Ronda Rousey has officially closed the book on her MMA career—and she made sure everyone knew it at the MVP MMA weigh-ins.
At the ceremonial weigh-ins for Saturday's historic MVP MMA 1 event, streaming live on Netflix from the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, Rousey confirmed that her long-awaited showdown with fellow pioneer Gina Carano will be her final fight in mixed martial arts. The announcement comes after nearly a decade away from the sport, marking a definitive end to one of MMA's most iconic careers.
Rousey has been crystal clear throughout fight week: this isn't the start of a comeback tour, but a one-night return to close the chapter on her own terms. She called the training camp workload "an honor and a privilege" but also "a lot of work," before making it impossible to miss the finality of her decision. As she framed it, this is about putting a bow on her MMA journey—not launching a new one.
The timing is significant. Rousey's last MMA appearance was in 2016, when she suffered back-to-back knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes, ending her dominant UFC run. She then pivoted to acting and a successful WWE career. Now, she's seizing a unique opportunity to script her own ending outside the traditional UFC structure.
Interestingly, MVP Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian had hinted at a possible rematch with Holm, but Rousey's one-and-done stance makes that a non-starter. Instead, she's using MVP MMA 1 as a platform to finally book the fight fans always wanted but never got in the UFC: Rousey vs. Carano. By working outside the UFC's ranking system and partnering with Netflix, Rousey has secured both creative and financial control over her farewell—a move that's as strategic as it is sentimental.
For a fighter who has accomplished so much across sports and entertainment, Rousey calls this venture "the most impressive thing she's done." Whether you're a longtime fan or just tuning in for the nostalgia, Saturday night promises to be a historic closing act for one of MMA's true legends.
Event Details:
Main Card: Saturday, 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT on Netflix
Prelims: 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT on MVP YouTube
Main Event: Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano (women's featherweight, 145 lbs)