Ronda Rousey’s MMA future is still up in the air despite previously suggesting she’d fought for the last time.
Rousey ended her hiatus from the cage, fighting for the first time in 10 years against Gina Carano on Jake Paul’s first promoted MMA event.
The former UFC superstar made a massive statement as she choked out her rival in just 17 seconds.
Records came tumbling for ‘Rowdy’ who commanded an audience of 17 million for her comeback, with the event the first MMA card to be screened on streaming service Netflix.
Naturally, the MMA community were keen to know if she’d continue to fight, but she insisted that her focus was now on retirement and live with her family.
But two months on from the blockbuster fight night, Rousey appears to have opened the door again to involvement in a future bill.
Although not clarifying in what capacity, the veteran suggested talks will commence in the coming months.
She told Fight Culture: “We’ll see. We need to kind of reconvene and see what the future looks like.
” I think everyone is just kind of decompressing and getting back to post that huge of an event and fighting life.
“What I hope they do with or without me in the future is making big events, because that is what MMA is missing.”
On a next event for Paul’s promotion, Rousey added: “It should definitely involve Nate Diaz again.
“I think for something to be that huge again, he needs to be a mainstay even if does or doesn’t involve me.”
Rousey’s comeback – Netflix viewership
- Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson (November 2024): 108million
- Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford (September 2025): 41.4million
- Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua (December 2025): 33million
- Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano (May 2026): 17million
- Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano (July 2025): 6 million
As for the combat sports trailblazer, she has entertained the idea of promoting the events alongside Paul.
It could well be the involvement she is teasing, as opposed to stepping into the cage again, to try and make another commercial success in their second card.
What does Rousey’s future hold?
Prior to her return, Rousey had explained how concussions had ended her career in MMA after two big stoppage losses to Amanda Nunes and Holly Holm.
And at the age of 39, it is unclear what further risk she’d be willing to take after dispatching of Carano.
She had indicated that a rematch with Carano would have been on the cards, had she not won emphatically.
Alternate other options could include a rematch with Holm, who is under Paul’s promotional umbrella but as part of his boxing roster.
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The pair have gone back and forth over a rematch, but Holm doesn’t expect Rousey to entertain an offer.
