Defiant UFC headliners up against ‘Rousey vs. Carano’ suggest fans will ditch ‘boring’ Netflix card to ‘watch a real fight’

Arnold Allen and Melquizael Costa will headline the upcoming UFC Vegas 117 fight card, set for Sat., May 16, 2026 at the promotion’s Meta Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. It’s an important fight for the featherweight rankings and stylistically, a fan-friendly banger that could prove to be “Fight of the Night.”

Unfortunately, it’s up against MVP’s “Rousey vs. Carano” spectacle on Netflix.

“The fact it’s me and Melky headlining against them, I don’t think UFC is really trying to compete,” Allen said on The Ariel Helwani Show. “Not trying to put me and Melky down, but let’s be real: star power. Like, they ain’t trying to compete. They’re not going to try to compete with that. I don’t think they really care. I know [fans] have a vested interest in it, but I know what fight I’d rather watch. I’m not going to talk sh*t, but let’s be real. This is two guys in our primes, at the height of MMA. It’s at Meta APEX. That kind of blows, but the fight itself is sick.”

In addition to the headlining affair between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, the May 16 Netflix stream will also feature the return of former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, as well as a welterweight showdown between UFC veterans Nate Diaz and Mike Perry.

Sounds like a big waste of time, according to this retired fighter.

“It’s simple, when you see those boring fights going on, you’ll change the channel and watch a real fight,” Costa added on social media. “Without even realizing it, they’ve prepared the ground for us. See you on the 16th.”

In the immortal words of Black Sheep, the choice is yours! You can get with this, or you can get with that.

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