Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano Fight News Sparks Controversial Rant from Sean Strickland

UFC middleweight star Sean Strickland talks about the recently announced Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano MMA bout. 

Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano Fight News Sparks Controversial Rant from Sean Strickland

Sean Strickland goes into a wild rant following Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano fight announcement (via X)

In Short
  • Ronda Rousey will return to MMA in 2026 to fight Gina Carano, hosted by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions and streamed on Netflix.
  • Sean Strickland criticized the matchup, claiming fans are not interested in women's MMA and made controversial comments about women's roles in society.
  • Strickland is set to fight Anthony Hernandez in UFC Houston and has a history of making inflammatory remarks, drawing mixed reactions from the public.

Nearly ten years after retiring from the UFC, Ronda Rousey has announced her MMA return against Gina Carano in 2026. The blockbuster event will be hosted by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions and will be streamed live on Netflix. After the announcement, several fighters reacted, including outspoken Sean Strickland, who shared his honest views on the matchup publicly.

Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano are widely regarded as two of the most influential pioneers in women’s MMA history. Back in 2014, UFC CEO Dana White expressed a strong interest in booking the super fight, but negotiations ultimately fell apart.

Sean Strickland is currently scheduled to fight Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez in the main event of UFC Houston this weekend. During the media day, Strickland addressed Rousey vs. Carano in detail and claimed that fans were not interested in this fight.

Not many people give a fuck about women’s MMA. It’s like WNBA, nobody gives a (expletive) about women’s sports. You take the weakest, softest guy and [he] can (expletive) up Amanda Nunes.  You guys care about Gina and Ronda? Nobody gives a (expletive). Maybe put some oil on it, dollar bills. We gotta remember what women excel at – having kids, being mothers, making food, cleaning the house. Problem is we’ve empowered them too much to ruin society.

Sean Strickland via UFC Media Day 

The comments went viral and made controversial headlines, given Rousey’s contribution to women’s sports, by making it mainstream. Similarly, Carano became a Hollywood star, being part of many films and series following her MMA career. 

Sean Strickland acknowledged Ronda Rousey as a skilled fighter because of her dominant early run inside the UFC octagon. However, the middleweight criticized Gina Carano, claiming she was a poor fighter during her Strikeforce tenure years ago. He argued that Carano gained popularity largely because of her looks rather than her elite fighting credentials inside the cage.

Strickland also shifted attention toward the Super Bowl Halftime Show, delivering controversial remarks that included offensive language about Bad Bunny. His comments drew comparisons to his infamous UFC 297 press conference in Canada, where he previously sparked backlash worldwide. His comments generated mixed reactions, with some praising his unfiltered honesty while others urged UFC and Paramount to take action.

Sean Strickland doesn’t think Khamzat Chimaev should fight Nassourdine Imavov 

Sean Strickland is set to return to action against Anthony Hernandez following a six-month suspension period. Ahead of the fight, they have created a rivalry, and ‘Fluffy’ wants to torture Strickland for his previous comments. The fighter is currently on a eight-fight win streak and is definitely the betting favorite going into the bout. 

Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland's rivalry takes a new turn
Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland’s rivalry takes a new turn (via Imago)

‘Tarzan’ has confidently predicted he will knock out Hernandez in the final rounds and move closer toward title contention. The middleweight division is currently ruled by Khamzat Chimaev, who is expected to face top contender Nassourdine Imavov next.

During the recent press conference, Strickland also addressed discussions about a potential event being staged at the White House. He made it clear that he strongly opposed the idea of non-American fighters being part of the event.

Do you want to see two (expletive) terrorist Muslims fight each other? Nobody gives a (expletive) about two foreigners fighting. It’d be funny if they bring a (expletive) terrorist to the White House.

Sean Strickland via UFC Media Day 

Sean Strickland has maintained a long-running rivalry with Chimaev, fueled by repeated verbal exchanges and insults. Strickland believes he alone possesses the defensive grappling skills necessary to survive Chimaev’s relentless wrestling pressure and ultimately defeat him. Meanwhile, Chimaev has welcomed the potential showdown and remains ready to face Strickland if he defeats Anthony Hernandez this Saturday.

Also Read: