Ronda Rousey returned to MMA for one final appearance on Saturday night and ended things the same way she built her legacy, with a lightning-fast armbar victory.
Inside Intuit Dome, Rousey needed only 17 seconds to take down Gina Carano and secure the submission finish during the main event of “Rousey vs. Carano.”
The bout marked Rousey’s first MMA fight in more than a decade and Carano’s first appearance in the cage in 17 years.
Rousey Ends Fight in 17 Seconds
The fight barely had time to develop before Rousey exploded into action. She closed the distance during the opening exchange, secured a takedown, and quickly transitioned into her trademark armbar.
Carano tapped almost instantly as the crowd erupted inside the arena.
Rousey followed the finish with an emotional tribute to Carano, crediting her for helping inspire her own journey into combat sports.
“Gina is the person who brought me into MMA, she’s the only person who could have brought me back to MMA,” Rousey said following the win. “She’s my f*cking hero. You changed my world and we changed the world. I will never be able to pay you back enough. I’m glad we finally got to share this moment.”
“I was hoping to come out as unscathed as possible because I didn’t really want to hurt her. It’s beautiful martial arts.”
Carano Embraces Return Despite Quick Loss
Carano entered the fight after an extended absence from MMA competition and admitted afterward that she hoped the matchup would have lasted longer.
“I wanted that to last longer,” Carano said. “I felt like I was so ready. I wanted to hit her. I’ll probably feel that later. Getting in the cage was a victory. Fighting a legend was a victory. I feel great. I just feel like I wanted a fight and I didn’t get that. This was a victory in my life.”
The former Strikeforce star underwent a major physical transformation to prepare for the fight, reportedly losing 100 pounds ahead of her comeback.
Carano also battled through a difficult stretch outside the cage following her departure from “The Mandalorian” and a legal dispute with Disney that later reached a settlement.
Rousey Says Farewell To Combat Sports Again
Despite speculation about future appearances, Rousey made it clear this comeback was a one-time event built specifically around sharing the cage with Carano.
“There’s no way I could have ended it better than this,” Rousey said. “I want to have some more babies and I want to get cooking.”
The victory added another quick finish to Rousey’s legendary résumé and closed the chapter on one of the biggest comeback stories MMA has seen in years.