Ronda Rousey is set to return after a decade away from MMA. The former champion is returning for an MMA fight with Gina Carano. But this isn't the same fighter who left the sport; Rousey says the entire landscape of training has evolved, and so has she.

Rousey is stepping inside the cage on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. This would be the first MMA match since she announced her retirement from the UFC. The preparations for the fight have already begun, and she is training, preparing, and strategizing her fight in a different manner.

Opening up about that shift, Rousey said in an MVP UNCUT video, Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano | 8 Weeks Out, “I’m definitely better than I’ve ever been, and it really helps so much that the landscape of the sport has changed.

People forget that when I was competing before, there were no coaches with MMA experience,” added Rousey, reflecting on the training methodologies of her early days.

“Usually, the person with the most MMA experience on the team was the fighter… and it was up to the fighter to piece everything together.” Now, Rousey has a whole team behind her, helping her with the camp.

“I’m definitely better than I’ve ever been,” she said, highlighting sharper technique, improved fight IQ, and a more cohesive training environment.

The sport has evolved since her last UFC fight, and Rousey is making sure to be a more refined martial artist than ever before.

Ronda Rousey eyes redemption ahead of Netflix showdown against Gina Carano

Ronda Rousey, who recently declared herself “better than I’ve ever been,” made it clear this return is about ending her MMA career the way she wanted.

The fight's buildup shows both competitors are seeking closure.

Her exit from the UFC was far from sweet, first being knocked out by Holly Holm, followed by a first-round technical knockout loss to Amanda Nunes.

Carano also has a similar backstory, having retired after being defeated by Cris Cyborg. Both fighters want to make sure that their MMA run ends with solace.

Rousey displayed this hunger at the press conference. At the press conference, she did not hold back, targeting the UFC on fighter pay and even taking a shot at Cyborg.

With both fighters looking to rewrite their endings, only one will get the last word.

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Written by

Proma Chatterjee

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil