Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey has adopted a radically different training philosophy as she gears up for her highly anticipated mixed martial arts return against Gina Carano. The bout is set for Saturday night, May 17, 2026 (Sunday, May 17, PH time) at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
According to an Associated Press report, the 39-year-old Rousey emphasized that her current camp prioritizes mental preparation, organization, and recovery—elements she felt were overlooked during her initial rise to prominence in the sport.
In one notable exercise, Rousey reviewed a framed mock newspaper celebrating a victory over Carano before the fight had even occurred. Later that week, she and her team conducted a full dress rehearsal in Las Vegas, complete with fight-night gear, music, and lighting, to replicate the atmosphere of an actual event.
“It just makes everything really special and fun,” Rousey told the AP. “It’s so nice that everything is considered.”
The AP reported that Rousey now trains under veteran coach Ricky Lundell, whose résumé includes working with former UFC champions Jon Jones and Frank Mir. Her husband, former UFC heavyweight Travis Browne, encouraged her to seek out Lundell after she began contemplating a comeback last year.
Rousey admitted she initially did not connect with Lundell, but eventually came to appreciate his detailed and structured approach. She noted that the team now provides written debriefs after training sessions, regular video analysis, and access to modern recovery tools such as cold tubs, saunas, and hyperbaric chambers.
“He always keeps me in a great mind space,” Rousey said in the AP report. “He keeps it very positive while still challenging me and giving me what I need.”
This comeback marks a significant departure from Rousey’s earlier years, when she trained primarily under Edmond Tarverdyan at a modest gym in Glendale, California. That relationship drew criticism from many in the sport, including Rousey’s mother, former world judo champion AnnMaria De Mars.
“We accomplished a lot, but I think we went as far as we could together,” Rousey said of her years with Tarverdyan.
After consecutive UFC losses and growing concerns over concussions and overall health, Rousey stepped away from MMA nearly a decade ago. She later pursued acting, professional wrestling, and family life while raising two children.
“I had to allow my body to rest and heal,” Rousey told the AP.
Although she stayed away from competition, Rousey said she never lost her connection to martial arts, which she has practiced since childhood under the guidance of her mother.
“As a martial artist, I’m not just memorizing moves,” Rousey said. “I’m learning concepts and philosophy, and those things never go away or change.”
Rousey also recalled a conversation with film director Taika Waititi, who described his writing process as creating a script, setting it aside, and later rewriting it entirely from memory.
“That’s how I think of martial arts,” Rousey said in the AP report. “The core of what matters, the core of the philosophy is what it always sticks. That’s always in there.”
