“My ovaries are fighting”: Ronda Rousey fires back at age criticism before May 16 MMA return against Gina Carano

Ronda Rousey is getting ready for something many fans thought would never happen. She is returning to MMA after almost ten years away. The former UFC champion will fight Gina Carano on May 16 in a major event that is expected to stream live on Netflix. The fight has already created strong reactions, mainly because both fighters have been away from the sport for a long time.

But the biggest talking point right now is not just the fight. It is Rousey’s age. At 39, some people have questioned whether she should return at all. Rousey has heard those doubts clearly, and now she has answered them in her own way during a recent interview on CBS Mornings.

Ronda Rousey shuts down age criticism ahead of fight with Gina Carano and explains comeback decision

Rousey did not hold back when asked about the age debate. She made it clear she does not see it as a real issue. “I never hear Jon Jones’ age being brought up as a disqualifying factor,” she said. “It’s not like my ovaries are fighting. You know what I mean? Why are we even talking about this?”

Her words quickly caught attention because of how direct they were. For Rousey, the focus is simple. She believes her ability matters more than her age.

Looking back, Rousey had one of the strongest runs in MMA history. She was the first big star of women’s UFC and defended her bantamweight title six times. Many of those wins came very quickly, which made her one of the most feared fighters at the time.

Her career, however, ended on a tough note. She lost to Holly Holm in 2015, which was her first defeat. Then in 2016, she lost again to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in just 48 seconds. After that, she stepped away from fighting.

Even though she did not return, she never officially said she had retired. That detail matters now. Rousey explained that her comeback is personal. “There was kind of like a cascade of things that led to it, but largely I wanted to rewrite my own ending in MMA,” she said. “It was just unfinished.”

She also shared another honest thought. “I needed everyone to kind of give up on me coming back before I knew I was coming back just for me.”

Her opponent, Gina Carano, brings her own story into the fight. Carano is now 43 and has not competed since 2009, when she lost to Cris Cyborg. That makes this matchup even more unusual, as both fighters are returning after long breaks.

For Rousey, this fight is not about proving anything to others. It is about closing a chapter properly. She has made it clear that this could be a one-time return. But for now, all eyes are on May 16.




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