The combat sports world was set alight last month with the announcement from Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix: former UFC women’s bantamweight queen Ronda Rousey is poised to return to the cage to face fellow MMA pioneer Gina Carano. This highly anticipated clash features two of the most iconic figures in women’s mixed martial arts, promising a major draw for fans.
Rousey, 39, last competed in December 2016, where she suffered a TKO loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207. Carano, 43, has been out of action for an even longer period, with her last bout in August 2009 resulting in a TKO defeat to Cris Cyborg for the inaugural Strikeforce Women’s Featherweight Championship. Despite their extended hiatuses from active competition, both athletes maintain significant star power, making this a highly anticipated spectacle.
Adding to the buzz, former UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra shared his expert opinion on the upcoming May 16 showdown at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Serra expressed enthusiasm for the matchup, noting that neither fighter has endured significant head trauma during their time away, though Rousey’s wrestling career may carry its own physical toll. “I love it. They’re still young enough… neither took damage,” Serra commented. “They’re coming off the couch fresh… Gina hasn’t fought in forever, but it’s not like you don’t know how to fight. You’ve got to just knock the rust off.”
When it came to predicting the fight’s outcome, Serra firmly believes Rousey will have a decisive advantage if the fight goes to the ground. “If it hits the floor, which Ronda’s No. 1 game plan should be, I feel that it should be a submission fairly quickly,” Serra confidently predicted. “First-round submission, Ronda Rousey. I’m going to say arm lock.”
