Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano went face-to-face for the first time since confirming their return to the cage, but it was a different set of interactions that had fans buzzing.
Rousey has not fought in MMA since her 2016 loss to Amanda Nunes, while Carano last stepped into the cage back in 2009. The two had been linked to potential fights before, but they only made it official earlier this year as part of Netflix’s debut MMA event.
Still, once they were on stage in front of a star-studded crowd in Los Angeles, fans were more interested in Ariel Helwani’s role. The journalist has a long history with both fighters, and he was back in the mix again, this time as the event host.
Ariel Helwani’s encounters with Rousey and Carano draw fan reaction at press event
Carano and Helwani were the first to take the stage outside the Intuit Dome, where he introduced her as ‘one of his favourite fighters of all time’. Despite their chequered history, she responded positively, shaking his hand and even saying it was good to see him.
Rousey’s appearance was a bit more understated. She gave Helwani a quick nod before accepting his handshake, but once they got into the Q&A, it seemed any past issues between them had faded into the background.
Why Ronda Rousey, Gina Carano, and Ariel Helwani have a long-standing history
Helwani is a well-known figure in the MMA world, and that has not always made him popular with everyone. Even before Rousey’s first UFC loss, there was already tension between her and the journalist.
She declined to speak with him ahead of her fight with Holly Holm, even though he had travelled to Australia for the event. After losing to Holm, Rousey distanced herself from the media altogether for several years, which only deepened their disconnect.
This press conference marked one of the few times Rousey had spoken publicly with Helwani since then. But she was not alone in having past issues with him.
When Carano was let go from The Mandalorian in 2021 over controversial social media posts, Helwani posted a video criticising her comments. Carano has not appeared on his show since then, making this their first public meeting in quite some time as well.
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