Former UFC women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg was quick to criticize Ronda Rousey following the announcement of her return to mixed martial arts.
Ronda Rousey, a distinguished member of the UFC Hall of Fame, is scheduled to compete in MMA for the first time in a decade, facing fellow women’s MMA trailblazer Gina Carano on May 16th in Los Angeles. Her last professional MMA contest was a defeat against Amanda Nunes at UFC 207.
The return of Rousey to the MMA arena stands as one of the most captivating narratives of 2026. This contest is set to occur under the aegis of Most Valuable Promotions, following Rousey’s unsuccessful efforts to arrange the fight within the UFC organization.
On Tuesday, public reception to Rousey’s announced return was largely favorable, with many expressing astonishment that the UFC Hall of Famer would step back into the cage given her recent disclosures about her health. However, Cris Cyborg, a long-standing rival of Rousey’s, adopted a contrasting viewpoint regarding the former UFC women’s bantamweight champion’s comeback.
Cris Cyborg Criticizes Ronda Rousey’s Return, Citing Past Avoidance of UFC Matchup
In a recent message shared on the platform X, Cyborg offered her thoughts on the announcement of Rousey’s impending return to combat.
“For all those years you evaded me at 145 pounds when we were both at our peak performance levels?!” Cyborg remarked concerning Rousey.
“I was under the impression you were suffering from CTE or a similar condition?”
Cyborg’s comments allude to Rousey’s prior statements indicating she experienced multiple significant concussions throughout her time in combat sports. Despite numerous discussions about a potential super fight between her and Cyborg during their respective periods in the UFC, such a bout never came to fruition.
Cyborg made her return to competition in December, securing a decisive victory against Sara Collins in the Professional Fighters’ League. She is anticipated to compete again later this year, a contest that might mark her last professional mixed martial arts appearance.
Meanwhile, Rousey aims to achieve her initial MMA triumph since her knockout victory over Bethe Correia at UFC 190. Prior to retiring from the sport, she sustained consecutive losses to Amanda Nunes and Holly Holm.
What are your predictions for the Ronda Rousey versus Gina Carano bout? Share your thoughts below!
