Ronda Rousey, Gina Carano's Next Best Fights After Historic Netflix Event

Ronda Rousey made a successful return to the cage on Saturday night with a first-round submission win over Gina Carano at MVP MMA 1 in Los Angeles.

The victory marked the Rowdy one's first appearance in the sport since a December 2016 loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207.

Of course, one of the biggest questions that will emerge in the aftermath is whether Rousey is actually done this time. She categorized her bout with Carano as "the perfect way to end" her career before the bout.

But we all know the fight game is a difficult one to quit. History is littered with fighters who declared they were done only to come back "one more time" for the right opportunity.

So while Rousey's return seems unlikely, here's a look at the top three opponents she could come out of retirement (again) for.

Rousey's Next Best Fights

Ricardo Arduengo/Getty Images

Holly Holm

Holly Holm

Cris Cyborg

Kayla Harrison

Given Rousey's recent comments about the UFC, it doesn't feel like she'll ever be back in the Octagon. If she does happen to fight again, it isn't likely to be against someone under contract with the promotion.

However, the two most intriguing options for her aren't under the UFC banner anyway. A rematch with Holly Holm could do big business, even if it were contested as a boxing match.

Holm will always be tied to Rousey. The former UFC champion made her name in MMA with a shocking head kick KO that ended Rousey's dominant run in the UFC and made her a champion.

Holm, 44, is still active, but has transitioned back to boxing. She'll fight Stephanie Han on May 30 in a rematch. She lost to Han by technical decision in January.

A fight against Cris Cyborg would also be a massive draw. Peak Cyborg's dominance rivaled Rousey's and there's plenty of public animosity to sell a fight.

Of course, the UFC should still have interest in booking a fight between Kayla Harrison and Rousey. The two former Judoka's have often been compared to one another and there has already been a war of words brewing.

Rousey may be done with fighting, but it's not for a lack of options.

Carano's Next Best Fights

Matt Davies/PX Images/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Cat Zingano

Amanda Serrano

Cat Zingano

Ronda Rousey Rematch

There might not be as much of a market for a Carano fight coming off of a loss. She wasn't quite the star that Rousey was in the first place, but she also didn't talk about retiring in the lead up to this fight like her opponent.

Still, ending her MMA career on a loss to Cris Cyborg was part of the reason she came back. Perhaps another loss will have her looking to try one more time.

Jake Paul's promotional company just made its first entry into MMA, but he already has a decent roster of boxing talent. Amanda Serrano is the biggest star of the bunch and she has a little bit of MMA crossover in her history. She went 2-0-1 in three MMA fights.

Her last MMA bout was in 2021, but she's on the MVP roster so it would be easiest to put the fight together.

If Carano wants to go the route of reigniting some nostalgia, then Cat Zingano should be considered. She was part of the broadcast for this fight and was a notable opponent of Rousey, Cris Cyborg and holds a win over Amanda Nunes.

MVP could put the two together as they both look to get one more win after career-altering losses to Cyborg.