Mixed martial arts star Ronda Rousey made a stunning return to the sport, defeating fellow combat sports trailblazer Gina Carano in a non-title bout in Los Angeles on Saturday. The highly anticipated fight lasted just 17 seconds, with Rousey emerging victorious by armbar.
Rousey, 39, and Carano, 44, are widely regarded as two of the most influential female fighters in the history of MMA. They played a significant role in popularising the sport over a decade ago. Both fighters have been out of the ring for some time, with Carano focusing on her Hollywood career and Rousey retiring from the sport in 2016.
The Road to Hollywood
Carano has appeared in several action movie roles, leveraging her success in MMA to build a career in Hollywood. However, she had not fought since 2009 before her recent comeback. Rousey, a 2008 Olympics judo bronze medallist, had a highly successful career in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) before retiring in 2016.
The two fighters were lured back into the cage for Saturday’s card at the Intuit Dome, with the promise of a significant payday. The streaming giant reportedly offered each fighter several million dollars for their participation. Rousey and Carano were initially drawn back into the sport by the prospect of a lucrative payday and the opportunity to face each other in the ring.
The bout itself was a brief affair, with Rousey flooring Carano almost immediately before finishing the fight with an armbar. The victory marked a successful return to the sport for Rousey, who had been absent from the ring for several years.
A One-Off Return
After the fight, Rousey insisted that her return to the ring was a one-off and ruled out the possibility of fighting again. She paid tribute to Carano, saying: “Gina is the only person who could have brought me back into MMA – she’s my hero.” Rousey added that she was glad to have shared the moment with Carano and appreciated the opportunity to face her in the ring.
Rousey also expressed her desire to focus on her personal life, saying: “I want to have some more babies, got to get cooking.” This statement suggests that Rousey is looking to prioritize her family and personal commitments over her sporting career.
A Remarkable Transformation
Carano, on the other hand, reflected on the significance of her return to the sport. She had shed over 100 pounds (45kg) in the two years leading up to the contest, a remarkable transformation that demonstrated her dedication and commitment to the fight. Despite the brief duration of the bout, Carano considered her return to the ring a victory, saying: “Getting in the cage was a victory, fighting a legend was a victory.”
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
