Gina Carano doesn’t need a breather. What gets her out of bed is a challenge and a training purpose beyond the Hollywood camera. Her upcoming clash on May 16 against Ronda Rousey comes just in time for that. 

The Haywire actress left fighting after her Strikeforce days in 2009, before restructuring her life in Hollywood. While her resume stacked up with hit titles like Fast & Furious and Deadpool, her heart stayed inside the cage.

Carano's lawsuit with Walt Disney in 2024 drove her away from the silver screen, and she decided to pick up the gloves once more, starting with a health journey. "I actually started my health journey in September 2024… It wasn’t that I needed it (fighting). It was that I loved it and truly wanted it. That’s what gets me out of bed," Carano told MMA Junkie.

Carano had acting offers at her disposal, but the bitter departure from Disney forced her to assess what truly motivated her. “I realized that waking up to train and prepare for a fight meant more to me than those other opportunities,” Carano reflected.

“I don’t think I would be pushing myself this hard without it. And this kind of effort isn’t easy… But pushing yourself that deeply and intensely is a blessing,” she added.

Despite the 15+ year hiatus from fighting, Carano is already setting the gym ablaze with her motive to become the best version of herself for her fight against Rousey.

A Look Inside Carano’s Training Camp for the Ronda Rousey Fight

Gina Carano might be long past her prime, but she refuses to go for anything less than the head in the Rousey clash. In fact, according to her coach, John Wood, Carano is not just there for a legacy fight; she’s there to win. 

“She still loves to fight. She’s a fighter at heart. She’s still got it,” Wood shared with MMA Fighting.

Recently released clips of her training portray Carano polishing her stand-up skills, her strongest weapon against the Olympic medal-winning judoka, Rousey.

During her padwork sessions, Carano focuses mostly on rhythm, speed, and footwork. However, her punishing jab stands out the most. 

Clearly, a fight date set in stone moves the needle better for Carano than getting in shape for the camera. And, maybe a challenge was the fuel Carano needed all along.

But do you think she will be able to have the last laugh against Rousey?

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Written by

Proma Chatterjee

Edited by

Souvik Roy