Ronda Rousey Declares She's 'Better Than I've Ever Been' Ahead of MMA Comeback

The former UFC champion will face Gina Carano in a highly anticipated fight in May 2026.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 11:52am

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Ronda Rousey, the former UFC women's bantamweight champion, has opened up about her upcoming MMA comeback fight against Gina Carano. Rousey, who has had a successful pro-wrestling career since leaving MMA, believes she is in the best shape and most skilled she has ever been. The fight is set to take place in May 2026 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles under the banner of Jake Paul's MVP promotion and will be streamed on Netflix.

Why it matters

Rousey's return to MMA is highly anticipated, as she was one of the most dominant champions in UFC history before her sudden retirement. Her matchup with Carano, who is also making a comeback after nearly 17 years away from the sport, will be a clash of two of the biggest names in women's MMA history.

The details

Rousey, who boasts an MMA record of 2-2 with 3 knockouts and 9 submissions, believes she is more skilled and has a higher fight IQ than ever before. She credits the improved coaching and training resources available in MMA today, compared to when she was previously competing. Carano, who has a 7-1 MMA record with 3 knockouts and 1 submission, will be looking to upset the former champion in her return to the sport.

  • Rousey and Carano's fight is scheduled for May 16, 2026.
  • Rousey last competed in MMA in 2016, while Carano's last fight was in 2009.

The players

Ronda Rousey

A former UFC women's bantamweight champion and one of the most dominant fighters in MMA history. She has transitioned to a successful pro-wrestling career since leaving MMA in 2016.

Gina Carano

A former MMA fighter with a 7-1 record, including 3 knockouts and 1 submission. She has not competed in MMA since 2009 but is making a comeback to face Rousey.

Jake Paul

The founder of Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), the promotion that will be hosting the Rousey vs. Carano fight.

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What they’re saying

“I'm better than I've ever been. I'm definitely better than I've ever been.”

— Ronda Rousey

“It just really helps so much that the landscape of the sport has changed. You know, people forgot that when I was competing, before, there were no coaches with MMA experience. There was no one with MMA experience with coaching experience.”

— Ronda Rousey

“I was more strong and more explosive and, you know, more cartilage and collagen before. But always what set me apart is my technique and how skilled I am as a martial artist. And I've never been more skilled, my technique's never been better, I've never had a better and higher fight IQ. This is definitely the best that I've ever been.”

— Ronda Rousey

What’s next

The highly anticipated Rousey vs. Carano fight is scheduled for May 16, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. The fight will be streamed on Netflix as part of Jake Paul's MVP promotion.

The takeaway

Ronda Rousey's return to MMA after a successful pro-wrestling career is a major event in the sport, as she was once one of the most dominant champions in UFC history. Her belief that she is better than ever, combined with Gina Carano's own comeback, sets the stage for a highly anticipated clash between two of the biggest names in women's MMA.