Dana White declined a fight with Gina Carano.

Ronda Rousey Set for Return to MMA, But Not with UFC

Ronda Rousey is making her comeback to the cage, although she won’t be stepping back into the UFC. It wasn’t an easy road to get here, though.

“I reached out to my husband and Dana White to express my interest,” Rousey shared during her appearance on ESPN’s “SportsCenter.” “Things didn’t pan out with the UFC, but that’s what led us to this moment.”

Instead of the UFC, the 39-year-old has signed with Jake Paul’s Most Valable Promotions. She’s set to face Gina Carano in a featherweight showdown on Netflix on May 16, taking place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

Both Rousey and Carano are regarded as trailblazers in women’s MMA. Carano was among the first prominent female figures in the sport, paving the way for Rousey, who became the UFC’s first female fighter in 2013.

Having trained in martial arts for a decade, Rousey last fought in 2016. She notably began her UFC career with a stunning 12-0 record, although she did experience a setback with losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes in her final bouts.

This upcoming fight also marks Carano’s return to the sport after a lengthy hiatus. With a 7-1 MMA record, she retired in 2010 to concentrate on her acting career, appearing in films like Fast & Furious 6, Deadpool, and The Mandalorian.

Reflecting on her journey, Rousey remarked, “It’s been a long time coming. We fought to make this happen for each other, and we really had to get through a lot of hurdles.”