Women’s MMA pioneer Gina Carano issued a fiery response to former UFC middleweight champ Sean Strickland’s critical remarks.

Gina Carano and former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey will square off in one of the biggest fights in women’s MMA history on May 16th. The fight came together 17 years after Carano’s last bout, and a full decade since Rousey’s last appearance in the Octagon against Amanda Nunes.

Despite the fanfare of Rousey vs. Carano, former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland isn’t excited about the fight. He recently bashed Carano and claimed the women’s MMA legend is only famous because she’s ‘hot’.

Strickland has repeatedly bashed women’s MMA in recent years, adding to a swirl of controversies from the former UFC champion during his promotional tenure. But Carano believes Strickland’s critical remarks about women’s MMA come from poor personal experiences.

Gina Carano: Sean Strickland ‘being exploited’ after anti-women’s MMA comments

In a recent interview with FightHype, Carano responded to Strickland’s comments on women’s MMA.

Sean Strickland Gives a dead accurate take on on Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano

Carano was hot, but could never fight. She has zero ground game. This fight will hopefully motivate her to lose 30 lbs.

Rhonda looks like a pitbull, but is an Olympian.
pic.twitter.com/iRgUCb6pKg

— E’LonDre Musk (@ElonDreMusk) February 19, 2026

“I think he’s got a little bit twisted,” Carano said of Strickland.

“I don’t really pay attention to him or his words. I think they’re sadly coming from a hurt place and hurt people hurt people. I think that he’s being exploited a bit and that pain is on full display and you know, all you can really do is just pray for healing that man.”

“Don’t you want some Viking a– women in your country?” Carano continued. “I think what we represent up here is doing that.” (h/t Bloody Elbow)

Strickland defeated Anthony Hernandez at UFC Houston earlier this year and could potentially challenge UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev later this summer. Before defeating Hernandez, Strickland suffered a lopsided defeat to Dricus du Plessis in their UFC 312 rematch.

If Carano is victorious against Rousey, it’ll be her first victory since October 2008. She walked away from MMA after a TKO loss to Cris Cyborg in August 2009.

What is your prediction for Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano? Let us know in the comments!