The timing couldn’t be more intriguing. Just days after rumors exploded about Ronda Rousey negotiating a surprise return to combat sports, Gina Carano posted training footage that has the MMA world buzzing with speculation.
Carano shared a striking black and white video on social media showing herself hitting the pads with a male training partner, looking dramatically transformed from her recent public appearances. The physical transformation was undeniable, with the former Strikeforce star appearing noticeably leaner and more athletic than she has in years.
“Grateful to be here for my health, the people around me, the people who inspire me and the desire to do better,” Carano wrote alongside the footage.
Carano also has shed a lot of weight, working out diligently for an alleged return.
The post came within hours of reports that Rousey is exploring a crossover boxing match with Katie Taylor, reigniting conversations about one of MMA’s most discussed “what if” matchups. For years, fans have wondered what might have happened if Carano and Rousey had met during their competitive primes—a bout that came tantalizingly close to reality before negotiations fell apart.
According to Carano, the two were on the verge of meeting in the UFC, but the deal collapsed after she requested six months to prepare with the understanding that negotiations would remain confidential. When UFC CEO Dana White publicly pushed the matchup anyway, the relationship soured and the opportunity evaporated.
Now, with both women suddenly back in the conversation, supporters don’t believe the timing is coincidental. Social media erupted with speculation, with one commenter suggesting she’d take on Rousey anywhere, while another noted that Carano’s striking technique appeared sharper than her potential opponent’s. Even Cris Cyborg, who handed Carano her final professional loss in 2009, offered assistance if a genuine comeback was in the works.
Carano hasn’t competed since that first-round stoppage loss to Cyborg at Strikeforce in 2009, a defeat that ended her combat sports career and launched her into Hollywood. She went on to star in films like Haywire, Deadpool, and Fast & Furious 6, before landing the role of Cara Dune on Disney’s The Mandalorian.
Her career trajectory took another turn this summer when she settled her high-profile discrimination lawsuit against Disney and Lucasfilm after being terminated from the Star Wars series in 2021.
The settlement, which was backed by Elon Musk, resulted in a significant victory for Carano, with Disney stating they “look forward to identifying opportunities to work together with Ms. Carano in the near future.”
Just weeks after that legal triumph, Carano announced her next major project: Logan Reign, a Las Vegas-set crime series produced in partnership with the team behind Get Out and BlacKkKlansman. She’ll play a legal assistant by day who becomes a vigilante by night in her hometown.
Rousey’s potential return has generated its own controversy. The former UFC champion has been open about experiencing neurological issues, including episodes where she “basically goes blind” when hit with stiff jabs.
Critics have questioned the wisdom of her facing Katie Taylor, widely considered one of the greatest female boxers in history, given these admitted health concerns.
