ESPN Confirms Ronda Rousey’s Retirement
Ronda Rousey made a one-off return to MMA under Most Valuable Promotions at MVP MMA 1 on Netflix against Gina Carano on May 16, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, where she defeated her opponent in 17 seconds of the first round.
Following the bout, Ariel Helwani interviewed her and asked if she had changed her mind regarding retiring from MMA. She replied with a no, saying she wouldn’t put her family through any more stress and that she had planned to have more babies. Therefore, she has decided to step away from action permanently.
After the fight, ESPN paid tribute to The Baddest Woman on the Planet, celebrating her iconic career. ESPN’s post has apparently confirmed that Ronda has now retired for good.
“RONDA ROUSEY SUBMITS GINA CARANO IN 17 SECONDS TO WIN IN HER MMA RETURN 🤯What a way to finish on a high note in her MMA career,” wrote ESPN.
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Has Gina Carano Also Retired From MMA Like Ronda Rousey?
Following the main event of the night, Gina Carano was also asked about her stance on returning to the MMA world.
Gina didn’t directly say she would continue; however, she said she was somewhat dissatisfied because she could only last 17 seconds against Ronda Rousey. She wanted to do more in the match and showcase her full potential because she had been working very hard over the past year for the fight.
Gina looked like she still craved more action and didn’t fully close the door on a return to the MMA world, potentially leaving it open for another fight.
Hence, it is possible that fans could see her make a return and have one last chapter to wrap up her glorious MMA career. However, she has not committed to a full-time return as a mixed martial artist.
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