Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey made a stunning return to mixed martial arts Saturday night, defeating Gina Carano by armbar just 17 seconds into their highly anticipated comeback bout at the Intuit Dome.
The fight marked Rousey’s first MMA appearance in nearly a decade and Carano’s first in 17 years. Rousey wasted no time after the opening bell, quickly taking Carano to the mat and securing her signature submission move for the fast finish.
Rousey Says Farewell to MMA
Following the victory, the 39-year-old Rousey said the bout was likely the final chapter of her legendary fighting career.
“I didn’t really want to hurt her,” Rousey said after the fight. “Luckily it was beautiful martial arts. That’s what I think that was. It was art.”
Rousey also joked that with her husband and children watching, she wanted to end the fight as quickly as possible.
The win added another rapid finish to Rousey’s historic résumé. During her rise to superstardom in the 2010s, she famously won multiple fights in under a minute and helped bring women’s MMA into the mainstream.
Carano Embraces the Moment
Despite the quick defeat, Carano remained upbeat and emotional after returning to the cage at age 44.
“I wanted that to last longer,” Carano admitted. “Getting in here after 17 years was a victory.”
The two pioneers shared a hug after the bout and raised each other’s hands in a show of mutual respect.
Netflix Hosts Historic MMA Event
The event at Intuit Dome was also notable for being the first live MMA card streamed on Netflix, continuing the platform’s expansion into combat sports broadcasting.
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