UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey wanted her MMA comeback against Gina Carano to take place in the Octagon before Dana White shut it down.
In one of the most surprising combat sports twists in recent years, UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey will return to the cage and fight in MMA for the first time since 2016. Rousey and women’s MMA pioneer Gina Carano will square off in a five-round fight under the Most Valuable Promotions banner on May 16th.
Rousey is looking to bounce back after consecutive losses to end her UFC tenure. Losses to Amanda Nunes and Holly Holm put Rousey’s superstardom to an abrupt halt.
After the news broke of Rousey’s stunning MMA comeback, it was a surprise to many that she would not fight in the UFC Octagon for her return to the cage. According to Rousey, she attempted to get the UFC matchmakers on board to book the fight, but was turned down swiftly.
Ronda Rousey’s attempts to book Gina Carano comeback fight in the UFC failed
In a recent interview with ESPN, Rousey admitted that she wanted her comeback fight to take place in the UFC, but the promotion declined.
“I reached out to Dana [White] and asked if he would be interested in it,” Rousey revealed.
“It didn’t exactly work out with the UFC, but it led us to here today.”
As of this writing, UFC CEO Dana White hasn’t provided any public comment/reaction to Rousey’s MMA return. After footage of Rousey training went viral last year, White remained a serious skeptic that the former UFC women’s bantamweight champion was serious about a fighting comeback.
Despite revealing a concerning medical history and alleged brain damage from her career, Rousey seems intent on making a statement in her fighting comeback. She’s looking to earn her first MMA win since knocking out Bethe Correia at UFC 190.
What is your early prediction for Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano? Let us know in the comments!