Holly Holm weighs in on Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano

Ronda Rousey, once a dominant force in the UFC women's bantamweight division, experienced a stunning end to her three-year championship reign at UFC 193. Her undisputed run was halted by a powerful head kick from Holly Holm, which left her unconscious on the canvas in Melbourne, Australia.

On February 17, 2026, an exciting announcement sent ripples through the MMA world: Rousey, at 39 years old, would be returning to the octagon. She is set to face Gina Carano, 43, in a highly anticipated bout on May 16, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. This marks a significant comeback for both athletes, as Rousey last competed in December 2016, and Carano has not fought since August 2009.

When asked for her thoughts on this intriguing matchup, Holm offered her analysis, choosing not to predict a definitive winner.

"I believe victory will go to whoever adheres most effectively to their strategic plan," Holm conveyed to FightHype. "While Gina has been away from competition for a considerable time, she is no stranger to the intensity of the spotlight. She was a pioneer, being one of the first female fighters to headline a cable television event, so she’s well-acquainted with that pressure. The same can be said for Ronda."

"Ronda has earned her status as a champion and Olympian for good reason. She's invested immense effort, and her core skillset makes her exceptionally difficult to defeat. Gina will need to actively work to prevent Ronda from capitalizing on those strengths. Both are putting in the necessary preparation. We'll also see how Ronda performs upon her return. I think the very first exchanges will reveal a lot about where each fighter is headed in the bout."

Prior to any potential MMA clash with the Rousey-Carano winner, Holm is scheduled for a rematch against Stephanie Han for the WBA boxing lightweight title. That fight is set to take place in El Paso, TX, on May 30. Following her boxing commitments, Holm indicated she would be open to facing the victor of the Rousey-Carano super fight in an MMA contest.