In the MMA Battle of the Problematic, Comic Writer Ronda Rousey defeats Star Wars/Deadpool Actor Gina Carano in 17 seconds with an Armbar
Announced in February, Ronda Rousey took on Gina Carano in a mixed martial arts fight for MVP promotions and aired live on Netflix. While it was a battle between two MMA legends, for this sitee it’s a comic writer versus former Star Wars and Deadpool actor!
In what felt like seconds Rousey quickly took Carano to the mat and defeated her with an armbar in the first round. It was a finish in 17 seconds and win for Rousey.
The two celebrated, embracing and crying together, a change for two trailblazers known for their trash talking and badass abilities in the ring that intimidated opponents and divided MMA fans.
The two showed a bit of a different side of themselves in the weigh-ins leading up, a friendly, playful back and forth and what felt like friendship, compared to the rather tense confrontations they used to give in their past fights
Rousey and Carano are both experienced and well respected MMA fighters, both pioneers in women’s professional MMA. Rousey had a record of 12 wins and 2 losses and Carano has 7 wins and 1 loss coming into the fight. Rousey has said that Carano was her inspiration to get into MMA. It was about 17 years for Carano in the ring and 10 for Rousey.
Both have had very troubling statements in the past, particularly against the trans community and with that, they weave a difficult legacy. Tough to tackle as two pioneers and an inspirational stories of their comebacks. Both admitted to struggles with mental health and the fight during Mental Health Awareness month feels appropriate.
In 2024 it was announced that Ronda Rousey was teaming with publisher AWA to publish her debut graphic novel Expecting the Unexpected with artist Mike Deodato, Jr. The release promoted it as:
…the graphic novel draws on Rousey’s incredible career in the ring and pairs it with Deodato’s martial arts background to create the most accurate and action-packed fight scenes in comics!
The graphic novel was originally crowdfunded raising $80,417 on Kickstarter from 966 backers. It eventually was released in October 2025 to comic shops and bookstores. AWA was initially funded by James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems and Elisabeth Murdoch’s SISTER media investment firm contributed funding a few years later. Yes, it’s those Murdochs, as in some of Fox’s Rupert Murdoch’s kids. Remember, Fox was purchased by Disney in 2017. We wouldn’t normally bring that up, but the meta pissing match between rich people in his MMA fight makes the dot connections all the weirder. Rousey is no stranger to controversy as well with issues involving domestic violence and disparaging remarks regarding transgender fighters.
Gina Carano dipped her toes into the world of acting with a star making turn in Steven Soderbergh’s Haywire in 2011 after also being in Blood and Bone in 2009 and Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 in 2008. She joined the Fast & Furious crew in 2013 but really entered our orbit with her role as Angel Dust in Deadpool (at that time it was a Fox property, later purchased by Disney) and then Cara Dune in The Mandalorian (Star Wars is owned by Disney). Carano was eventually fired by Disney in 2021 for right-wing/anti-semitic/tranphobic statements she made on social media leading to a lawsuit that was eventually settled with a possible return to the Star Wars franchise. In the settlement announcement, Carano thanked Elon Musk for footing the legal bill. Carano in 2024 admitted depression having gained weight and was pre-diabetic. That put her on a journey towards health once more and for this fight she says she lost nearly 100 lbs.
The battle also has larger implications in the games of mega corporations. Paramount has won its bid for Warner Bros. Discovery with the deal going through the regulatory process after Netflix pulled their bid. Paramount is tied into a business deal for streaming rights with the UFC and has been leaning heavily into that promotion. The UFC is buddy/buddy with the Trump administration and will have a fight on the White House lawn. The Rousey vs. Carano fight was put together by Most Valuable Promotions which was established by Jake Paul. Paul, to his credit, has been a vocal critic of the UFC and it underpaying MMA fighters. Jake Paul’s brother Logan Paul currently works for WWE which also has numerous ties to the Trump administration.
So, beyond having this weird world of comics and geek films, there was also some underneath jockeying between rival corporations who will help decide the future of entertainment in their possible acquisition of WBD.
At about fifteen minutes after 11pm ET Phil Brooks, better known as CM Punk, made his way to the octagon in UFC 203 for his mixed martial arts debut. Smiling, high-fiving fans, it was clear Punk was soaking in the experience and loving every minute of it, no matter the result to come.
