Two women of action built their reputations in the Octagon. One was a pioneer for women in fighting sports, while the other took that legacy and elevated it, bringing it to new heights. When they both fell from those lofty perches, they remained relevant by adapting to other forms of entertainment. One returned to the ring, following a script and telling a story, adapting seamlessly to the moment. The other brought her moves to a movie set, also telling stories in a different arena. Eventually, they found themselves on the outside looking in again. What they discovered was each other, and on May 16th, they will perform on the streaming service Netflix, returning to their roots.
Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano are fighters at heart. Each carved out star performances in the most grueling form of televised hand-to-hand combat, becoming household names and elevating women in the fight game to a level of respect previously reserved for men. Ronda, now 39, is a judo expert who earned Olympic bronze at the 2008 Beijing Games, becoming the first American woman to medal in judo as an official Olympic sport. Rousey finished her MMA career with a record of 12 wins (3 by knockout, 9 by submission) and 2 losses. As she once said, “I’m not a do-nothing-bitch. I’m a do-something-bitch.” Her interest in mixed martial arts began after watching Nate Diaz face her trainer, Manny Gamburyan, in The Ultimate Fighter Finale. That moment led her to try MMA, and in turn, drew the attention of the UFC. After dominating Strikeforce and capturing the Women’s Bantamweight Championship, Rousey became the first woman signed by UFC president Dana White. “Ronda is the reason women fight in the UFC,” White has often stated.
Rousey reached a level of fame in the UFC rivaled only by men’s superstar Conor McGregor. She won the inaugural UFC women’s bantamweight title at UFC 157 and was the first woman included in the pound-for-pound rankings, setting a then-record with six title defenses. Rousey went undefeated in her first 12 professional MMA fights, finishing all but one opponent in the first round. “No one has ever dominated like Ronda,” commentator Joe Rogan remarked. Her aura was shattered in 2015, when Holly Holm knocked her out with a head kick in the second round, ending her reign and undefeated record. The loss hit Rousey hard. In her autobiography, she admitted, “I was literally sitting there and thinking about killing myself.”
Gina Carano is a rare breed. Competing in a heavier division than Rousey, she was a pioneer on the world stage. Carano, a Muay Thai specialist, finished her MMA career with a 7-1 record, including 3 knockouts and 1 submission. Her strength and power, along with an overlooked stand-up game, allowed her to overpower grapplers and boxers alike. She was responsible for the first sanctioned women’s fight in Nevada, and her victory over Tonya Evinger in 2007 remains a highlight. Yahoo! named her one of the “Top Ten Influential Women” in 2008, and Sports Illustrated called her “the face of women’s MMA.” Her only loss came in 2009, when she was stopped by Cris Cyborg in the first round of their Strikeforce main event. “I paved the road, but Ronda turned it into a highway,” Carano once reflected. She never returned to an MMA ring again…until now.
Here are two legends of women’s fighting, each enjoying periods of dominance before experiencing stunning falls. Both left the MMA world and never looked back. They both had to reinvent themselves and found platforms that played well to their talents while developing others. Ronda, a fan of professional wrestling, joined fellow MMA fighters Shayna Baszler, Jessamyn Duke, and Marina Shafir as “The Four Horsewomen” of MMA. She retained her entertainment value, becoming the first woman inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. WWE, always eager for established stars, offered her a WrestleMania spot. Two years after her last MMA bout—a knockout loss to Amanda Nunes—Rousey entered the ring at WrestleMania 34, teaming with Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle. Her performance earned widespread acclaim as one of the best pro wrestling debuts ever, prompting WWE to feature her in major storylines. “WWE is not fake, it’s scripted, but it’s still real to me,” Rousey said after her debut. She went on to win three WWE Women’s World Championships, becoming a triple-crown champion and the first to win world titles and headline pay-per-views in both UFC and WWE. She left WWE having accomplished everything possible in that arena.
Carano chose a different path. She transitioned smoothly to Hollywood, landing roles in action films like Haywire (2011), Fast & Furious 6 (2013), and Deadpool (2016). Her strength, size, and charisma captivated audiences on screen just as they had in the cage. Her most prominent role was as Cara Dune in the Disney+ Star Wars series The Mandalorian (2019–2020). “I love performing and telling stories,” Carano said of her acting career. However, her career took an abrupt turn during the uncertain times of COVID-19, when Disney+ released her due to public comments about masks and the 2020 election—views that were controversial at the time. Carano later filed a lawsuit against Lucasfilm, funded by Elon Musk, alleging wrongful dismissal and sex discrimination. The case was settled, and Disney has since expressed interest in future projects with her. Carano also shared that she has been married to Muay Thai fighter Kevin Ross for the past four years, choosing now to be transparent about the details of her life, whether good or bad. However, both women feel something was left on the table that needs to be addressed.
Rousey has spoken about needing new goals and a sense of purpose, sensing that Carano is seeking something similar. Rousey attempted to bring this fight to UFC, but they failed to reach an agreement. A new promotion, Most Valuable Promotions, co-founded by influencer Jake Paul, a self-professed fan of Rousey in their youth, has done well with special boxing attractions, drawing money in unique ways centered on matches of opposites, while providing more creative control for fighters. This was a point of attraction for these two legends. For both, this is a legacy match. Rousey hasn’t fought in an MMA ring in ten years, but her daughters have inspired her to seek closure. “I want my girls to see that you can always finish what you started,” Rousey recently stated. She has the advantage of at least working in a ring of a different sort of physical activity. Many feel that gives her the edge.
So, why would Gina Carano return to the ring after 17 years? The reasons are threefold. Rousey has been calling out Carano and wanted this fight, and almost secured it back in 2014. Carano is genuinely interested in discovering who the better fighter is, but with steady movie roles, there was never enough incentive to risk her health for a payday. Recent health issues and legal battles, however, have taken their toll. Training for this bout has been healing, helping her reclaim control over her narrative. “It feels good to be back in the gym and in control of my own story,” Carano said. Backed by Most Valuable Promotions, Carano enters the fight on her own terms, no longer chasing roles in Hollywood. She doesn’t believe Rousey will win easily and welcomes the challenge. The Intuit Dome in Los Angeles will be the site of this battle of the legends. This fight will serve to inspire countless women to also pursue the fighting arts, learning to handle themselves in the ring and in life, while providing opportunities to make a living. This just may plant the seed for the next Legacy female fighter.
Luis is a twenty year veteran of the writing wars. He has served as Editor in Chief and writer of various web and print media in the Latin, Asian, and Sports genres. He has contributed as a beat writer for the WNBA New York Liberty and MLS New York Red Bulls as well as Fordham and Columbia College Football.