Ronda Rousey dismisses age criticism ahead of MMA return against Gina Carano
Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey has dismissed criticism surrounding her age as she prepares to fight Gina Carano in California on 16 May, marking her first mixed martial arts bout in a decade.
The 39-year-old will face her fellow American at the Intuit Dome following a lengthy hiatus from the octagon.
Carano, 44, is also stepping back into professional competition for the first time in 17 years.
This extended absence for both fighters has led pundits to question the competitive viability of the upcoming Netflix-broadcast event.
Double standards in mixed martial arts
The former bantamweight champion highlighted the lack of scrutiny faced by male athletes of a similar vintage.
She specifically pointed to 38-year-old former UFC heavyweight titleholder Jon Jones as a clear example of double standards within the sport.
“I never hear Jon Jones’ age being brought up as a disqualifying factor. Why are we even talking about this?”
“It’s not like my ovaries are fighting.”
Jones effectively retired in 2025, though UFC president Dana White has consistently dodged media questions regarding his potential return.
Neurological safety protocols
The Californian combat pioneer originally retired in 2016 following consecutive stoppage defeats to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes.
She has previously acknowledged that repeated concussions forced her early departure from professional competition.
As a strict precaution, both returning athletes will undergo stringent neurological testing before their bout under Jake Paul’s MVP promotional banner.
During a recent press conference in New York, the outspoken star shifted her focus toward the contentious issue of athlete compensation.
Challenging the UFC revenue model
She confirmed that every competitor on the May fight card is guaranteed a minimum payout of $40,000 (£29,500).
“I hope that everyone sitting here today is getting the biggest pay day of their career, and I hope after this event we can raise that ceiling higher and higher until it is on par with the highest-level boxers.”
Compensation remains a heated topic in the industry, particularly after boxer Conor Benn recently secured a reported £11m deal with White’s Zuffa Boxing.
The UFC currently allocates approximately 20% of its revenue to athletes, a stark contrast to the 60% share typically seen in boxing.
Former marquee names Nate Diaz and Francis Ngannou will also compete on the card after departing the premier organisation over financial disputes.
“Everybody on this stage is a leader because they took a stand and said ‘no’ and they’re worth more,” said Rousey.
