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Ex-WWE Star Ronda Rousey’s MMA Return Lasts Only 17 Seconds

By Monika Thapa • Published May 17, 2026 06:34 EDT
Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano
Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano - Source: Netflix.com

Ronda Rousey returned to MMA at Netflix’s special event, MVP MMA 1, and in just 17 seconds, she proved why she is the best at what she does.

On May 16, Ronda went one-on-one against Gina Carano (the first female MMA fighter to headline a major women’s MMA event) inside the hexagon in what was billed as the return match for both stars.

As the bell rang, Ronda charged towards Carano, who tried to use a leg kick offense to take her down. Ronda countered the move by slamming her onto the mat and then threw some punches at her face.

Just moments later, Ronda found an opening, took Carano’s arm, locked it into her famous armbar submission move, and forced Carano to tap out. The entire arena watched in complete shock as ‘The Baddest Woman on the Planet’ made ‘The Face of Women’s MMA’ tap out in only 17 seconds.

Ronda and Carano had nothing to prove. They had already written their legacy years ago, but they returned on Saturday for closure and pure love of the game. Despite being away from the cage for so long, the two women showed no sign of ring rust. Although the bout only lasted 17 seconds, it was very intense and exciting.

Ronda Rousey And Gina Carano Show Respect For Each Other After The Fight

Following the match, Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano embraced, showing true respect for one another. Ariel Helwani then showed up inside the hexagon to interview both MMA legends.

The former WWE star was asked to share her thoughts on the match. She replied that she felt incredibly grateful for the chance to go up against one of the pioneers in the MMA world. Ronda was full of praise and respect for Carano and repeatedly regarded her as a “hero.”

When asked if she would like to continue her MMA career, she answered that this was her last fight and confirmed that she has retired because she wants to have more babies.

Ariel then interviewed Gina Carano, who expressed a little disappointment with the match, not because she lost, but because it was too short and she could not showcase her full potential.

She admitted that she wanted to land a few punches on Ronda because that’s what she had been training for months. Despite it all, she was really thankful to Ronda, who helped motivate her to lose 100 pounds and return to the MMA world.

When asked if fans would see Carano continue her MMA career, she did not outright say no. She replied that she wanted to do more in her fight against Ronda and felt a little dissatisfied, slightly hinting that she might step inside the hexagon again to quench her thirst for some action.

Both women had to go through mental struggles to make this return, and they made it possible with their sheer determination and hard work. This was Ronda Rousey’s first fight since 2016, when she was defeated by Amanda Nunes, and for Carano, it was her first fight since 2009, when Cris Cyborg defeated her.