The fight MMA fans have debated for years is finally happening. Gina Carano and Ronda Rousey are set to return from retirement for a blockbuster event. Carano is already in the gym, sharpening her skills for the showdown.

The massive fight night will be showcased on Netflix on May 16, marking it as the platform’s first-ever live MMA broadcast inside a hexagon cage, and it will be streamed worldwide.

However, according to an Instagram post by Boxing Gym on March 25, Carano is “putting in work with Coach @chrisbentchavtchavadze. Getting those hands sharp🥊.”

Carano and Ronda are both going to return after their retirements, the former in 2009 and the latter in 2016.

With roles in movies like Deadpool and films directed by Steven Soderbergh, her focus on the silver screen has kept the MMA legend busy since her last fight.

In her comeback, Carano will face Rousey for the first time. For many years, there was talk of a fight between these two, but it never occurred.

While they were under the UFC contract, talks were previously held for a potential match when both were in their prime, but never materialized, which makes this independent event more significant. Although they are about to face each other, they also share mutual respect.

After announcing the fight, Carano said, “She thanked me for opening up doors for her career and was respectful in asking for this fight to happen.

This is an honor. I believe I will walk out of this fight with the win, and I anticipate it will not come easily, which I welcome. This is as much for Ronda and I as it is for the fans and mixed martial arts community. What a time to be alive”.

While Carano is preparing for her upcoming fight, Rousey explained why the fight won't take place under the UFC banner.

Gina Carano and Ronda Rousey’s Fight Without the UFC Banner

During a press conference at MVP: Most Valuable Promotions on March 11, Rousey admitted that the fight was originally planned under UFC’s banner.

However, later it changed.

She said, “It's become about changing the entire landscape of the sport and challenging the monolith that the UFC has become.

I'm so grateful that Gina trusted me when it wasn't going to work out with the UFC. I told her, I was like, 'We can do this on our own. We don't need them. We don't need anyone.' And she said, 'I'm going to follow your lead. I'm going to trust you.'

And that's what led us to MVP, and to Netflix, and to us sitting here to put on the most viewed MMA fight of all time”.

So, this fight will not only be a comeback match but also an effort by the two athletes to redefine MMA outside of the shadow of UFC.

Follow Bodybuilding Bros for all things fitness!

Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil