After a nasty divorce from MMA a decade ago, Ronda Rousey is ready to reconcile

Ronda Rousey's return to mixed martial arts represents a significant reconciliation with a sport she left a decade ago under contentious circumstances. The former UFC champion will face Gina Carano in the main event of Most Valuable Promotions' inaugural card on Netflix, marking a major milestone in what has become a remarkably different chapter of her life.

Rousey's post-fighting years have been characterized by a deliberate pivot away from the intensity of competitive MMA. She has built a quieter existence in Riverside, California, far removed from the spotlight that defined her fighting career. Her home reflects the priorities of someone focused on family and rural living—complete with a duck pond, compost heaps, and a cow named Myrtle that her 4-year-old daughter checks regularly. A backyard tree filled with caterpillars serves as a daily point of interest for her young child. Inside the home, the everyday chaos of raising small children is evident in scattered drawings, dinosaur books, and artwork depicting Rousey and her husband Travis Browne in whimsical domestic scenes.

This lifestyle stands in sharp contrast to her previous existence as one of MMA's most dominant and polarizing figures. After her departure from the sport roughly a decade ago, Rousey largely avoided involvement in professional fighting, instead focusing on entertainment ventures, family life, and personal well-being. Her relationship with combat sports cooled considerably during this period.

Now, with her matchup against Carano confirmed, Rousey is taking a significant step toward reconciliation with the sport that made her famous. The bout offers her an opportunity to compete at the highest level again while building MVP's profile. Whether this represents a permanent return or a one-time appearance remains to be seen, but it undeniably marks a turning point in Rousey's post-fighting chapter.