Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano will be obligated to undertake health and brain examinations more thorough than typically demanded of all combat sports athletes prior to their May 16 mixed martial arts return bout. Rousey will also face a series of concussion assessments, Andy Foster, the executive director of the California State Athletic Commission, informed ESPN on Wednesday.
The bout featuring Rousey, a one-time UFC bantamweight titleholder, and her peer in pioneering women’s mixed martial arts, Carano, was unveiled Tuesday, scheduled to occur at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Rousey, 39, has been out of competition since 2016, and Carano, set to turn 44 by the time of the match, last participated in a contest in 2009.
Apprehension regarding concussions arose from a Rousey live stream on Instagram approximately two years prior, as she was publicizing her autobiography, “Our Fight.” She revealed a protracted record of head injuries stemming from her judo career, the discipline where she secured a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games. Rousey mentioned concealing her history of concussions from both the UFC and oversight bodies, “fearing it would effectively mark me and potentially prohibit further competition.”
“We intend to subject her to thorough neurological and concussion assessments to confirm her well-being,” Foster affirmed. “Our medical professionals will conduct an examination. Both competitors will be obligated to complete numerous medical evaluations.”
These supplementary examinations will also be obligatory for Carano, given her age and extended period of idleness. The California commission adheres to the Association of Ringside Physicians’ guidelines for overseeing competitors above 40 years old, encompassing a magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cerebrum, an electrocardiogram (EKG), heart function evaluations, an exercise stress echocardiogram, neurocognitive assessments, hematological analysis, a metabolic profile, and an ophthalmic vision check.
Foster clarified that although the California commission has “consistently rejected numerous bouts over time,” this particular contest was not declined.
Provided these athletes successfully complete their medical assessments, clear all neurological evaluations, and fulfill the necessary requirements, Foster stated, “this matchup presents no issues.”