TLDR
- Jon Jones and Cain Velasquez consoled Gina Carano after her 17-second armbar loss to Ronda Rousey on May 16
- Jones praised Carano’s courage for returning to MMA after a 17-year layoff from competition
- Carano lost 100 pounds preparing for the fight and described the training as the hardest physical challenge of her life
- The California Athletic Commission closely monitored Carano’s health with extra weigh-ins, tests, and drug screenings
- Despite the quick defeat, Carano called the experience ‘one of the best rides’ of her life and plans to continue training
Sources: EssentiallySports | Us Weekly | BJPenn.com | GiveMeSport
Gina Carano says Jon Jones and Cain Velasquez helped change her perspective after her quick loss to Ronda Rousey on May 16. The MMA legend revealed on Instagram that the two former UFC champions approached her after the fight with words of encouragement.
Carano, 44, lost to Rousey via armbar submission just 17 seconds into their highly anticipated bout at MVP MMA 1 in Los Angeles’ Intuit Dome. The fight marked Carano’s first MMA competition since 2009, a 17-year gap between fights.
Jones reminded Carano about the courage it took to step back into the cage after such a long absence. According to Carano, both Jones and Velasquez “set my mind straight” with their supportive words following the defeat.
Gina Carano reveals what Jon Jones said to her immediately after 17 second loss to Ronda Rousey https://t.co/ABroFu0jEi pic.twitter.com/Um6qs4GcrM
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) May 19, 2026
Carano’s Emotional Response to the Loss
In her Instagram post on May 18, Carano described the experience as “one of the best rides of my life.” She said she felt “locked in fight night” with “no fear just focused positive adrenaline.”
Despite her positive mindset, Carano admitted her “heart is heavy” after the quick finish. She explained that she “kicked when I should have moved and was down and done.”
Carano said she had no choice but to tap out to Rousey’s signature armbar. “If I hadn’t tapped she would’ve broken my arm, as it had begun to crackle,” she wrote.
The former Strikeforce fighter called the disappointment “very humbling.” She had hoped to “throw, battle, win” but was caught early in the fight.
Extreme Weight Loss and Training Challenges
Carano revealed she lost 100 pounds while preparing for the fight. She described being “in a caloric deficit for a year” and said training “felt like swimming as hard as I could upstream.”
She could count on two hands the number of times she “felt good training.” Carano called the weight loss process “physically the hardest thing I’ve ever done” and said she felt “like a science experiment.”
The California Athletic Commission closely monitored Carano’s health before the fight. They weighed her a week and a half before the event, conducted extra tests and scans, and administered multiple drug tests.
The commission also weighed both fighters on fight night to ensure compliance with rehydration rules. Carano said she passed all requirements easily.
Despite the loss, Carano said the experience taught her valuable lessons. She “needed to go through this fight to implement permanent lifestyle changes” and feels “this is just the beginning.”
Carano praised Rousey, 39, as “a beautiful woman, wife, mother, daughter, sister and legend.” She expressed happiness that “the world got to experience this version” of Rousey.
Rousey, who hadn’t fought professionally since 2016, told reporters after the fight that she “didn’t really want to hurt” Carano. She described the quick finish as “beautiful martial arts” and called it “art.”
Carano thanked fans for their support and said “it’s because of you we get to face our fears and live our dreams.” She also praised Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix for their production of the event.
The former MMA star said she “can’t wait to see where I can push my body to go next” following the fight experience.
