Ronda Rousey has announced that her upcoming fight against Gina Carano will mark the conclusion of her mixed martial arts career. This declaration was made during a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani podcast. The highly anticipated bout is scheduled for May 16, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
This event headlines the inaugural MMA event from Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, and it will be streamed live on Netflix. The fight will feature five five-minute rounds in a hexagon cage, contested under unified MMA rules with 4-ounce gloves. Both Rousey and Carano squared off at a press conference held on March 10, 2026, in Inglewood.
Rousey Opens Up About Retirement Plans Ahead of Carano Comeback Bout
Rousey described the matchup with Carano as her “dream fight” and the perfect way to conclude her MMA journey. She shared with Helwani that she had promised her husband, Travis Browne, that this would be her last fight, even convincing him to support her post-fight promotional activities. Her husband, however, remains steadfastly against her continuing to compete. Rousey also expressed her desire to have more children and her plans to pursue writing graphic novels. She emphasized that additional financial gain would not sway her decision, as her family already enjoys considerable freedom.
“I promised my husband up and down that this is the last one. He’s the one that I really got to convince to get on board for this promoter shit afterwards. He’s not 100% sold on it. He’s not going for the fighting at all after this. This is the dream fight. This is the absolute pinnacle… This is the perfect way to end it.”
This fight marks Rousey’s return to MMA after nearly a decade. Her last professional bout was a first-round knockout loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 on December 30, 2016. Prior to that, she suffered a knockout defeat to Holly Holm at UFC 193 in 2015. Rousey has previously cited concussions sustained from judo and MMA as significant factors in her decision to step away in 2016. She holds an impressive 12-2 professional MMA record, with nine of those wins coming by knockout.
Gina Carano, on the other hand, is returning after a 17-year hiatus. Her last fight was a knockout loss to Cris Cyborg in 2009. Carano’s professional record stands at 7-1, with three victories by knockout. While betting odds currently favor Rousey, largely due to her grappling prowess, Carano is recognized for her striking capabilities.
Rousey made history in 2013 as the UFC’s first female champion, successfully defending her bantamweight title six times before her consecutive losses. She transitioned to professional wrestling in 2018, even headlining WrestleMania, and departed WWE in 2023 to focus on her family. Rousey was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018.
The event is fast approaching, with Rousey aged 39 and Carano aged 44.
