Before Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano even stepped into their ring for each of their first fights in ten years, social media users already found something that looked wrong during the event. According to those watching the event on Netflix, the Intuit Dome looked very empty.
This topic of discussion was also brought up when the UFC visited the Inglewood, Calif., arena in 2025 for UFC 311. In reality, the attendance number for that fight was 18,370 and tallied as the UFC’s highest-grossing event in the state of California.
The arena that houses the Los Angeles Clippers during the NBA season is one of the newest and most technologically advanced arenas in America. However, the talking point of how empty it looks on television or streaming has gone viral multiple times now.
Here’s a look at why MMA events at the Intuit Dome look much emptier than they are in reality.
MORE: Live updates from the Rousey vs. Carano card
Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano attendance:
At the moment, the official attendance numbers for tonight’s card at the Intuit Dome are unknown. However, various reports state that the bottom level of the Inglewood arena is much emptier than the top decks.
According to Alex Behunin, the main card’s first fight was surrounded by an 80% full arena. It is worth noting that the lower portion of the arena, the area that is most viewed for fans watching on Netflix, had a lot of empty seats.
Intuit Dome is about 80% full as of the first fight on Netflix
Lots of seats open in the lower bowl
— Alex Behunin (@AlexBehunin) May 17, 2026
While Nate Diaz was walking out for his fight, which sits just before Rousey and Carano’s main event, one report shared the arena looked 90% full. Here’s what the Intuit Dome looked like at 11 p.m. ET.
Diaz walking out and the arena looks about 90% full. pic.twitter.com/lmEfIFoGOi
— E. Casey Leydon (@ekc) May 17, 2026
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Why does Intuit Dome look empty?
A large reason why the Intuit Dome looks empty, both tonight and during past MMA events, is the lights that are on the seats. Here is a look at how the venue looked prior to the card’s launch.
The arena setup for the Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano Netflix MMA event is SICK 🔥
via @MMAJunkie pic.twitter.com/xUaK7agDgv
— ACD MMA (@acdmma_) May 16, 2026
While the lights do create a unique aesthetic in a sports arena, it is much harder to see the lights if there is a person sitting in that seat. Therefore, when a viewer is watching an MMA fight, it is very apparent when a seat does not have a person sitting in it. According to Sports Business Journal, the Intuit Dome features lights on the seats’ armrests.
During the undercard and even the beginning of Saturday’s main card, fans noticed many lights showing in the Intuit Dome’s lower deck. Many viewers flocked to social media to share their thoughts on how empty Most Valuable Productions’ event looked.
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Reactions to Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano attendance
As previously stated, those who tuned into the Rousey vs. Carano event on Netflix were disappointed by how empty the arena looked due to the seat lights. One fan shared their distaste for how empty the Intuit Dome appears on a broadcast.
I hate the way the Intuit Dome seats look on TV. Makes it look empty. Don’t understand this move at all. pic.twitter.com/YejgYwQ1az
— TJ (@TJHitchings) May 17, 2026
Another social media user agreed and shared their belief that the lights on the seats make the arena look much emptier than it actually may be in reality.
The lights on the seats at Intuit Dome really don’t help. Always looks empty. https://t.co/ygI5tUxYJ2
— Logan Offord (@loganofford) May 17, 2026
An MMA-themed page shared that they believed the person behind the Intuit Dome’s seats needs a raise due to the ability to hide how many seats are empty. However, this has been one of the most debated topics of the night, and the negative side seems to be louder tonight.
MVP marketing guy who came up with the LEDs on the seats needs a raise. Tough to tell how many empty seats there are.
— Mike Russell 🕵️ (@MIKERUSSELLMMA) May 17, 2026
It’s so crazy that the lights make people think intuit is empty.
WWE fans remember Money in the Bank
And ran into similar issues in Saudi Arabia earlier this year
— O’Shea Jackson Jr (@OsheaJacksonJr) May 17, 2026
History of Intuit Dome attendance controversy
This isn’t the first time the Intuit Dome has confused viewers with apparent attendance levels. During UFC 311 in January 2025, fans who watched the card at home were dissatisfied with how empty the arena looked.
The topic was widely discussed on social media, and many users disagreed with how empty the arena actually was. According to MMA Mania, while Bruce Buffer, a famous UFC octagon announcer, shared that the event was sold out, many users were skeptical.
One user pleaded to Dana White, the UFC president and CEO, saying he should never schedule another UFC fight in the Inglewood arena ever again. The Intuit Dome just looked flat out empty, according to the user.
Arena is legit empty
Okay Dana – no more @ufc events in Vegas or LA ever thanks.
Go to any other city in the world and it’s full prelims onwards 😤#UFC311 pic.twitter.com/u5pZMhErtt
— Nonlinear Horse (@NonlinearHorse) January 19, 2025
While it did appear that the arena looked empty based on some points of view, the arena was actually much more crowded in reality.
Which half?? pic.twitter.com/42KCnmvh1U
— Name cannot be blank (@ZingZongZang) January 19, 2025
Intuit Dome MMA capacity
UFC 311 had an attendance of 18,370 at the Intuit Dome, according to USA Today.
In 2025, the event became the highest-grossing UFC event in California of all time, per the Los Angeles Times. While the arena may have looked empty to those at home, it certainly was the opposite of that in reality.
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