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Ronda Rousey has turned back time after being away from the Octagon for almost a decade.
Arguably the greatest female mixed martial artist of all time, Rousey fought Gina Carano on Saturday after not fighting since December 30, 2016, and she looked like her old self.
Rousey put Carano in an armbar and earned a submission victory just 17 seconds into the fight. It was the 13th victory of his career and the 10th won in the first 70 seconds. All but one of Rousey’s victories have come in the first round.
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Ronda Rousey and her husband Travis Browne kiss after Rousey defeated Gina Carano in her featherweight bout during Netflix’s Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano main card at Intuit Dome on May 16, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images for Netflix)
However, some critics claim the event, hosted by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, was scripted. Paul is no stranger to these allegations, but those regarding Rousey-Carano have reached a new level for Paul’s business partner, Nakisa Bidarian.
“I think the Jake Paul allegations are more outlandish, honestly. 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 dismissed similar allegations in the past, said in a recent interview with PK Press Club Digital.
Ronda Rousey defeated Gina Carano by submission with a first-round armbar in the 17th second during their featherweight bout at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California on May 16, 2026. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu)
IF THIS WAS RONDA ROUSEY’S LAST FIGHT, FANS WITNESSED A LEGENDARY GOODBYE ON NETFLIX’S MVP CARD
“If you think about it, why would anyone in our industry arrange a fight to last 17 seconds? That was the reality: someone perfectly prepared to impose their will.”
Simply put, Rousey came back and did “what she’s done so many times.”
“Ronda holds a ticket sales record for female combat athletes, and it was amazing to see her perform at this level again after so many years. I’m disappointed for Gina because she put in a lot of work but couldn’t show off her skills after falling into Ronda’s trap,” Bidarian added.
And while there was plenty of criticism after MVP’s first MMA fight, Bidarian said there was more to come.
Ronda Rousey looks on 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 brand that puts fighters first, and there is clearly a demand for more, which we will meet.”
