Rhonda Rousey and Gina Carano Fight on Saturday in L.A.
MMA legends Rhonda Rousey and Gina Carano meet in an MMA showdown this weekend.
Usually, we cover women’s boxing only, not MMA.
But when it comes to Rousey and Carano we must give credit to both fighters, whose ability to lure fans and prove to the powers that women could attract audiences paved the way for female boxing’s current success.
Rousey (12-2) will meet Carano (7-1) at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday May 16. The Most Valuable Promotions fight card will be shown on Netflix. Rousey is 39 and Carano 44. Both women have successfully acted in motion pictures and series like Fast and Furious 7, Expendables 3, and Mile 22 for Rousey, and the Mandalorian, Deadpool, Fast and Furious 6 for Carano.
They pack starpower.
“Me and Gina Carano are gonna throw down in the biggest super fight in women’s combat sport history!” said Rousey, who has not fought in MMA since 2017. “And we’re partnering with the fighter-first promotion, MVP as well as the biggest and baddest streamer on the planet, Netflix. This is for all MMA fans: past, present and future.”
This fight matchup has been talked about for more than a dozen years.
“Ronda came to me and said there is only one person she would make a comeback for and it has been her dream to make this fight happen between us,” said Carano, who last fought in MMA in August 2009. “She thanked me for opening up doors for her in her career and was respectful in asking for this fight to happen. This is an honor. I believe I will walk out of this fight with the win and I anticipate it will not come easy, which I welcome. This is as much for Ronda and me as it is for the fans and mixed martial arts community. What a time to be alive.”
Back in 2007, Carano fought on the first televised female MMA bout shown on Showtime. It was called the “Fight of the Night” and set a course for women to appear on many more televised events. She would later be voted Female MMA Fighter of the Year in 2008 by World MMA Awards.
At the same time, UFC led by Dana White did not have any women fighters. I remember attending many press conferences where White emphasized he was not interested in signing female fighters. That all changed.
Though UFC’s White had repeatedly said he would never sign a woman fighter, in late 2012 or early 2013 White introduced Rousey to the media in a press conference in North Hollywood as UFC’s first female fighter.
Even the press conference was packed with interest, and when Rousey’s fight against Liz Carmouche on UFC 157 was announced to take place on February 23, 2013 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., it was a huge success.
Rouse’s first fight was an immediate sell-out with many female boxers like Mia St. John, Christy Martin and Lucia Rijker in attendance to support and watch the arrival of Rousey. She was the headliner and no woman had ever held that position.
Rousey did not disappoint, and in the first round at 4:49 she was able to manipulate an arm bar and force a submission from Carmouche. The crowd erupted in cheers and a star was born. More than 15,000 fans packed the arena and her pay-per-view buys amounted to more than 400,000 purchases.
Her popularity would grow even more with each victory.
When Rousey hinted she was interested in boxing, that dangled incentive for boxing promoters to take interest. Her ability to pack arenas and sell pay-per-views proved that women could attract fan interest. Before Rousey, many experts and some fans claimed that “nobody likes women fighting.”
It was a common statement by those who argued against female combatants.
Because a few people made these comments, it was believed to be the correct assessment. But it’s like saying nobody likes Picasso, so therefore nobody should buy his paintings and drawings. Or nobody likes Jimi Hendrix. It is a matter of taste.
Rousey and Carano proved female fighters are both talented and entertaining enough to fill seats in any arena or catch the interest of fans in any place in the world.
“MVP’s conviction in women’s boxing was driven by the success achieved by Ronda Rousey, who was the biggest star of the entire sport of MMA during her career,” said Jake Paul who, along with Nakisa Bidarian, lead MVP which is promoting this event.
Rousey and Carano are the reason women’s boxing has risen to another level. On Saturday, people will see firsthand the reason why.
More Fight News
Argentina
Julia Celes (6-3-3) won by decision over Lorena Agoutborde (6-10-4) after four rounds on Saturday May 9. The super light fight was held in Quilmes.
Belgium
Helene Connart (5-1) beat Eva Cantos (9-26-1) after eight rounds on Saturday May 9. The super lightweight fight was held in Morlanwelz.
Canada
Alexas Kubicki (14-3) knocked out Ruqsana Begum (6-3-1) in the second round on Saturday May 9. The flyweight fight took place in Enoch. Also, super light Shantel Adams (1-0) knocked out Klarissa Mootoo (1-1) in the first round.
Colombia
Olga Julio (43-19-3) beat Bethy Franco (12-15-3) after eight rounds on Saturday May 9. The super fly fight took place in Barranquilla.
Ana Lopez (2-0) knocked out Marisela Romero (0-3) in the third round on Friday May 8. The super bantam fight was held in Santa Marta.
France
Agathe Cailleau (1-0) beat Maloway Caniers (1-1) after six rounds on Saturday May 9. The flyweight fight took place in Royan.
Isis Pizagou (3-2-1) defeated Adelaide Mary (3-4-1) by split decision after eight rounds on Saturday May 9. The super feather fight took place in Cherbourg. Also, super bantams Odelia Ben Ephraim (5-6-1) and Sarah Kaddour (1-1-1) drew after six.
Camille Pegoi (3-0) won by decision after six versus Ksenija Medic (4-39-3) on Saturday May 9. The super light fight took place in Paris.
Italy
Sarah Becciani (1-0) defeated Antonina Cuti (2-20-1) by decision after six rounds on Sunday May 10. The featherweight fight took place in Lazio.
Jessica Bellusci (7-6) defeated Dari Hernandez (3-7) after six rounds on Saturday May 9. The super bantam fight took place in Cantu.
Gloria Peritore (7-0-1) defeated Laura Pain (9-1) by decision after 10 rounds on Friday May 8. The EBU bantam title fight took place in Milan.
Netherlands
Kris Anne Mulder (2-0) won by majority decision over Marieke Calis (0-1) after four rounds on Saturday May 9. The super welter match took place in Rotterdam.
South Africa
Bernice Ferreira (10-0) defeated Ellen Simwaka (14-8-2) after 10 rounds on Saturday May 9. The IBO super feather title match was held in Bizana. Also, bantam Thema Zuma (11-11) beat Kabisile Tshabalala (12-8-1) in six; light fly Jo lee Van Tonder (1-0) knocked out Lerato Malefane (1-2) in three; and minimumweight Elizabeth Ndlovu (3-0) beat Emma Mohono (2-5) in four.
Sweden
Vaida Masiokaite (12-30-6) won by unanimous decision after six rounds versus Mikaela Lauren (33-9-1) on Saturday May 9. The welterweight fight took place in Stockholm. Also, super light Madelene Karlsson (1-0) beat Eva Hruskova (1-1) after four.
Ukraine
Liubov Oksha (2-1-1) knocked out Kateryna Pryma (0-1) in the second round on Friday May 8. The lightweight fight took place in Kyiv.
USA
Asheleyann Lozada (4-0) beat Debora Anahi (36-8) after eight rounds on Saturday May 9. The super bantam regional title fight took place in College Park, Maryland.
Mary Casamassa (7-1) defeated Precious Harris-McCray (5-3) after six rounds on Saturday May 9. The super welter fight took place in Washington, Penn.
Whitney Gomez (3-0-1) beat Karla Valenzuela (3-41-3) after four rounds on Saturday May 9. The super feather match was held in Yakima Nation, Washington.
Chantall Sumrall (2-3-2) defeated Angelica Padron (1-1) after four rounds on Friday May 8. The super fly fight took place in Dallas, Texas.
Jordan Nerison (1-0) won by decision after four rounds versus Sarah Click (2-13-2) on Tuesday May 5. The featherweight fight took place in Nashville, Tenn.
Thank you for your support.
You can find us on facebook: ThePrizefighters.com
And on X: @TPF_ib_tv
