Episode 681: Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano … in this economy?!?

Episode 681: Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano … in this economy?!?

Author: Chad Dundas and Ben Fowlkes February 25, 2026 Duration: 1:06:46
As is so typical in this sport, they’re going to give us the superfight. They’re just going to give it to us about 10 years too late. Such is the case with Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano, which will go down May 16 (yes, May 16, 2026) at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. Perhaps the biggest surprise of all is that the people giving it to us aren’t the UFC, but Most Valuable Promotions — and the fight will air on Netflix. Let’s be clear: This seems inadvisable. It likely won’t be competitive. But it’s probably going to be a big, big deal. Guess you can’t say Jake Paul and Nikisa Bidarian don’t swing for the fences. Plus, Zuffa Boxing signed Conor Benn for $15 million for one fight. Hey, UFC fighters, are you paying attention NOW? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s no shortage of opinions in mixed martial arts, but there’s a distinct difference between hot takes and informed conversation built on years of watching fights from press row. That’s what you’ll find each week on The Co-Main Event MMA Podcast. Hosts Chad Dundas and Ben Fowlkes, both veteran journalists who have covered the sport for more than a decade, break down the latest news without the filter of corporate hype or predictable fanboy reactions. Their discussions feel like the post-event analysis you’d have with the most knowledgeable person you know-if that person also had a sharp sense of humor and a healthy skepticism for the industry’s usual narratives. This isn’t a scripted recap show; it’s an irreverent, meandering, and deeply insightful dialogue that covers everything from the UFC and Bellator to the broader landscape of combat sports. You’ll hear them debate fight outcomes, analyze promotional politics, and question the week’s biggest stories with a perspective that only comes from having seen it all before. The chemistry between Dundas and Fowlkes turns each episode into a compelling conversation, making this podcast a staple for fans who prefer substance over shouting. It’s the kind of listen that doesn’t just tell you what happened, but makes you think about why it matters.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Co-Main Event MMA Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Episode 605: The many ins and outs of UFC 303 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:43
Conor McGregor is out. Alex Pereira is in. Michael Chandler is out. Jiri Prochazka is in. Jamahal Hill is out. Anthony Smith is in. Elsewhere, Khamzat Chimaev is out. Ikram Alizkerov (?) is in. Mike Tyson is out (at leas…
Episode 604: So close, so far [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:30
Dustin Poirier gave it his all, putting on the sort of gritty and endlessly game performance against Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 that we've come to expect from him during his great career. But it wasn't enough. There was…
Episode 603: Last chance for Cool Dusty P [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:59
Dustin Poirier is already an all-time great lightweight. He's a shoo-in first-ballot UFC Hall of Famer. He's beloved by fans. He possesses a resume that will stand-up with almost anyone's. But you know what would be real…
Episode 602: Boxing is good right now [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:24
Hey! It’s the 12th anniversary of the Co-Main Event Podcast! Yaaaay! Didn’t think we’d still be here, did you? DID YOU? Haha, well, screw you haters, we’ll see you in the passion project gotcha videos we get our video st…
Episode 601: Derrick Lewis things [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:10
By now we all know what Derrick Lewis brings to the table. You either like it, or you don't. Lewis is going to come into fight week and be cheeky and affable, claiming to have not really trained and/or not to know his op…
Episode 600: Jose Aldo didn't get the memo at UFC 301 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:26
Fitting that as the Co-Main Event Podcast celebrates its 600th episode, it's an old dog making the most headlines from Saturday's UFC 301. If Jose Also was supposed to serve as a stepping stone for Jonathan Martinez down…
Episode 599: UFC 301 preview + BKFC rewind [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:36
A few years ago it might have seemed farfetched that one day we'd be sitting here spending the majority of an entire episode of the Proper talking about Bare Knuckle FC and a Jake Paul fight, but that's the reality of wh…
Episode 598: UFC to Netflix? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:30
In all the hubbub over UFC 300, most of us missed the juicy detail that Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos was down there sitting cageside on the elbow of Ari Emanuel during the event. You know who didn't miss it? David Spade.…
Episode 597: UFC 300 proved us wrong [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:19
Well, don't we all feel stupid now? After weeks of dumping on the UFC 300 card for not living up to our expectations, it finally happened on Saturday and it ... was ... bonkers. You had Max Holloway put on a performance…
Co-Main Event Podcast Episode 231 (11/14/16) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:34
UFC 205 is in the books and it was a doozy, folks. The fight company’s debut at Madison Square Garden and first trip to New York since 1995 was so big that it throws the normal format of the Co-Main Event Podcast into ch…