Gina Carano opens up about depression and returning against Ronda Rousey

TL;DR

Gina Carano will return to the cage on May 16 against Ronda Rousey after nearly 17 years. She overcame depression and weight gain to regain her health and fighting mindset.

Key points

Gina Carano returns to MMA after nearly 17 years.
She will fight Ronda Rousey on May 16.
Carano struggled with depression and weight gain after leaving the sport.
She feels healthier now than during her previous fighting career.
Carano believes returning to fighting may have saved her life.

Mentioned in this story

Inglewood, California

Gina CaranoRonda RouseyMost Valuable Promotions

It's been nearly 17 years since Gina Carano stepped in the cage but she'll make that walk again on May 16 against former UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey. The two headlined the Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Netflix promoted fight card at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

After she stepped away from fighting in 2009, Carano saw success in Hollywood, but eventually the roles dried up and she fell into an unhealthy depression. The 44 year-old put on excessive weight and was in a lot of ways spiraling. Then came the offer to return to the cage against "Rowdy."

"Everybody around me is just so happy that I'm healthy. I mean, I think I'm healthier now than I was when I was fighting," Carano told MVP UNCUT. "I kind of like to describe myself as a door opener. I open the door and then people just rush through. And that seems to be a theme in my life. I'm impressed with how far it's come. It's so surreal to be able to come back and participate once again. I think once you're a fighter, you're always a fighter. It never leaves you and it's always been in the back of my head."

Carano has said that having the opportunity to fight again may have 'saved her life.' She's now healthy, in shape, and has regained her fighting mindset.

"I was really not healthy. I was really sick. And I think in life you have a point where you can go left and you can completely give up on yourself and you can let all the stress in life and all the pain and just wear you down and you give up and get depressed and you let go. And there goes your body, there goes your mind, there goes your health," Carano said.

"I was there. And it's really hard to turn the corner and go the compete opposition way. I think my family and the people that care about me and the fans that care about me are just happy that I got this back under control. I'm healthy ... And I know I wouldn't have gone as deep into this health journey without this fight."

"I have an overwhelming good feeling about this," she said.

Q&A

What led to Gina Carano's depression after leaving MMA?

After stepping away from fighting in 2009, Gina Carano faced a decline in Hollywood roles, which contributed to her depression and weight gain.

When is Gina Carano's fight against Ronda Rousey scheduled?

Gina Carano's fight against Ronda Rousey is scheduled for May 16.

How has Gina Carano's health changed since her return to fighting?

Gina Carano reports that she is healthier now than when she was actively fighting, attributing her return to the cage as a significant factor in her recovery.