‘The Mandalorian’ star Gina Carano reacts to MMA return after 17 years; ‘Turn it up…’

Gina Carano will return to fight Ronda Rousey in a Netflix MMA bout on May 16. She reacted to it hyping up her fans to turn the volume up.

Updated on: Feb 17, 2026 11:26 PM IST

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Actor and former MMA fighter Gina Carano, who retired from fighting in August 2009, is set to make a return to the ring for Netflix's special MMA broadcast. She will fight another retired MMA legend, Ronda Rousey, who left the game in 2016, for over five rounds bout at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

Gina Carano poses at the premiere for the television series "The Mandalorian" in Los Angeles, California. (REUTERS)

Amid Gina Carano's much-talked-about return to MMA, she has given her first reaction to the fight in May. Carano hyped up her fans and said that she is "looking forward" to it.

"Turn it up. 🔊 So blessed. Looking forward to making this walk AGAIN!" she wrote on X, sharing a poster of the fight.

The MMA return will mark the first time 47-year-old Carano will step into the ring after her retirement following the August 2009 Strikeforce bout loss to Cris Cyborg. Carano has pursued a career in acting following her departure from the MMA.

She competed mainly in women's bantamweight and featherweight divisions from 2006 to 2009, with a pro debut on June 10, 2006. She has seven career win and one loss, in her final MMA bout.

The fight will he organized by Most Valuable Promotions, owned by influencer Jake Paul and his business partner Nakisa Bidarian. It will stream live on Netflix on May 16.

Ronda Rousey Reacts To Upcoming Fight

Ronda Rousey also reacted on social media to the upcoming fight, saying that she had been "waiting for so long" to announce it to her fans. She said that the fight would be "the biggest super fight in women’s combat sport history."

Also read: Gina Carano vs Ronda Rousey: Who is richer? All on their net worth ahead of Netflix MMA superfight

She wrote: "Been waiting so long to announce this: Me and Gina Carano are gonna throw down in the biggest super fight in women’s combat sport history! And we’re partnering with the fighter-first promotion Most Valuable Promotions as well as the baddest streamer on the planet Netflix!

"This is for all MMA fans past, present and future. More to come… much more," she added.

Rousey finished her MMA career with a 12–2 record, winning 9 fights by armbar submission and becoming the UFC’s first women’s bantamweight champion. Her only losses came via knockout to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shamik Banerjee
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

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