Additional Coverage:
- Ronda Rousey returning to fighting after nearly 10-year hiatus: ‘This is for all MMA fans’ (foxnews.com)
Ronda Rousey Returns to the Octagon for Highly Anticipated Bout Against Gina Carano
The mixed martial arts world is buzzing with the news that “The Baddest Woman on the Planet,” Ronda Rousey, is set to make her highly anticipated return to the cage on May 16. After nearly eight years away from MMA, Rousey will face off against fellow pioneer Gina Carano in a blockbuster event.
Rousey, a UFC Hall of Famer and the first woman ever signed by the organization, retired from MMA in 2016 after a dominant run that included six successful defenses of her UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship. She then transitioned to a full-time career in WWE, making sporadic appearances since. Now, the 39-year-old is coming home to the sport where she made her name, with the fight scheduled to take place at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
“This is for all MMA fans past, present and future. More to come… much more,” Rousey stated in a press release, hinting at her renewed commitment to the sport.
Her opponent, Gina Carano, has an equally compelling story. Carano, who boasts a 7-1 record from 2006 to 2009, has not competed in MMA since 2009, having pursued a successful acting career.
Carano revealed the surprising origin of the fight: “Ronda came to me and said there is only one person she would make a comeback for and it has been her dream to make this fight happen between us. She thanked me for opening up doors for her in her career and was respectful in asking for this fight to happen.
This is an honor. I believe I will walk out of this fight with the win and I anticipate it will not come easy, which I welcome.
This is as much for Ronda and me as it is for the fans and mixed martial arts community. What a time to be alive.”
The historic bout will be broadcast live on Netflix, a partnership facilitated by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP). MVP, known for promoting all three Katie Taylor-Amanda Serrano boxing events, is now expanding its reach into the MMA landscape.
“MVP has always been driven by disruption and delivering the biggest moments in combat sports on a global scale, and today we are officially bringing that energy to MMA for the first time,” said Paul and his business partner, Nakisa Bidarian. “Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano are the two most formative figures in the history of women’s MMA; they are the icons who shattered the glass ceiling and helped build the foundation this sport stands on.
MVP’s conviction in women’s boxing was driven by the success achieved by Ronda Rousey, who was the biggest star of the entire sport of MMA during her career. Following the unprecedented success of our boxing partnership, we are proving that MVP and Netflix can create blockbuster live events in multiple sports that engage fans across generations.
This is what we do.”
Rousey’s MMA career began with an impressive 12-0 streak before her final two losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes. Her dominance was undeniable, with nine of her 12 victories coming within the first 70 seconds, and all but one ending in the first round.
This highly anticipated clash between two legends promises to be a monumental event for mixed martial arts fans worldwide.