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05/17 00:09 CDT Ronda Rousey stops Gina Carano with an armbar 17 seconds into
their double comeback bout
Ronda Rousey stops Gina Carano with an armbar 17 seconds into their double
comeback bout
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) --- When Ronda Rousey finally got back into a mixed
martial arts cage after 9 1/2 years away from her sport, she couldn't wait even
one more minute to collect another arm --- and to have her own arm raised one
last time.
Rousey stopped Gina Carano with her signature armbar just 17 seconds into the
two iconic fighters' double comeback bout Saturday night.
After finishing the 44-year-old Carano with a ferocity that evoked her famous
heyday, the 39-year-old Rousey reaffirmed that this was only the epilogue on
her historic MMA career. She insists she is headed into retirement after ending
on a dominant victory.
"I was hoping to come out as unscathed as possible," Rousey said. "I didn't
really want to hurt her. Luckily it was beautiful martial arts, that's what I
think that was. It was art."
Rousey (13-2) didn't waste an instant after the opening bell, immediately
charging and tackling Carano. Rousey quickly moved into position and applied
her famous finishing move, wrenching Carano's arm as the fight was stopped.
Rousey famously won eight fights in less than a minute during her meteoric rise
through MMA in the 2010s. When asked if she considered waiting a bit longer to
go for the finish in this comeback fight, since it was so many years in the
making, Rousey laughed.
"Hell no," she said. "My husband and my kids are watching me. I don't want to
put them through anything more than I have to."
Carano, who hadn't fought in 17 years, was all smiles even after the swift end
to one of the longest layoffs in pro sports history. Rousey and Carano hugged
and shared warm words after the finish, raising each other's arms in victory.
"I wanted that to last longer," Carano said. "I felt so ready. I've never felt
that good. But I haven't been here for 17 years ... and I wanted to hit her."
This improbable double comeback bout united two of the most important fighters
from MMA's past two decades.
Rousey became one of the world's most famous athletes as she won the first
women's title in the UFC, which only began to promote women's MMA because of
Rousey's undeniable talent and star power.
Rousey first became interested in MMA because of Carano, whose athleticism and
star power made her into a television headliner when the nascent sport was
still fighting for legitimacy and acceptance in the late 2000s.
Rousey left the sport after consecutive losses, while Carano moved on to an
acting career after taking her first loss.
After having two children and settling into post-fighting life on her farm in
Riverside, Rousey seriously began to consider an MMA return last year. She
immediately focused on a fight with Carano, whose long-thriving career as an
actor abruptly ended in 2021 with her series of controversial social media
posts.
Carano was happy to finally accept the comeback she had occasionally
considered, saying she used her preparations as a way to overcome multiple
health problems from recent years.
"Getting in here after 17 years was a victory," Carano said. "Fighting a legend
was a victory. I feel great. But she trained. She had her game plan. I have so
much love and respect for her."
The show at Intuit Dome was the first live MMA event on Netflix, which is
moving steadily into combat sports.
Rousey had repeatedly said this will be her final fight, while Carano has said
she doesn't know what the future holds. Afterward, Carano said she hasn't
closed the door on another bout, and promoter Nakisa Bidarian said he would be
eager to put Carano on another show.
"I think 17 years (off) was a lot," Carano said. "(Being) 44 is a lot. But I'm
going to go look at this. I didn't get anything out I expected to get in this
fight."
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AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports
