Gina Carano is set to return to competition for the first time since 2009, stepping straight into a high-profile showdown with Ronda Rousey in the MVP MMA 1 main event at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.
Carano enters the bout with a 7-1 professional record, while former UFC bantamweight champion Rousey brings a 12-2 mark and a reputation for submissions, having finished nine of her 12 wins by armbar.
Carano acknowledged exactly what she’s up against in Rousey’s specialty. “We know what Ronda is good at – she's a genius at (it),” Carano said. “So we definitely trained accordingly, and that's what I could give you. I can be pretty savvy myself, though, so let's just keep that in mind.”
Known for her striking, Carano is considered a big underdog but is viewed as having a major advantage on the feet. “It would be nice to keep it on the feet, but I'm ready for anything,” she said. “We trained for everything, and yeah, I'm going to keep it savvy.”
Carano was previously undefeated until a loss to Cris Cyborg for the inaugural Strikeforce featherweight title, adding another layer of intrigue to her long-awaited return against Rousey.
