Mixed martial arts star Ronda Rousey made a triumphant one-off return to the cage on Saturday, defeating fellow pioneer Gina Carano via armbar in just 17 seconds at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. The bout, which was built up with intense hype, ended abruptly as Rousey immediately took Carano down and locked in the submission.

Rousey, 39, and Carano, 44, are widely regarded as two of the most influential female fighters in MMA history, having helped bring the sport into the mainstream over a decade ago. Carano had not fought since 2009, while Rousey retired in 2016 after consecutive losses to Amanda Nunes and Holly Holm.

The fight was a non-title featherweight contest, reportedly earning each fighter several million dollars from a streaming deal. Rousey secured her 10th career submission win, improving her record to 13-2.

After the fight, Rousey ruled out any further comebacks, stating: “There’s no way I could have ended it better than this. I want to have some more babies, got to get cooking.” She praised Carano as her hero and said they changed the world together.

Carano, who lost 45 kg in preparation, called the experience a victory despite the quick defeat. “Just getting in the cage was a victory; getting here after 17 years is a victory,” she said. She left the door open for a possible return to MMA.

Source: www.aljazeera.com