Ronda Rousey targets Gina Carano bout to conclude bitter MMA career

Former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is orchestrating a return to mixed martial arts against Gina Carano in a bid to rewrite the bitter conclusion of her fighting career.

The Olympic judo medallist has lived a quiet life on a farm in Riverside, California, since her devastating defeat by Amanda Nunes in December 2016.

That 48-second demolition at UFC 207 appeared to mark the definitive end of a trailblazing era in women’s combat sports.

However, the 37-year-old is now engineering her own farewell event against pioneer Carano to find ultimate closure.

Bitter Octagon Departure

The American’s departure from the cage was notoriously fraught and heavily scrutinised.

A shocking head-kick knockout by Holly Holm in November 2015 originally shattered her seemingly invincible aura.

Toxic training camp dynamics further alienated the Californian, prompting a complete withdrawal from the public eye.

It was all messed up. It was like one of those popup books over there, refusing to close.

Ronda Rousey

Mutual resentment quickly settled in between the trailblazer and the sport’s passionate fan base.

She believed she sacrificed pieces of herself for the sport without receiving adequate appreciation in return.

Seeking Ultimate Closure

For nearly a decade, the sports icon removed all physical traces of martial arts from her family home.

Husband and former heavyweight contender Travis Browne helped the family heal away from the media spotlight.

Close friends noted that a deep resentment remained whenever fighting was even casually mentioned.

Now, the inaugural women’s champion wants to step back into the arena entirely on her own terms.

Facing Carano offers a unique opportunity to replace lingering animosity with a fitting final chapter.