Shayna Baszler is defending Ronda Rousey after backlash over Rousey’s ultra-fast MMA comeback victory against Gina Carano.
Rousey submitted Carano in just 16 seconds at MVP MMA 1 after quickly taking the fight to the ground and locking in her trademark armbar. The rapid finish immediately sparked online debate, with many fans questioning whether the fight looked legitimate due to how quickly it ended. One of the loudest reactions came from Jim Cornette, who mocked the fight on Twitter and joked that the entire thing looked staged.
“OK, Gina, we’ve got their money. We’ll make 4 million dollars per second. As soon as I get the arm, tap like Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson and we’ll be hugging and kissing five times as long as the ‘fight’ lasted before the suckers can feel for their wallets.”
Now Baszler has responded to the overall backlash surrounding the fight and the growing number of fans claiming the bout looked fake. Taking to Twitter, Baszler pointed out that quick submissions were always a major part of Rousey’s MMA dominance long before this comeback fight ever happened.
“If you want to know how fast the memory of MMA fans gets erased, 17 seconds isn’t even her fastest win and people think it was worked, lol.”
Baszler then reminded fans about several of Rousey’s famously short UFC fights, including some of the quickest title match finishes in MMA history.
“What about her :14 win over Zigano? Or her :16 win over Davis? Or her other 5 wins under :30? Or her 9 total wins under a minute?”
Rousey built much of her UFC legacy around explosive first-round finishes, especially with her armbar submission. Several of her biggest fights ended almost immediately, which helped establish her reputation as one of the most dangerous women in combat sports during her peak years.
The criticism surrounding the comeback also went to the next level after MMA Junkie reported the disclosed fighter purses from the event. According to the California State Athletic Commission, Rousey earned a disclosed $2.2 million payday while Carano received $1.05 million. Those figures do not include any additional bonuses, Netflix incentives, or revenue tied to ticket sales and viewership.
For now, Rousey herself has not publicly addressed the backlash. But Baszler clearly believes fans are forgetting that lightning-fast victories were always part of what made Rousey such a massive MMA star in the first place.
Bottom line: Shayna Baszler pushed back against fans claiming Ronda Rousey’s quick submission victory over Gina Carano looked fake, reminding haters that Rousey has built her entire MMA legacy around dominating opponents in under a minute.
Do you think fans are unfairly doubting Ronda Rousey’s comeback win, or did the 16-second finish deserve the skepticism it received? Leave your thoughts and feedback below.
