The combat sports world was abuzz last month when Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix confirmed that two pioneers of women’s MMA, Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, would face each other in the cage.
Rousey, 39, last competed in December 2016, suffering a TKO loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207. Carano, 43, has an even longer hiatus, with her last bout being an August 2009 TKO defeat to Cris Cyborg for the inaugural Strikeforce Women’s Featherweight Championship. Despite these significant layoffs, both athletes remain highly recognizable figures, and their anticipated clash is projected to attract a substantial audience.
Offering his insights into the highly anticipated contest, former UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra shared his analysis of their differing styles and provided a prediction for the May 16 event at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.
Serra expressed enthusiasm for the fight, noting, “I love it. They’re still young enough… neither took damage. Ronda has been involved in wrestling, which can be taxing, but in terms of head trauma, they’re essentially starting fresh.” He emphasized the need for both to get back into fighting shape: “They’ve got to get in shape. Gina hasn’t fought in forever, but it’s not like you don’t know how to fight. You’ve got to just knock the rust off.”
Regarding the potential outcome, Serra is confident that Rousey holds a considerable advantage should the fight transition to the ground. He predicted, “If it hits the floor, which Ronda’s number one game plan should be, I feel that it should be a submission fairly quickly. First-round submission, Ronda Rousey. I’m going to say arm lock.”
