Merab Dvalishvili, a former UFC bantamweight title contender, recently trained with Gina Carano at Syndicate MMA. In an interview on The Ariel Helwani Show on April 29, 2026, Dvalishvili offered his perspective on Carano’s preparations for her upcoming bout against Ronda Rousey.
Dvalishvili expressed his surprise at Carano’s exceptional skill level during training sessions that began in March. He confidently predicted her victory. “I was surprised by how good [Gina Carano] is,” Dvalishvili stated. “Ronda Rousey has a judo background, and I also have a judo background. I believe Gina Carano will win this fight… It’s going to make UFC fighters look bad, and she’s going to make judo look bad too, but I think she’s going to win.”
He highlighted Carano’s dedication in the gym, noting her improved physique and refined techniques. Carano has been training at Xtreme Couture and shared her experiences with Dvalishvili, describing their sessions as “electric.”
Dvalishvili, who boasts a seven-year background in judo and sambo before transitioning to MMA, commented on the judo credentials of both fighters. Rousey, an Olympic judo medalist, holds a fourth-degree black belt. Carano enters the fight with a professional MMA record of 7-1, her last fight being a first-round TKO loss to Cris Cyborg in 2009.
Rousey’s MMA record stands at 12-2, with nine submission victories and three knockouts. She retired from the sport in 2016 after a loss and has not competed since. The UFC had previously considered booking a fight between Rousey and Carano during Rousey’s championship reign, but it never materialized.
Carano’s professional fighting career spanned from 2006 to 2009, during which she accumulated three knockouts, one submission win, and three decision victories. She later moved into acting, including a role in “The Mandalorian” which was reportedly cut in 2021 following social media controversies. Both fighters, now in their 40s (Carano born in 1982, Rousey in 1987), are returning after significant breaks from competition.
This highly anticipated matchup will headline Most Valuable Promotions’ inaugural MMA event on May 16, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The event will be streamed live globally on Netflix, marking the platform’s entry into live MMA broadcasting. The undercard also features bouts such as Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry and Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins.
Dvalishvili is currently focused on a bantamweight title rematch against Petr Yan, following his loss in December 2025. His strong endorsement of Carano adds significant weight to the fight’s narrative. Carano and Rousey will face off in the octagon before an expected crowd of 18,300 fans. The clash is anticipated to be a classic battle between Rousey’s renowned grappling prowess and Carano’s Muay Thai striking base. Dvalishvili’s assessment has undoubtedly fueled the pre-fight discussion.
