Ronda Rousey is set to return to action against Gina Carano in a five-round main event on May 16 at the Inuit Dome in Inglewood, headlining a card that will be streamed by Netflix.
The matchup marks a high-profile comeback for Rousey, who will meet Carano in the main event slot under the UFC banner.
Kurt Angle, who teamed with Rousey at Wrestlemania in 2018 when they beat Triple H and Stephanie McMahon, praised her ahead of the bout. “She is the baddest woman on the planet,’’ Angle said, later adding, “And hopefully she wins the fight,’’ and, “That would be a big bonus. But I don't think it really matters. I think that her legendary status will always be there regardless of whether she wins or loses this fight.’’
Angle also credited Rousey’s impact on the sport, saying, “She actually made the UFC, the women's division, legitimate,’’ and, “She was the first one. She was the pioneer and she made it that (UFC CEO) Dana White had to start marketing women.” He continued, “She's just an amazing athlete. And she really impresses me in everything that she does. And I'm just really happy for her that she's able to have this fight with Gina.’’
It has been a decade since Ronda Rousey was a UFC champion and almost as long since her last MMA fight. Rousey, an Olympic bronze medalist in judo in 2008, later broke through with the UFC before making her Wrestlemania debut eight years ago.
