Rousey scored a 17-second submission win in her MMA return against Gina Carano
Ronda Rousey made a powerful return to MMA with a 17-second submission win over Gina Carano in their highly talked-about Netflix fight.
The fight took place on Saturday, May 16, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. It was held under Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions banner and marked a major moment for both former MMA stars.
Carano, 44, had not fought since August 2009, when she lost to Cris Cyborg by first-round TKO. Rousey, 39, last competed in MMA in December 2016, when she suffered a quick TKO loss to Amanda Nunes.
This time, Rousey wasted no time. As soon as the fight began, she closed the distance, caught Carano, and locked in an arm-bar. The submission came in under 20 seconds, ending the fight almost as soon as it started.
After the match, the two women shared an emotional hug in the cage. Rousey became visibly emotional while speaking to Ariel Helwani after the fight. She said Carano was the reason she entered MMA in the first place and the only person who could have convinced her to return.
Rousey also made it clear that this may have been the perfect ending to her combat sports story. When asked if she would fight again, she said she could not imagine a better way to close that chapter. She added that she now wants to focus on having more children and spending time with her family.
The Netflix MVP MMA 1 card also featured other major names. Nate Diaz lost to UFC veteran Mike Perry, while former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou defeated Philipe Lins in a five-round heavyweight fight.
Rousey first announced her MMA comeback in February, surprising fans after years away from the sport. During that announcement, she said the fight with Carano was one of the biggest matchups in women’s combat sports history. She also shared her excitement about working with MVP and Netflix for the event.
Carano also spoke warmly about the opportunity when the fight was announced. She said Rousey had approached her respectfully and told her that Carano was the only person she wanted to return for. Carano called the fight an honor and said it meant a lot to both fighters and longtime MMA fans.
Before the fight, Rousey spoke about how motherhood had changed her training. She said her approach had become more enjoyable because she was focused on the experience, not only the outcome. She explained that training felt lighter, more positive, and more meaningful with her family involved.
Rousey shares two daughters with her husband, Travis Browne. She said her children often watched her train, and one of her daughters loved being around the mat and cage. Rousey joked that her daughter has the same high energy she had as a child, but becomes completely focused while watching training sessions.
She also said her daughter had already shown interest in jujitsu, though Rousey does not want to rush her into it too early.
Looking ahead, Rousey shared that her personal life is now her main priority. She said she and Browne hope to have two more children. Professionally, she feels there is little left that would be worth taking time away from her family.
Her quick win over Carano gave MMA fans a brief but emotional comeback moment, closing a long-awaited chapter between two of the sport’s most influential women.
