Returning to the cage after 10 years, Ronda Rousey delivered a stunning 17-second win over Gina Carano. The two headlined the first-ever MVP’s MMA event on Netflix. But despite the explosive comeback, it appears the 39-year-old is unlikely to step back into the cage again.

Carano came out aggressively and nearly caught Rousey with an early guillotine choke attempt. But the latter quickly escaped, gained top position, moved into mount, and finished the fight with her signature armbar submission.

Still, even before the fight began, Rousey had already hinted that she was not expected to compete again. “I’m having some babies after this,” the 12-2 said during a press conference on Thursday.

The Riverside native already shares two daughters with Travis Browne. Their first daughter, La'akea, was born in September 2021, while their second daughter, Liko'ula, was born in January 2025.

Even so, MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian hinted that Rousey could remain involved with the promotion in another role.

“I will present her with options, if they exist, and I’m sure she and Travis will talk about it. Ronda Rousey has a role with MVP, whether that’s as a fighter," Bidarian said during Saturday’s broadcast.

Rousey has also openly criticized how much UFC fighters are paid. She previously said she wants to help “challenge the monolith” the UFC has become. So even if fans do not see her fight again, they could still see her working as a promoter in the future.

On top of that, Rousey reportedly entered this latest fight while dealing with an injury. Considering that, she may not want to risk her health or legacy by competing again without being fully prepared.

Ronda Rousey Credits Mother After Comeback Win

During the post-fight press conference, MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian revealed that Ronda Rousey entered the fight carrying an injury.

“I sprained my ankle or foot pretty bad, like two and a half weeks ago,” Rousey told reporters.

“But it just made me think of my first injury. As a kid, I broke my big toe in judo, and my mom made me run laps around the mat for the rest of the night." Rousey said.

"You don’t know if you’re going to get hurt on the most important day, you get hurt the day of the Olympics, you get hurt when it really matters. And you need to know that your body listens to you, not the other way around,” Rousey added.

That advice came from someone who fully understood the sport. Rousey’s mother, Dr. AnnMaria De Mars, is the first American to win a gold medal at the World Judo Championships in 1984.

She also played a major role in shaping Rousey’s judo career, which eventually led to an Olympic bronze medal in 2008 and later success inside the UFC.

Was Rousey's 17-second comeback enough to prove she still belongs among MMA's elite?

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Written by

Sauramita Debbarma

Edited by

Utsav Gupta