Categories: MMA

Ronda Rousey names Gina Carano the opponent she would fight in MMA again

Ronda Rousey has on from MMA, but one big name would bring her back if the stars were to align.

The former UFC bantamweight champion, and current WWE Superstar, recently spoke on The Kurt Angle show . She was asked whether she’d ever fight again and, if yes which opponent she would choose to bring back. Rousey immediately went to a dream matchup that was frequently discussed, but never came to fruition.

“There’s only one person I would come back for,” Rousey said (h/t POST Wrestling). “I’ve said it a million times, it’s not like it’s something new but for Gina, Gina Carano. She’s the reason why I got into fighting, she’s the reason why I knew it was a possibility. I will always be forever grateful.”

Prior to throwing out Carano’s name, Rousey gave a firm “no” to the possibility of ever fighting again. She last fought in 2016 and is currently one of the WWE’s top performers, holding the sports entertainment organization’s SmackDown Women’s Championship and previously having won a Royal Rumble and headlined WrestleMania 35 alongside Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair (the trio were the first women to ever headline a WrestleMania event).

After a remarkable run at the UFC, Rousey became a pro wrestler. She and current Bellator champion Liz Carmouche took part in the first women’s fight in the company’s history at UFC 157 and Rousey recorded six straight bantamweight title defenses while skyrocketing into mainstream fame.

Carano preceded Rousey, becoming one of women’s MMA’s first stars. In her last pro fight in August 2009, she lost to Cris Cyborg in the main event of a Strikeforce show on Showtime, the first time two women had ever headlined a major MMA card. She parlayed her fighting notoriety into a successful career in Hollywood, though her reputation was tarnished when she made anti-Semitic comments on social media that led to her being fired from Disney’s The Mandalorian.

Should Carano ever decide to take up Rousey’s offer, Rousey is happy to make the fight happen under any circumstances.

” If she was ever like that, “Ronda! I want to fight with you tomorrow, 205 pound,” I said. I will fight Gina anywhere she wishes. You can leave the offer even if Gina doesn’t wish to for ever.

“It’s a respect thing, not like a, ‘F*** you. I’m coming to get you.’ It’s just like, ‘Hey, if you ever wanna pull that card out, it’s there.’ I love her. Thanks Gina for all you have done .”

A potential bout between Rousey and Carano had been discussed on multiple occasions, with UFC President Dana White stating in 2014 that Carano would have received an immediate title shot for her comeback fight. However, Carano later claimed that a profane text from White spoiled any chance of that matchup being made.

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