Is Ronda Rousey’s return to MMA a good thing?

Available for over a year

UFC legend Ronda Rousey is scheduled to face Gina Carano on 16 May in California. Both women have been long retired and will undergo stricter "neurological and concussion" medical tests before they are cleared to return to MMA. Rousey has spoken at length about serious concussion problems throughout her athletic career and said it contributed to her decision to retire from MMA 10 years ago so is her return a good thing for her and the sport? Ade Adedoyin is joined by the BBC’s Mixed Martial Arts writer, Paul Battison and by Rosi Sexton, who was the first British woman to compete in the UFC, to discuss Rousey’s return. Battison believes Rousey is second only to Conor McGregor in terms of fame in the sport and that she inspired so many women to take up MMA. We also hear an interview he did with Rousey in 2024 where she discusses issues she’s had with concussion. Rosi Sexton says she has mixed feelings about Rousey’s comeback given her concussion history and that there’s so much we still don’t know about how the brain reacts to trauma. Sexton hopes the fight does both women’s legacies justice and that they both come out of it healthily. Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From the Winter Olympics to the Super Bowl, the Australian Open to the Diamond League, and netball to Formula 1. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like skimo star Emily Harrop, snowboarding icon Scotty James and cycling sprint king Harrie Lavreysen, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from the referees who run VAR to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore