Inglewood, California

The vibe inside Intuit Dome felt like something out of a movie, much more exciting than recent NBA All-Star Weekends, even before Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano entered the scene for Saturday night’s match.

Jake Paul’s promotional event turned the arena into a vibrant spectacle, buzzing with celebrities, influencers, and diehard fans who had followed mixed martial arts legends like Rousey and Carano over the years.

In the night’s main event, Rousey wasted no time, finishing Carano’s comeback attempt in just 17 seconds.

The evening was chaotic even before the highlight fight kicked off.

Cuban heavyweight Robelis Despaigne delivers a stunning knockout

Robelis Despaigne made a statement by knocking out former UFC champion Junior dos Santos in the first round.

Fans were on their feet as Francis Ngannou landed a punishing left hand on Phillip Lins and then got animated with Jon Jones at cageside.

The clash between Mike Perry and Nate Diaz, however, was the anticipated chaos many expected. By the second round, Diaz was bloodied, and the canvas was a mess as Perry provoked the crowd, calling out Jake Paul while fans filmed the unfolding scene.

Despite the chaos, the focus remained on the nostalgic return of Ronda Rousey. When the lights dimmed for her match and “Bad Reputation” played, the excitement was palpable.

Across the cage stood Gina Carano, a trailblazer in women’s MMA. Fans had long imagined this matchup during their prime years.

And then it happened—it felt surreal.

As soon as the fight began, Rousey surged forward, executing a perfect judo throw, swiftly transitioning to her signature armbar before Carano could find her footing.

The match was over almost as quickly as it began.

This was a classic display of Rousey’s skill.

The audience was visibly taken aback by how fast it unfolded.

From where I was at cageside, to others around, including some media and even political figures, everyone seemed stunned as Rousey stood victorious in the center of the cage. It was like stepping back in time.

Rousey looked every bit the unstoppable force that had propelled the UFC into mainstream culture and transformed women’s MMA.

Maybe it was the perfect ending to her journey.

After the fight, Carano spoke warmly of Rousey, saying, “I didn’t quite understand it all, but she has been training hard. I respect her so much. This fight was a victory in my life. I thought about her every day, even losing 100 pounds to prepare.” She reflected on rekindling her passion for MMA, admitting the fight just didn’t go her way.

The crowd’s reaction

After Rousey’s quick submission, she swiftly addressed the crowd, pouring cold water on any notions of a full comeback, smiling as she declared this fight would be her last before returning to family life. “I want to have more babies,” she stated, emphasizing her desire for a life beyond fighting.

If this was Ronda Rousey’s final appearance, it’s hard to imagine a more fitting conclusion to her storied career.