Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight champion and megastar Ronda Rousey is set to collide with women’s mixed martial arts (MMA) pioneer Gina Carano on May 16, 2026, inside Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, Calif., with the bout scheduled to stream on Netflix.
Advertisement
But before the long-discussed “superfight” becomes official, both athletes must clear extensive medical hurdles.
According to California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) executive director Andy Foster, who spoke to ESPN, the pre-fight testing for Rousey and Carano will go well beyond standard requirements.
Rousey, 39, is expected to undergo a full neurological and concussion battery evaluation due to her documented history of head trauma. In 2024, she publicly revealed that repeated concussions — many sustained during her judo career before transitioning to MMA — ultimately forced her into retirement.
“My concussion history is what I had to keep secret for years so I would be able to continue to compete and perform,” Rousey said in 2024. “That’s basically why I had to retire.”
Advertisement
Confirming the added scrutiny, Foster told ESPN: “We’re going to put her through neurological and concussion battery testing and make sure she’s OK. We’re going to have our doctors take a look. The fighters are going to have to do a lot of medicals, both of ’em.”
As for Carano, who has not competed since 2009 and will turn 44 a month before fight night, she faces even more regulatory testing. Per ESPN, CSAC follows Association of Ringside Physicians guidelines for fighters over 40, including MRI and MRA brain scans, EKG and cardiac testing, neurocognitive exams, blood panels, and ophthalmologic evaluations.
While Foster acknowledged the commission has rejected bouts involving older fighters in the past, he made clear this one can proceed — if both women pass.
“As long as these women pass their medicals and pass all their neurological batteries and do the things they need to do, there’s nothing wrong with this fight,” Foster said.
The bout may be signed, but medical clearance remains the final obstacle.
For the latest UFC/MMA-related news and notes click here.
