A 17-Second Vintage Finish: Ronda Rousey Submits Gina Carano in Highly Anticipated MMA Return

Summary

Ronda Rousey (13-2) officially returned to mixed martial arts, defeating fellow pioneer Gina Carano (7-2) via a 17-second armbar submission at MVP MMA 1
Landing just one of two total strikes thrown, Rousey easily secured the rapid first-round finish in the scheduled 145-pound featherweight contest
Streaming globally at no additional cost to Netflix’s 325+ million members, the historic event marked a major expansion for Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and the streaming giant into MMA

The highly anticipated MMA fight between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, two pioneers of women’s mixed martial arts, happened quickly. Rousey marked her return to the sport by defeating Carano with her signature armbar move in just 17 seconds at MVP MMA 1. The 39-year-old former UFC champion and Olympic medalist, fighting at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, showed she still has the exceptional grappling skills that made her a worldwide star over ten years ago.

Even with everything on the line and a buzzing crowd, the fight quickly showed just how dominant Ronda Rousey had been throughout her career. Carano started with a kick, but Rousey immediately took the fight to the ground. After a quick attempt by Carano to lock in a choke, Rousey quickly gained control and moved into a dominant position. From there, she expertly targeted Carano’s arm, applied her signature submission hold, and forced a tap-out so fast the crowd barely had time to react.

Though the fight itself was short and didn’t live up to expectations, the moments after were deeply moving. The two fighters, widely considered pioneers who helped establish and grow women’s combat sports, shared a long, heartfelt hug and laughed together when the fight was stopped. Carano reflected on her return to the sport after a 17-year break to focus on acting, saying, “Just getting here is a win.”

Jake Paul’s first MMA event with Most Valuable Promotions was a financial success for the female fighters involved. Ronda Rousey reportedly earned over $2.1 million for headlining, and Gina Carano received a guaranteed $1.05 million. The event also showcased impressive wins from established fighters like Mike Perry, who defeated Nate Diaz by TKO, and Francis Ngannou, who won by knockout in the first round against Philipe Lins.

Ronda Rousey didn’t say whether she plans to fight again, mentioning that her husband and children were watching and she didn’t want to subject them to any more stress. Whether or not she fights again, her quick 17-second win over Miesha Tate marks a memorable end to the careers of two legendary fighters who greatly impacted the world of mixed martial arts.

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