Ronda Rousey had no interest in dragging out her MMA comeback fight, and she says respect for Gina Carano’s power is exactly why she ended things fast.
While speaking to Kay Adams, Rousey explained why she submitted Carano in just 17 seconds at MVP MMA 1. Rousey said her plan was simple: land a few punches to get Carano’s hands up, then attack the armbar. Once she realized she could finish the fight immediately, she chose not to stay in a dangerous position.
“I just give a couple punches up top to get her to raise her hands and then go for armbar. But I kind of felt bad. I didn’t think I’d feel bad, but I was cracking her on the top and I was like, I do not want to stay here, you know, because you have the option if you can stay here and keep hitting or you can just go for the submission.”
Rousey then made it clear that she was not trying to stretch the fight out for entertainment value. She said Carano is a powerful puncher, and giving her any extra time would have been a risk she was not willing to take.
“And I was like, I’m just going to end this right away because I mean, she’s a really she’s a powerful puncher and she knows what she’s doing. And people are like, why didn’t she make that longer? I’m like, cuz I have so much respect for how hard she could hit and I’m not going to risk anything at all because anything could be game over, you know, from her.”
When asked whether that was a new feeling for her, Rousey admitted she has usually preferred the most efficient win. However, she also acknowledged that there were some past opponents she might have hit a few extra times before going for the finish.
“It wasn’t really, you know, because there are people that like I would prefer, you know, not to like I would rather just go for the most efficient win, but there were people who I would have stood up there, sat up there a little longer, and gave — there were a couple people I would have given them a couple extra, you know, on the way down.”
Rousey defeated Carano in the main event of MVP MMA 1 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, with the fight streaming live on Netflix. The finish was a throwback to Rousey’s peak UFC run, as she quickly took the fight to the mat and locked in her trademark armbar.
The win also came with a major payday. According to MMA Junkie, the California State Athletic Commission disclosed that Rousey earned $2.2 million for the fight, while Carano received $1.05 million. Those figures do not include possible bonuses, Netflix-related incentives, or other revenue tied to the event.
Rousey’s explanation makes it clear the quick finish was not about disrespecting Carano. It was the opposite. She knew Carano could change the fight with one punch, so she took the safest path and ended it the moment she had the chance.
Do you think Ronda Rousey made the right call ending the fight immediately, or should she have let the comeback last longer? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comments.
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