UFC Veteran Thinks Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano Falls to Lackluster Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson Territory

UFC welterweight veteran Matt Brown reveals why Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano will attract only temporary hype.

UFC Veteran Thinks Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano Falls to Lackluster Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson Territory

Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano with Jake Paul (via MMA Fighting)

In Short
  • Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano are set to headline MVP MMA's inaugural card on May 19th after long absences from competition.
  • UFC veteran Matt Brown expresses skepticism about the event's potential, comparing it to the disappointing Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight.
  • Both fighters maintain a respectful tone leading up to the match, emphasizing their shared legacy in women's MMA.

Ronda Rousey is widely regarded as a key figure behind the global rise of women’s MMA, helping transform it into a mainstream sport. She became the first female UFC signee and the inaugural bantamweight champion. Her return fight against Gina Carano has drawn attention due to their shared legacy. However, UFC veteran Matt Brown believes the MVP MMA event may fall short of expectations.

Rousey returns after nearly a decade away, with her last fight in 2016 against Amanda Nunes ending in a knockout loss that closed her UFC career. Carano also comes back after a long absence, last competing in 2009 in Strikeforce, where she suffered a knockout loss to Cris Cyborg. Both are now set to headline Most Valuable Promotions’ inaugural MMA card on May 19th, marking a major return built around their legacy.

The upcoming card has already been positioned as one of the most anticipated MMA events in recent times, largely due to the return of two major pioneers in Rousey and Carano. Its promotional scale and crossover appeal have led to comparisons with the UFC White House event. However, Brown believes this card will not live up to the hype and is unlikely to meet the expectations set by its promotion.

It will do big numbers but who is actually going to care? How many times are going to walk away from a fight — like you were just talking about with Jake Paul and Mike Tyson — and kind of feel icky and wish that we didn’t watch it? I think we’re going to feel the same thing with this fight. Feel like we wasted our time. Maybe not feel icky but we’re going to feel like we wasted our time. How many times are we going to do that? At some point it’s going to play itself out. Probably if anything it’s all going to help the UFC.

Matt Brown via The Fighter vs. The Writer

Brown’s comparison to the 2024 Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson bout highlighted his criticism of nostalgia-driven fights. The matchup drew massive attention due to Tyson’s return after nearly 20 years away from the ring. However, at 58 years, Tyson appeared slow and sluggish, struggling to maintain consistent output. The fight was widely viewed as falling short of expectations due to the clear physical decline.

The MVP MMA undercard features Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins alongside Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry, adding major intrigue through name value and fighting styles. Ngannou’s reputation as a knockout artist brings heavyweight finishing power. Diaz, a longtime UFC fan favorite, is known for durability and volume striking. While Perry is also a fan favorite and BKFC champion, his presence adds aggression and toughness.

The Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight was widely considered disappointing in terms of quality but still delivered massive global numbers, with about 65 million concurrent Netflix streams and over 108 million live viewers worldwide. Much of that audience came from curiosity about Tyson’s return after decades away. This contrasts with Matt Brown’s view on the Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano Netflix superfight.

Gina Carano reveals why there is minimal trash talk between her and Ronda Rousey

The fight between Gina Carano and Ronda Rousey was long considered one of the biggest superfights never made during their primes, with both representing the early rise of women’s MMA. The matchup was heavily discussed but never finalized. Contractual disputes and organizational decisions ultimately prevented it from happening at the time. It is now being revisited under the MVP MMA banner.

Gina Carano and Ronda Rousey
Gina Carano and Ronda Rousey (via MMA Fighting)

Heading into the MVP MMA event, Rousey and Carano have avoided trash talk or public callouts, instead maintaining a respectful tone. Rousey has acknowledged Carano’s influence on her early understanding of women’s MMA. Carano has said Rousey was the one who initially reached out about making the fight happen. She also noted that their lack of trash talk comes from long-standing mutual respect.

When you’re cutting weight, you get very emotional. Some days you break down. I was looking out the window and tears were coming down my face. I was like, ‘I don’t want to hurt her,’ which I never even thought about in my twenties. It’s actually very respectful, right? Ronda’s been waiting to fight me for a very long time. I don’t want to disappoint. I want her to feel everything I have. I want her to feel what she’s been chasing.

Gina Carano via The Ariel Helwani Show

Carano’s comments ultimately reinforce the unusual tone surrounding this matchup, where mutual respect has replaced the typical rivalry-driven promotion seen in major MMA fights. Her acknowledgment of both past influence and Rousey’s outreach adds context to how the bout finally came together after years of speculation. It also highlights how both fighters are approaching the event with a focus on legacy.

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