RismadarVoice Reporters
May 17, 2026
Mixed martial arts star Ronda Rousey marked her return to the cage with a dominant performance, defeating fellow MMA pioneer Gina Carano by submission in just 17 seconds before announcing her retirement from the sport once again.
The highly anticipated non-title comeback bout took place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, but the contest ended almost immediately as Rousey executed her trademark armbar submission, forcing Carano to tap out moments after the opening bell.
The matchup had generated significant excitement as it brought together two of the most influential figures in women’s mixed martial arts, both credited with helping elevate the sport to mainstream popularity during their careers.
Rousey, a former UFC champion and 2008 Olympic judo bronze medallist, improved her MMA record to 13 wins and two defeats, while recording her 10th career submission victory. The 39-year-old returned to competition for the first time since stepping away from MMA in 2016 following defeats to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes.
Following the victory, Rousey said her comeback was a one-time appearance and ruled out any future return to active competition.
“Gina is the only person who could have brought me back into MMA,” Rousey said, paying tribute to her opponent. “She changed my world, and we changed the sport together.”
She also indicated that family priorities would take precedence, saying she had no plans to continue fighting.
Carano, who had not competed in MMA since 2009 after transitioning into a Hollywood acting career, described the experience as personally rewarding despite the defeat.
The 44-year-old said returning to the cage after 17 years represented a major achievement, noting that she had undergone a significant transformation and lost more than 100 pounds in preparation for the fight.
Although disappointed that the bout ended quickly, Carano said the experience reignited her passion for mixed martial arts and described stepping back into competition as a victory in itself.
