When Gina Carano steps back into the cage this Saturday, she'll be facing one of the most feared submission specialists in combat sports history. But "The Conviction" isn't backing down from the challenge.

After a 16-year hiatus, Carano (7-1) returns to action against former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey (12-2) in the main event of MVP MMA 1, streaming live on Netflix from Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. It's a matchup that pits Carano's striking prowess against Rousey's legendary ground game.

Rousey, an Olympic bronze medalist in judo, built her reputation on the armbar—a submission so devastating that nine of her 12 professional victories came via that single technique. It's a weapon that has defined her career and haunted opponents for years.

"We know what Ronda is good at—she's a genius at it," Carano acknowledged during Wednesday's open workout. "So we definitely trained accordingly. But I can be pretty savvy myself, though, so let's just keep that in mind."

The oddsmakers have Carano as a significant underdog, and for good reason. Rousey's Olympic-level judo and relentless submission game present a nightmare matchup for anyone. However, Carano holds a clear advantage on the feet—an area where she dominated opponents before her only career loss to Cris Cyborg for the Strikeforce featherweight title back in 2009.

"It would be nice to keep it on the feet, but I'm ready for anything," Carano said. "We trained for everything, and yeah, I'm going to keep it savvy."

For fans of combat sports, this clash represents more than just a comeback—it's a collision of two eras. Carano, the pioneer who helped put women's MMA on the map, versus Rousey, the superstar who took it to the mainstream. Whether it ends with a knockout or an armbar, one thing is certain: both warriors are ready to leave it all in the cage.