UMVA has learned that Ronda Rousey made a stunning return to the MMA ring, defeating Gina Carano in a jaw-dropping 17-second fight at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
The highly anticipated bout, streamed live on Netflix, saw Rousey charge out of her corner at the opening bell, swiftly tackling Carano to the mat and locking in her signature armbar. Carano quickly tapped out, handing Rousey a lightning-fast victory in her first fight in nine-and-a-half years.
The intense match was the headline event on the MVP MMA’s card, marking Netflix’s first-ever live mixed martial arts event. After the fight, Rousey and Carano showed remarkable sportsmanship, embracing in the center of the cage, exchanging warm words, and raising each other’s arms in a display of respect.
Rousey, who had been focusing on family life following the birth of two children, described the finish as “beautiful martial arts.” She expressed her desire to emerge unscathed, saying, “I didn’t really want to hurt her. Luckily, it was beautiful martial arts, that’s what I think it was. It was art.”
Carano, 44, had been out of MMA for 17 years before this fight, and despite her desire for the match to last longer, she showed class in her defeat. “I wanted that to last longer,” Carano said. “I felt so ready. I’ve never felt that good. But I haven’t been here for 17 years … and I wanted to hit her.”
In a poignant moment, Rousey revealed that this was her final fight and that she is retiring on top, stating, “Hell no. My husband and my kids are watching me. I don’t want to put them through anything more than I have to.” Meanwhile, Carano left the door open for future bouts, and promoter Nakisa Bidarian expressed interest in featuring her again.
