A top contender in the UFC women’s bantamweight division has had a close look at both Netflix headliners before they return to action.
Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions is helping Netflix step into MMA, with the card set for this Saturday.
Nate Diaz and Francis Ngannou are also back in action on that card, but Ronda Rousey’s return against Gina Carano will be the main event at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
Both fighters have been away from competition for a long time, which has raised questions about how prepared they’ll be once they step back into the cage.
UFC’s Jacqueline Cavalcanti details training with Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano before Netflix bout
Rousey hasn’t fought since losing to Amanda Nunes in 2016, a result that effectively ended her MMA career as she moved into professional wrestling.
Her opponent has been away from the sport even longer. Carano’s last fight was in 2009, when she lost to Cris Cyborg. That means it’s been a staggering 17 years since she last stepped into the cage.
The extended breaks have left many people wondering what kind of shape both fighters will be in on fight night. Offering some insight was UFC contender Jacqueline Cavalcanti, who has trained with both women ahead of their returns.
Cavalcanti spoke about Carano’s fitness level, telling MMA Fighting that she wasn’t ready when she first came back but had improved since then.
“(Carano) looked quite different. She’s lost a lot of weight now, but when she came back to training she was still getting back to fighting shape,” Cavalcanti said.
The same applied for Rousey, but Cavalcanti also noted that the former UFC women’s bantamweight champion has not lost her skillset during a decade away.
“I really feel that Ronda hasn’t changed anything from what she already was,” Cavalcanti said. “She’s still so good when she closes the distance, the transitions to judo and then jiu-jitsu.”
Cavalcanti noted there is a difference between drills and full sparring, mentioning that cardio can take time to rebuild after such a long break. However, technique-wise, Rousey still looked sharp in her opinion.
“I think when you learn how to ride a bike you never forget, you know? Her judo, everything is very well-tuned,” added Cavacante.
Cavalcanti summarized her experience by suggesting that Rousey and Carano are evenly matched given where they are in their careers right now.
