Ronda Rousey set for MMA return against Gina Carano as predictions roll in
Ronda Rousey is set to return to the cage for a May 16 fight against Gina Carano, a matchup that has quickly sparked high-profile predictions and reactions across combat sports and pro wrestling. As of Saturday at 11: 20 a. m. ET, former UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra has publicly picked a specific finish, while WWE star Raquel Rodriguez called the comeback a meaningful moment in Rousey’s career.
Matt Serra predicts a quick Ronda Rousey submission if fight hits the ground
Former UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra weighed in on the Rousey-Carano matchup, focusing on what he described as their differing styles and how the fight could play out once it begins. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Serra said he liked the booking and framed the long layoffs for both fighters as something they can work through with preparation.
Serra argued that Rousey holds a major advantage if the contest goes to the mat, and he offered a direct prediction for how it ends. He said Rousey’s “No. 1 game plan” should be to get the fight to the floor, where he believes a submission could come quickly. Serra’s pick: a first-round submission, specifying an arm lock as the finishing move.
The fight is scheduled for May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, and it was announced last month by Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix. The event announcement immediately elevated attention around a bout involving two well-known names tied to women’s MMA’s earlier eras.
Raquel Rodriguez calls Ronda Rousey comeback a “beautiful moment”
Raquel Rodriguez, who previously shared the wrestling ring with Rousey many times, described herself as excited for the return and emphasized the personal side of the moment for Rousey. Rodriguez spoke about Rousey’s life as a mom and said she was happy that Rousey’s children are old enough to watch her do what she loves.
Rodriguez also pointed to their time working together in wrestling, describing it as some of the most creative of her career and saying Rousey “brings a different element to the ring, ” including what Rodriguez called an “MMA factor. ” Rodriguez’s comments added a supportive voice from the pro wrestling world as the fight promotion continues.
Rodriguez and Rousey faced each other in the ring on more than a dozen occasions, including two matches where Rousey successfully defended the WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship on television. In their last encounter, at WWE Money in the Bank 2023, Rodriguez defeated Rousey as a WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion after Shayna Baszler turned on Rousey. Rousey’s last WWE match took place at WWE SummerSlam the following month, and the context provided states she is now considering her wrestling work a thing of the past.
May 16 Intuit Dome bout set for five rounds under Unified Rules of MMA
Rousey, 39, last fought in December 2016, when she lost to Amanda Nunes by TKO at UFC 207. Carano, 43, has not fought since August 2009, when she lost to Cris Cyborg by TKO in a bout for the inaugural Strikeforce Women’s Featherweight Championship.
Even with those gaps, the matchup has been positioned as a major draw. The context provided describes both as household names and says the bout is expected to draw big numbers.
More specifics about the contest have also been outlined. The fight will be contested over five five-minute rounds, the fighters will use four-ounce gloves, and the bout will be sanctioned under the Unified Rules of MMA. The event is set to be broadcast live on Netflix.
The next confirmed date on the calendar is the fight itself: May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, when Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano are scheduled to compete in a five-round MMA bout.
