Ronda Rousey Sends Clear Message About MMA Future After Quick Win

Ronda Rousey returned to MMA on Saturday night, defeating fellow fight legend, Gina Carano, in extremely quick fashion, locking in an armbar submission for a tap-out in 17 seconds.

It was built up as a major event for weeks, but was considered a letdown for fans who watched hoping for something a bit more compelling. Meanwhile, the quick result also left questions lingering about the possibility of more from Rousey.

Following her post-fight celebration, Ariel Helwani stepped in to interview the winner, asking for her reaction to the matchup with Carano, and of course, if she might participate in one more fight.

“I said she’s my [expletive] hero and thank you for everything and thank you for bringing me back home,” Rousey said, sharing what she told Carano after the fight.

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Helwani asked about one more fight, noting that maybe Rousey had more to give and that the fans likely wanted to see more against a fighter like Holly Holm or Amanda Nunes.

“Listen to this crowd … Is there any chance you’ll leave that door open?” Helwani asked her.

“There’s no way I could’ve ended it better than this. I want to have some more babies, and I gotta get cookin’,” she said, seeming to make a definitive statement about ending her fight career.

In 2025, Rousey had a second baby with her husband, Travis Browne, a daughter named Liko’ula Pā'ūomahinakaipiha Browne. According to People, their first daughter, La’akea Makalapuaokalanipō, was born two years prior.

The 39-year-old initially had a six-year career in MMA from 2010 to 2016, then a foray into professional wrestling with WWE, and then this one-fight return to MMA. Along the way, she became the first UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion and achieved a 13-2 MMA record.

Those two losses came near the tail end of her original MMA career in 2016, with Rousey suffering defeats to Holm and Nunes. That led many people to believe she had handpicked an opponent 10 years later, who was 43, and although a legend, rusty when it came to a major fight.

Unfortunately, it seems that fans will never get the opportunity to see Rousey avenge her two losses as she rides off into the sunset with a 17-second Netflix win over Carano and a $2.2 million payout.

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This story was originally published May 17, 2026 at 1:53 PM.