs)
Francis Ngannou (18-3) vs Philipe Lins (18-5) — Heavyweight (265 lbs)
Salahdine Parnasse (22-2) vs Kenneth Cross (17-4) — Lightweight (155 lbs)
Junior dos Santos (21-10) vs Robelis Despaigne (5-2) — Heavyweight (265 lbs)
Topics: UFC, MMA, Ronda Rousey, Netflix, Sport
Anish Vij