MMA: Ronda Rousey submits Gina Carano in 17 seconds

Ronda Rousey made quick work of fellow women’s MMA pioneer Gina Carano, securing a submission victory in just 17 seconds in the main event of Most Valuable Promotions’ first-ever MMA card.

The landmark event, which also marked Netflix’s first foray into mixed martial arts, took place on Sunday (Philippine time) at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California.

Touted as a massive favorite entering the bout, Rousey wasted no time asserting her dominance. The only real question coming in was whether the 39-year-old former UFC women’s bantamweight champion would take time to settle into the fight.

She answered that emphatically, immediately shooting for a takedown that Carano offered little resistance against.

From there, “Rowdy” turned back the clock by locking in her trademark armbar—the same submission that helped turn her into one of MMA’s biggest stars and a global household name.

“I was hoping to come out both as unscathed as possible because I didn’t really wanna hurt her,” Rousey explained during her post-fight interview. “Luckily it was just beautiful martial arts. That’s what I think it is. That is what that efficiency is, it’s an art.”

Asked if any part of her wanted the fight to last longer, the former Olympic judoka gave a blunt response.

“Hell no! My husband and my kids are watching me. I don’t wanna put them through anything they don’t have to.”

The win marked the 10th armbar submission victory of Rousey’s career and improved her professional record to 12-2, while Carano fell to 7-2.

Elsewhere on the card, Mike Perry bludgeoned Nate Diaz en route to a technical knockout victory. Diaz sustained a massive head cut that forced his corner to throw in the towel. Meanwhile, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou made a triumphant return from a two-year layoff, knocking out Brazil’s Philipe Lins in the first round.

—JKC, GMA News