MMA icon Ronda Rousey has embarrassed fellow combat sports legend Gina Carano in their main event bout, winning by armbar submission in just 17 seconds on Sunday AEST.
Rousey immediately shot for a takedown and secured a trademark armbar, with Carano tapping out moments into the first round. The duo embraced and laughed after the referee ended the fight.
The former Olympian and UFC champion, aged 39, was returning to MMA for the first time in nearly a decade, with the blockbuster comeback fight headlining the first MMA event promoted by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions brand.
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“My husband and my kids are watching,” Rousey said after the win.
“I don’t want to put them through anything more than that.”
It also marked Carano’s first MMA defeat since 2009.
“I wanted it to last longer,” Carano laughed.
According to the California State Athletic Commission, Rousey earned US$2.1 million (AU$3 million) for her performance, while Carano took home US$1.05 million (AU$1.5 million) in the losing effort.
Earlier on the card, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou defeated Brazil’s Philipe Lins after landing a counter left for a first-round KO.
It was his first MMA bout since October 2024, while he has not been beaten since July 2018.
“I’m the f***ing best, period,” Ngannou declared after the win.
The 39-year-old also called for a fight against American champion Jon Jones, who was working at the venue as an analyst.
“He should be watching what I’m doing and learn,” Ngannou said of Jones.
“Figure it out and come make this fight.”
No one survives Francis Ngannou! | 00:41
Elsewhere, America’s Mike Perry defeated hometown hero Nate Diaz in a bloody co-main event, with the welterweight slugfest ending after two rounds courtesy of a TKO via doctor’s stoppage.
Perry dropped his 41-year-old opponent with a knee just before the bell sounded, with the referee calling for the cageside doctor to assess Diaz’s bloodied face, caused by a cut over his right eye.
Diaz declared he would like a rematch, claiming he broke his finger early in the first round, while Perry called for a shot against Jake Paul inside the cage.
“Jake’s crazy calling out Francis Ngannou,” Perry said during the post-fight interview.
“But I would do MMA against Jake Paul.”
Paul responded: “I’ll MMA this motherf***er, I already beat that a** in boxing.”
Ngannou vs Jones? ‘He wants the fight’ | 00:44
FULL CARD
Ronda Rousey def. Gina Carano by SUB1
Mike Perry def. Nate Diaz by TKO2
Francis Ngannou def. Philipe Lins by KO1
Salahdine Parnasse def. Kenneth Cross by TKO1
Robelis Despaigne def. Junior dos Santos by KO1
Namo Fazil def. Jake Babian by SUB2
Adriano Moraes def. Phumi Nkuta by SUB3
Jason Jackson def. Jeff Creighton by KO1
David Mgoyan def. Albert Morales by unanimous decision
Aline Pereira def. Jade Masson-Wong by split decision
Brandon Jenkins def. Chris Avila by split decision