Ten years after retiring, Ronda Rousey made public her return to mixed martial arts.
Returning to the ring is Ronda Rousey. The mixed martial artist declared she will be coming out of retirement to face fellow former fighter Gina Carano, almost ten years after her last MMA bout.
"Been waiting so long to announce this: Me and Gina Carano are gonna throw down in the biggest super fight in women's combat sport history!" Ronda told ESPN in a statement on February 17. "This is for all MMA fans past, present and future. More to come... much more."
Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions is organizing the match between Ronda and Gina, which will air live on Netflix on May 16.
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After her MMA career, Ronda, who is married to Travis Browne and has two children, La'akea Browne, age 4, and Liko'ula Browne, age 13, wrestled for the WWE until 2023. She has also starred in the Fast & Furious and The Expendables franchises. Since her previous competition in 2009, Gina has starred in Deadpool, The Mandalorian, and Fast & Furious 6.
Gina explained the circumstances behind the battle after Ronda, 39, revealed her impending bout.
"Ronda came to me and said there is only one person she would make a comeback for and it has been her dream to make this fight happen between us," she informed ESPN in a statement. "She thanked me for opening up doors for her in her career and was respectful in asking for this fight to happen.”
The 43-year-old went on to call their first-ever meeting "an honor." “I believe I will walk out of this fight with the win, and I anticipate it will not come easy, which I welcome.”
Gina also considered the significance of the fight for ardent sports fans.
“This is as much for Ronda and me as it is for the fans and mixed martial arts community,” she added. “What a time to be alive."
