INGLEWOOD, California — Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano will come out of retirement to face each other in a long-awaited mixed martial arts bout on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
The two pioneers of women’s MMA made their first joint promotional appearance Tuesday, describing the fight as a historic matchup after years away from competition.
“This is the biggest fight in MMA right now,” Rousey said, adding that the bout is not meant as a nostalgia event but a major showdown between two of the sport’s most recognizable names.
Carano, who has not fought since 2009, said she feels grateful and energized to return after a 17-year absence from the cage. “We only get to live once, and this makes me feel so alive,” she said.
Rousey, 39, last competed in 2016 before stepping away to focus on professional wrestling and family life with her husband, former UFC heavyweight Travis Browne. She said neurological issues also contributed to her decision to leave the sport at the time.
The bout will be promoted by Most Valuable Promotions, the company founded by YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, and will stream on Netflix.
Rousey also used the event to criticize the business model of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, saying the promotion has become a “monolith” that suppresses fighter pay. Despite the criticism, she said she still respects UFC president Dana White.
The card is also expected to feature former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who is scheduled to fight Philipe Lins.
Both Rousey and Carano said the fight represents a chance to return to the sport where they built their legacies — and to write a new ending to their careers together.