Ali Akbar Rosady
Ronda Rousey, a pivotal figure in the evolution of women’s mixed martial arts, secured a decisive victory in her comeback fight on Saturday, swiftly defeating fellow pioneer Gina Carano at the inaugural MVP MMA event streamed globally on Netflix. The bout, which lasted a mere 17 seconds, saw Rousey execute her signature armbar submission, compelling Carano to tap out and marking Rousey’s first win since August 2015 and her first professional fight since December 2016. Following the dominant performance, the 39-year-old Rousey confirmed her definitive retirement from the sport, articulating a desire to focus on expanding her family.
The highly anticipated return took place nearly a decade after Rousey’s last professional MMA appearance. In a post-fight interview, Rousey unequivocally stated her intentions. "There’s no way I could have ended it better than this," she remarked, indicating the finality of her return. "I want to have some more babies and I’ve got to get cooking." This statement cemented her departure from competitive fighting, signaling a shift in focus towards her personal life with husband Travis Browne, with whom she already shares two children. Browne joined Rousey in the cage for an emotional embrace following her victory, underscoring the personal significance of the moment.
Rousey’s career has been one of unprecedented highs and significant transitions. A bronze medalist in judo at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she transitioned to mixed martial arts, quickly ascending to superstardom. As the first female bantamweight champion in UFC history, Rousey captivated audiences with her aggressive fighting style and an undefeated streak that included twelve consecutive victories, ten of which came via armbar submission. Her meteoric rise shattered barriers for women in combat sports, paving the way for female athletes to headline major events and earn significant endorsements. However, her professional MMA career faced a significant setback with back-to-back knockout losses to Holly Holm in November 2015 and Amanda Nunes in December 2016, leading to her prolonged hiatus from the octagon. During her time away from MMA, Rousey ventured into professional wrestling, enjoying a successful tenure with WWE, further diversifying her combat sports legacy.
Gina Carano, 42, held a significant place in the history of women’s MMA long before Rousey’s emergence. Known for her striking prowess and captivating presence, Carano was widely regarded as "the face of women’s MMA" during her active career. She competed in organizations such as EliteXC and Strikeforce, building a formidable record and drawing considerable viewership. Her last fight before Saturday’s event was in 2009, a loss to Cristiane "Cyborg" Justino, after which she transitioned to a successful acting career in Hollywood. Her return to the cage, after more than a decade, was a testament to the drawing power of a matchup between two of the sport’s most iconic figures, creating a truly historic Netflix headliner.
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Despite Carano suffering a humbling defeat in her long-awaited return, the atmosphere following the fight was notably celebratory, characterized by mutual respect between the two pioneers. Rousey expressed gratitude that she did not have to inflict substantial damage on her opponent. "I was hoping to come out both as unscathed as possible, because I didn’t really want to hurt her," Rousey explained. "Luckily, it was just beautiful martial arts, that’s what I think that is. That’s what that efficiency is. It’s an art."
In her post-fight address, Rousey extended heartfelt thanks to her friends, family, and coaches, reserving particular appreciation for Carano, whom she openly acknowledged as her idol. Rousey underscored the intertwined nature of their careers and the significance of their shared moment in the cage. "Gina is the person who brought me into MMA," Rousey asserted. "She’s the only person who could have brought me back into MMA. She’s my f*cking hero. You brought me back home when nobody else could. You showed me where my home was when nobody else could. You changed my world and we changed the world and I will never, ever forget, and I will never be able to pay you back enough. I’m so glad we finally got to share this moment." This profound statement highlighted the deep professional and personal connection between the two women who, together, significantly elevated the profile of female fighters in the sport.
Adding another layer of intrigue to Rousey’s comeback win was the revelation of an injury she carried into the contest. During the evening’s post-fight press conference, MVP CFO Nakisa Bidarian disclosed that Rousey had entered Saturday’s fight with a pre-existing injury. This confirmation substantiated earlier speculation, which arose after observers noted what appeared to be a slight limp during Rousey’s official weigh-in on Friday.
Rousey later addressed the injury during her own session with reporters, providing detailed insight into her condition and her enduring philosophy on fighting through adversity. "I sprained my ankle or foot pretty bad, like two and a half weeks ago," Rousey confirmed. She then recounted a formative experience from her childhood that shaped her resilience. "But it just made me think of when my first injury as a kid I broke my big toe in judo and my mom made me run laps around the mat for the rest of the night and she said, ‘You don’t know if you’re going to get hurt on the most important day. You could get hurt the day of the Olympics, you could get hurt when it really matters, and you need to know that your body listens to you, not the other way around.’"
Rousey continued, reflecting on her immediate reaction to the recent injury: "Man, I was like, ‘Thanks for the trauma, mama!’ Right when it happened, we had two and a half weeks left and I’m like, ‘Welp, looks like I’m doing this with my ankle messed up.’" She emphasized that fighting while injured was not an anomaly in her career. "But I basically have never had a fight where I wasn’t injured in some way. I didn’t ever pull out of a fight because I’ve never been injured, I never pulled out of a fight because I always fight anyway. So that’s just part of it and when it happened, I’m like, this is part of it and I’m the f*cking best at this. I pushed through." Rousey also detailed her efforts to conceal the injury, particularly during public appearances. "But yeah, I was definitely trying real hard not to look hurt at the open workout. I was trying not to look like I was holding myself back and I really re-aggravated it again and I had to dig deep this week and I was trying so hard not to limp. At the weigh-ins, it’s usually worst in the morning, and I was trying so hard not to visibly limp in front of people. But hey, I slipped it in there, I got it done anyway and no one was really the wiser. That’s just part of performing at the highest level. You have to push through."
Ronda Rousey’s final professional fight served as a powerful capstone to a career that reshaped an entire sport. Her swift, dominant victory over an esteemed peer, coupled with her immediate and resolute retirement announcement, provided the "proper goodbye" she had long sought. The event not only showcased her enduring skill but also celebrated the legacy of two women who, against considerable odds, carved out a permanent place for female athletes in the fiercely competitive world of mixed martial arts.
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