Gina Carano is preparing to compete again in mixed martial arts, something she once believed would never happen. The longtime figure in women’s MMA is set to face Ronda Rousey on May 16. By the time the event arrives, Carano will be 44 years old and nearly 17 years removed from her last fight.
The decision to return to competition came after a long period away from the sport. Carano explained that she began focusing on improving her overall health in late 2024, and during that process she reflected on her past relationship with fighting.
“I actually started my health journey in September 2024. Fighting was something I gave up, actually, like five years prior. I was like, ‘OK, this is not something I’m ever gonna do,’” Carano said while speaking with reporters.
Realizing the Desire to Compete Again
As time passed and her fitness improved, Carano realized the sport still had a strong pull on her. What began as a focus on health slowly turned into renewed motivation to train and compete again. She explained that the realization came gradually
. “But as it’s gone on progressively, I realized – it’s not that I needed it. It’s that I love it, and I want it, and that’s what gets me out of bed,” Carano said.
Around the same time, she also had other opportunities available to her following the settlement of her lawsuit with Disney. She had to weigh those options carefully before making a decision about her future.
“There was other opportunities that came up after I settled my lawsuit with Disney, and I had to weigh those,” Carano explained.
After thinking through those choices, she realized that preparing for this fight mattered more than anything else in front of her. “What was more important? And I just realized waking up to have this fight was more important than (another) opportunity.”
A Difficult but Rewarding Challenge
Returning to a full training camp after so many years away has not been easy. The physical and mental effort required to prepare for a professional fight is demanding, especially after a long break. Carano acknowledged the difficulty of the journey but also described it as meaningful.
“I think that I wouldn’t be pushing myself so hard unless I had this. And I’m pushing myself. This is not an easy deal. I’ve come a long ways. But to push yourself so deep and so hard is such a blessing.”
Advice That Strengthened Her Commitment
During the preparation process, Carano said a conversation with her mother played an important role in shaping her mindset. Training included moments of struggle, and she spoke openly about the emotional ups and downs that came with returning to competition.
“There’s been the ups and downs, but then I had a conversation with my mom,” Carano said.
Her mother encouraged her to commit completely to the path she had chosen.
“She said, ‘Baby, look, if you’re gonna do this, don’t look back.’”
FACE-OFF 👀
Ronda Rousey 🆚 Gina Carano
Who’s ready for this fight? #boxing pic.twitter.com/xaDasL7dtb
— Fight Hub TV (@FightHubTV) March 10, 2026
That advice helped Carano approach the fight with full focus and determination. She explained that once the agreement for the bout was finalized, she understood the importance of dedicating herself fully to the preparation.
“From that conversation on, I’m like, ‘I’m doing this, I’m committed to this, and the contract is signed. Once that contract is signed, you’re full on in.’”
Carano added that the moment changed how she viewed the challenge in front of her.
“I think that was really good advice. When you commit wholeheartedly like that, it changes your mindset.” She emphasized that once she reached that point, the fight became her only priority. “You can’t have one foot out the door like, ‘Oh, maybe another opportunity will come.’ No, there are no opportunities right now. The fight is the only thing. Once that mindset clicked, it’s been beautiful.”
To prepare for the upcoming fight, Carano has been working with coach John Wood at Syndicate MMA. The experience has shown her how much the sport has evolved since the early days of her career.
She explained that the approach to training today is more strategic and thoughtful than it was when she first entered the sport.
“I find that it’s smarter – smarter training,” Carano said.
Looking back on her earlier years in MMA, she recalled a much harsher style of preparation inside the gym.
“Because we used to go into the gym and just beat the living hell out of each other,” she said.
Now the training environment places greater importance on recovery and long term performance. According to Carano, the difference reflects how the sport itself has grown over time.
“Now it’s smarter, there’s recovery, it’s just a smarter sport now than when I came up and we just destroyed ourselves.”
She believes that evolution has helped turn mixed martial arts into a far more structured and professional environment for athletes.
“It’s just a different sport. It’s a more professional sport.”
The upcoming contest between Gina Carano and Ronda Rousey brings together two influential figures from different periods of women’s MMA. For Carano, the fight represents more than simply returning to competition. It is an opportunity to challenge herself once again and embrace a journey that she once thought had ended.
