Ali Akbar Rosady
Los Angeles, CA – Combat sports icon Ronda Rousey has formally announced her definitive retirement from professional fighting, releasing a comprehensive statement on social media Tuesday following her main event victory over fellow pioneer Gina Carano at the inaugural MVP MMA event held on Netflix this past Saturday in Los Angeles. The declaration solidifies Rousey’s earlier post-fight remarks, where she signaled her intent to step away from the cage to prioritize her family and pursue having more children.
Rousey, 39, delivered a dominant performance in her farewell bout, needing just 17 seconds to secure a submission win over Carano using her signature armbar. The rapid finish marked a poignant end to a storied career that saw her rise as the first female UFC champion and a global superstar. Her subsequent statement, described as "lengthy" by the athlete herself, served as a powerful testament to her journey, the significance of her final opponent, and her profound connection to martial arts.
"I’ve been putting off this post-fight post because I think I’ve been procrastinating admitting that it’s really over," Rousey wrote, acknowledging the emotional weight of her decision. She characterized her return and the surrounding process as "more fulfilling than I ever could have imagined," reflecting on the year and a half of intensive training and the promotional efforts that led to the event.
The former Olympic judoka emphasized that her return to face Carano was deeply personal and transformative. She cited seeing Carano, who had not competed since 2009, experiencing a "low similar to what I endured" while Rousey was nine months pregnant. This observation sparked a mutual inspiration, with Rousey recalling her initial thought upon seeing Carano fight years ago: "’Well, if she can do it, I can, too.’" She credited her prior foray into professional wrestling for helping her "move on from my past in MMA," but ultimately stated, "Gina is the one who gave me a reason to confront it."
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Rousey detailed the unique drive behind her desire to fight Carano, dismissing skepticism from others about Carano’s commitment. "Me and Gina literally fought to fight each other," Rousey explained. "I kept hearing people say, ‘She’s not serious.’ ‘She can’t lose the weight,’ but I didn’t just want to come back to fight, I HAD to come back to fight HER." This sentiment underscored the narrative of two foundational figures in women’s MMA coming full circle.
The narrative crafted by their highly anticipated bout, according to Rousey, was one of profound personal resonance. "The story we could tell together was one I desperately needed to believe. That you’re never too low to rise again, that your body is never too far gone to reclaim, and that it’s never too late to be better than you’ve ever been." This theme of redemption and self-reclamation permeated the build-up to the fight, resonating with both athletes’ past experiences and comebacks.
Rousey also offered an intimate glimpse into the unique negotiation process for their bout. Despite "a few hiccups at the finish line getting her contract done," Rousey recounted taking a direct approach. "’F*ck it, let’s meet up’ and we hammered out all the issues together over a bottle of wine (well, actually, she had martinis, I smoked a blunt and had the wine – don’t worry, we had designated drivers) and got the deal done ourselves." She lauded Carano’s "bravery," highlighting her opponent’s audacious goal to "lose 100 pounds and take on the baddest bitch on the planet!"
Carano, a pioneer in women’s mixed martial arts herself, held a professional record of 7-1 before her initial retirement from the sport in 2009. Her return to competition after more than a decade away, facing an opponent of Rousey’s caliber, was widely seen as a testament to her dedication and the mutual respect shared between the two athletes.
Rousey continued to express deep admiration for Carano, emphasizing the reciprocal nature of their motivational impact. "What I never could have expected was seeing how that woman transformed over the following year would give me just as much joy as my own transformation," Rousey stated. "Every time I saw her she was stronger, more confident, more beautiful than ever – not because she was losing weight but because that light she had lost was growing brighter and brighter."
Her own journey of rediscovery, following a professional wrestling career after her last UFC fight in 2016, was equally profound. "At the same time I was peeling back the layers of my own walls I’d put up and rediscovering a world that was so ingrained in the fabric of my soul but was too proud to admit I needed. I love MMA, I love judo, pro wrestling, fight choreography, acting, and writing – but I am before anything else a martial artist." Rousey, an Olympic bronze medalist in judo at the 2008 Beijing Games, passionately reaffirmed her identity. She asserted her dominance in MMA, declaring, "I’m better at MMA than I ever was at anything else – And f*ck who this may offend, but I am the best to have ever done it and nothing can compare to the experience of creating within my craft. I am the one fortunate enough to experience that level of mastery and I’ll never let anyone shame me away from embracing it ever again."
The statement also acknowledged the pivotal role of Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) partners Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, as well as Netflix, in bringing the event to fruition. Rousey praised Bidarian as a "believer, a partner, and just a solid f*cking friend," and commended Paul for his unwavering support and respect. The card itself, which featured prominent names like Nate Diaz, Francis Ngannou, and Mike Perry, was described by Rousey as a "dream card," realized through "Nakisa’s hard work and Netflix’s belief in our cause."
Rousey specifically highlighted the collaborative spirit among the headlining fighters. "Perhaps the most touching aspect of this process was experiencing the humility of both Francis and Nate sharing the top of the card with myself and each other," she noted. Ngannou, the former UFC Heavyweight Champion now competing in PFL and boxing, and Diaz, a long-standing fan favorite from the UFC, represented significant draws alongside Rousey.
The MVP MMA event, broadcast globally on Netflix, was presented as more than just a fight card; it was an "embodiment of hope in the sport." Rousey lauded the performances of other fighters on the card, including Mike Perry’s emergence as a "superstar," Philipe Lins’s courage, Robelis Despaigne’s commanding presence, Salahdine Parnasse’s statement-making performance, and Jason Jackson’s blend of warmth and efficiency. She concluded this section by stating that the night was "for those who were told they overvalued themselves or weren’t valuable enough were standing together and making a statement. ‘This is OUR cage. We belong here. We put it all on the line, and we deserve to be fairly compensated for it.’" This underlined the perceived ethos of MVP as a platform advocating for fighter compensation and empowerment.
In her extensive acknowledgments, Rousey thanked numerous individuals who contributed to her camp and personal journey. She credited Ricky Lundell for facilitating her return to the mat, coaches like A.J. Matthews, Ryan Benoit, and Jesse Forbes for their expertise, and nutritionists Dan Garner and Jake for her physical conditioning. Medical professionals Dr. Bernick and Dr. Hailstone were thanked for treating her CSD (Chronic Compartment Syndrome). Her training and sparring partners, including Margaret Izotov, Alexa Yanes, Pauline Macias, and Jacoby Yancy, were also recognized for their contributions.
The deepest gratitude was reserved for her family. Rousey thanked her mother for instilling in her both strength and kindness. She expressed appreciation to her family for enduring the anxiety of her return to fighting, adding, "I tried to win quickly to spare you the heart attacks." Finally, she dedicated a heartfelt message to her children, Kaleo, Keawe, Pā’u, and Po, and her husband, Travis Browne, also a former MMA fighter. "My everything and more, my love of my life, the man who gave me something to live for when I was at my lowest – the greatest moment of this whole experience was seeing the love on your face when you came to meet me in the cage. Sharing this life with you is the real prize," Rousey wrote, underscoring the profound personal fulfillment she has found outside the competitive arena.
Rousey concluded her statement by reflecting on the bittersweet nature of her departure. "The fight is over, it’s bittersweet because for the first time the experience of preparing for the fight eclipsed the joy any victory could have brought. But I’m finally ready to move on, this time with my head held high. Thank you, Gina." The sentiment highlights a career brought to a satisfying, if emotional, close, allowing one of combat sports’ most influential figures to transition into a new chapter focused on family life and personal growth.
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