The combat sports world was electrified last month by the announcement from Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Netflix: former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is set to make her highly anticipated return to the octagon, facing fellow women’s MMA trailblazer Gina Carano.
Rousey, now 39, last competed in December 2016, where she suffered a TKO defeat to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207. Carano, 43, has an even longer layoff, with her last fight being in August 2009, when she was TKO’d by Cris Cyborg in the inaugural Strikeforce Women’s Featherweight Championship bout. Despite these extensive breaks from professional competition, both athletes remain iconic figures, and their clash is predicted to generate massive viewership. The pressing question remains: who will emerge victorious?
Offering his perspective on the intriguing matchup, former UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra analyzed the fighters’ contrasting styles and shared his forecast for the May 16 event, scheduled to take place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Serra expressed enthusiasm for the fight, stating, “I love it. They’re still young enough, and crucially, neither has sustained significant damage in terms of head trauma. While Ronda has been involved in wrestling, which can be physically demanding, they’re essentially stepping into this fresh, without the accumulated impact of years of striking. They’ll need to get into peak physical condition, and Gina hasn’t fought in ages, but it’s not like she’s forgotten how to fight. It’s just a matter of shaking off the rust.”
Regarding the potential outcome, Serra is confident that Rousey holds a substantial edge should the fight transition to the mat.
Serra unequivocally predicted, “If it hits the floor, which absolutely should be Ronda’s primary strategy, I anticipate a submission victory quite swiftly. My call is a first-round submission for Ronda Rousey, specifically an arm lock.”