Ronda Rousey has announced her return to professional MMA for a bout against Gina Carano on May 16, 2026. This contest marks Rousey’s first appearance in the sport since December 2016, following a decade-long absence. While her initial UFC career ended with consecutive losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes, Rousey stated during an interview with TMZ Sports that she has become a more capable fighter than she was during her original championship reign.
A New Era of Mixed Martial Arts Coaching
The landscape of the sport has changed since Rousey last competed as a bantamweight. During her original run, Rousey was famously coached by Edmond Tarverdyan at Glendale Fighting Club, a partnership that faced scrutiny following her loss of the title. In her recent discussion with TMZ Sports, Rousey highlighted the lack of specialized MMA coaching available during the early 2010s compared to the resources she has used for this upcoming camp.
“I’m better than I’ve ever been. I’m definitely better than I’ve ever been,” Rousey told TMZ Sports. “It just really helps so much that the landscape of the sport has changed. People forgot that when I was competing before there were no coaches with MMA experience. There was no one with MMA experience with coaching experience. So usually the person with the most MMA experience on the team was the fighter. And everybody else had their own separate discipline and it was up to the fighter themselves to try and piece things together. Finally with this camp, I have help with that. I’m not just guessing and having to go and spar over and over and over again and try and piece things together and figure things out. It’s us as a team actually developing all of this together.”
Technique Over Explosiveness in Combat Sports
Now approaching age 40, Rousey acknowledged that her physical attributes have shifted since her peak years in the UFC. Known for her rapid armbar finishes and Olympic-level judo. However, she noted that her technical proficiency and understanding of the sport have reached new levels. She believes her “fight IQ” is the highest it has ever been as she prepares to face Carano, who herself has not competed in MMA since a 2009 loss to Cris Cyborg in Strikeforce.
“I was more strong and more explosive and, more cartilage and collagen before. But always what set me apart is my technique and how skilled I am as a martial artist,” Rousey explained. “And I’ve never been more skilled, my technique’s never been better, I’ve never had a better and higher fight IQ. This is definitely the best that I’ve ever been.”
