Carano Completes Dramatic 100-Pound Weight Loss Ahead of Rousey Showdown.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Gina Carano’s return to combat sports became official Friday after the former MMA star successfully made weight for her long-awaited bout against Ronda Rousey, revealing afterward that she underwent a massive physical transformation just to reach the cage again. Carano stepped on the scale at 141.4 pounds during weigh-ins for Saturday’s Most Valuable Promotions event at Intuit Dome, while Rousey weighed 142 pounds for the 145-pound featherweight main event streamed on Netflix. Shortly after weigh-ins concluded, Carano shared details of the health struggles she faced leading into the fight, saying she lost 100 pounds over the past year and a half to make the matchup possible. According to Carano, she began her comeback journey in September 2024 while dealing with serious health concerns, including being prediabetic and struggling with basic mobility. She credited the opportunity to fight Rousey as the motivation that pushed her through the demanding process of rebuilding herself physically and mentally. Carano said the transformation involved constant setbacks, plateaus and adjustments, describing the process as one of the toughest challenges of her life. She also praised Rousey for remaining patient while she worked toward returning to fighting shape. The bout marks a historic comeback for both women, who helped elevate women’s MMA into the mainstream during the sport’s early growth years. Carano, now 44, has not competed since 2009, while the 39-year-old Rousey returns for the first time since 2016. Saturday’s card serves as the debut MMA event for Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions and includes several high-profile names from the sport’s past and present. Nate Diaz, Mike Perry, Francis Ngannou and Junior dos Santos are all scheduled to compete after successfully making weight Friday.