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Ronda Rousey turned back the clock after being out of the Octagon for nearly a decade.
Arguably the greatest mixed martial artist of all time, Rousey fought Gina Carano on Saturday after not fighting since December 30, 2016, and she looked like her vintage self.
Rousey got Carano in an armbar and earned a submission victory just 17 seconds into the match. It was the 13th win of her career and the 10th that came within the first 70 seconds. All but one of Rousey’s wins came in the first round.
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Ronda Rousey and husband Travis Browne embrace after Rousey defeated Gina Carano in her featherweight bout in the main card of Netflix’s Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano at the Intuit Dome on May 16, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images for Netflix)
However, some critics say the event, promoted by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, was scripted. Paul is hardly a stranger to these allegations, but those about Rousey-Carano reached a new level for Paul’s business partner, Nakisa Bidarian.
“I think Jake Paul’s claims are more outlandish, frankly. With Ronda, it’s just a lack of knowledge from people who don’t know who she is or what she does,” Bidarian, who has previously denied similar claims, said in a recent interview with Pakinomist Digital.
Ronda Rousey defeated Gina Carano by submission with an armbar in the first round at the 17-second mark during their featherweight bout at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California on May 16, 2026. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu)
IF THIS WAS RONDA ROUSEY’S FINAL FIGHT, FANS WOULD WITNESS A LEGENDARY FAREWELL ON NETFLIX’S MVP CARD
“If you think about it, why would anyone in our business make a fight to last only 17 seconds? This was the reality – a person was extremely prepared to impose her will.”
In short, Rousey came back and did “what she’s done so many times.”
“Ronda holds the ticket sales record for female combat athletes and it was great to see her perform at that level again after so many years. I’m disappointed for Gina because she put in a lot of work but didn’t get to show her skills after falling into Ronda’s trap,” Bidarian added.
And while critics are clamoring for MVP’s first MMA fight, Bidarian said there’s more to come.
Ronda Rousey watches before her featherweight bout against Gina Carano during the main card of Netflix’s Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California on May 16, 2026. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images for Netflix)
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“MVP MMA will be back,” Bidarian said. “We are working feverishly on the future. We believe we have a special ‘fighter-first’ brand and there is clearly a demand for more that we are going to deliver.”
