Gina Carano has responded to Sean Strickland’s viral tirade about her upcoming fight with Ronda Rousey by framing his comments as coming from pain rather than engaging in a back‑and‑forth war of words.

Carano was asked about Strickland after the former UFC middleweight champion mocked the Netflix‑backed Rousey vs Carano comeback fight and dismissed the matchup as “two middle‑aged women” that he had no interest in watching. Strickland had already drawn criticism for saying women’s MMA “sucked” when Carano fought, suggesting Rousey would “steamroll” her, and cracking jokes about Rousey’s past abusive relationship while claiming that women have been “empowered too much.”

Those comments, made during recent media appearances promoting his bout with Anthony Hernandez, triggered a wave of backlash from fans and media who labeled the remarks sexist and disrespectful to women’s sport.

Gina Carano reacts to Sean Strickland’s Rousey comments says she’ll just pray for him

Carano, 43, declined to match Strickland’s tone. Speaking during fight week media and in clips shared by outlets including FightHype and Happy Punch on social platforms, she said she doesn’t spend energy on his opinions and views them as coming from a place of hurt.

“I think his words are sadly coming from a hurt place. Hurt people hurt people,” Carano said, calling Strickland “a bit exploited” and arguing that “that pain is on full display.” She added, “All you can do is pray for that man,” making it clear she sees his outbursts as a reflection of his own struggles more than a serious critique of her fight with Rousey.

Gina Carano reacted to Sean Strickland’s rant about her and Ronda Rousey 😬

“I think his words are sadly coming from a hurt place. Hurt people hurt people.

He’s being exploited and that pain is on full display. All you can do is pray for that man.”

(via @fighthype) pic.twitter.com/KoPhymT0pd

— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) March 12, 2026

Instead of turning the story into a personal feud, Carano tried to redirect the conversation toward what she believes the matchup represents. The former Strikeforce star, who last fought in 2009 before moving into acting, described herself as someone who will defend her home, kids and personal safety, and said she wants “Viking ass women” in society who are ready to do the same.

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 10: (L-R) Ronda Rousey, Jake Paul, and Gina Carano pose onstage during Netflix’s Ronda Rousey x Gina Carano Los Angeles MMA Press Conference at Intuit Dome on March 10, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Melina Pizano/Getty Images for Netflix)

In her view, the Rousey fight is about showing that women can be physically capable and willing to protect themselves, and she argued that even someone like Strickland would want his nieces and daughters to have that same ability.

Carano vs Rousey, scheduled for May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles and set to stream globally on Netflix, brings together two of the most recognizable names in the history of women’s MMA. Carano was one of the sport’s first mainstream faces with a 7‑1 record and high‑profile Strikeforce bouts, while Rousey went on to become the UFC’s inaugural women’s bantamweight champion and a crossover attraction after her 2016 exit from the cage.

Ronda Rousey (L) and Gina Carano (R) pose in front of Jake Paul (C) during the Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Netflix 5X5 Professional MMA bound pre-fight press conference outside the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California on March 10, 2026. Rousey will face off against Carano on May 16, 2026. Both fighters will be returning after lengthy retirements. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images)

Their long‑discussed meeting, finally made for 2026 after both spent years away from competition, has become a lightning rod for debate over age, relevance and the way women fighters are still talked about at the highest level of the sport.

Carano’s choice to respond to Strickland with empathy and a focus on healing, while doubling down on messages of self‑defence and strong femininity, stands in contrast to the harsh tone that pushed his comments into the spotlight in the first place.

Gina Carano speaks during the Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Netflix 5X5 Professional MMA bound pre-fight press conference outside the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, on March 10, 2026. Rhonda Rousey will face off against Gina Carano on May 16, 2026. Both fighters will be returning after lengthy retirements. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images)