US Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Ronda Rousey reacts after defeating Gina Carano during their Featherweight Bout at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, on May 16, 2026.

Rousey submits Carano 17 seconds into MMA return

55 minutes ago
PATRICK T. FALLON / AFP / Getty

UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey was victorious in her return to MMA, submitting Gina Carano with an armbar in 17 seconds Saturday night at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

The women's featherweight fight headlined Most Valuable Promotions' inaugural MMA event and streamed live on Netflix.

Rousey, the inaugural UFC women's bantamweight champion, returned to the sport for the first time in almost 10 years. She hadn't fought since a knockout loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in December 2016.

Going into the fight against Carano, Rousey said her comeback would be one and done. After the victory, the 39-year-old confirmed she's done competing in MMA.

Rousey thrilled MMA fans at the peak of her career with quick armbar finishes and managed to pull off another one against Carano. Rousey took Carano down in the opening seconds of the fight and immediately got into full mount. She landed a few punches before locking up an armbar, forcing Carano to tap out.

Rousey finishes her MMA career with a 13-2 record, including 10 submission wins.

The Venice, California, resident defended the UFC women's bantamweight title six times between February 2013 and August 2015. Holly Holm dethroned Rousey with a head-kick knockout in November 2015 in what stands as one of the biggest upsets in the sport's history.

Rousey returned against Nunes one year later in an attempt to regain the 135-pound belt, but she suffered a 48-second knockout loss. She went on to pursue a career in WWE and was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018.

Carano, a women's MMA pioneer, stepped into the cage for the first time since August 2009. The 44-year-old fell to 7-2 as a professional.

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