Ronda Rousey is heading back to the cage.
The former three-time WWE champion and UFC Hall of Famer will return to mixed martial arts on May 16 to face women's MMA pioneer Gina Carano at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The fight was confirmed Tuesday by Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions and will stream live on Netflix.
Loading tweet...
Rousey (12-2) hasn't competed in MMA since her knockout loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in December 2016. After stepping away from the octagon, she joined WWE in 2018 and became one of the company's top stars, capturing three world championships before departing in 2022. She was also the first American woman to medal in Olympic judo (2008) and still holds the UFC record for most consecutive women's bantamweight title defenses with six.
The bout against Carano (7-1) will take place at 145 pounds under the Unified Rules of MMA, contested over five rounds inside a hexagon cage. Carano, 43, last fought in 2009 and is widely regarded as a trailblazer for women in the sport. She later transitioned to acting with roles in Haywire, Fast & Furious 6, Deadpool, and The Mandalorian.
"Been waiting so long to announce this: Me and Gina Carano are gonna throw down in the biggest super fight in women's combat sport history!" Rousey said in a statement to ESPN.
A press conference is scheduled for March 5 at Intuit Dome, with more fights to be added to the card.
