Gina Carano has opened up about an incredible weight loss journey ahead of her return to MMA.The 44-year-old MMA pioneer returns this weekend after 17 years out to fight Ronda Rousey, live on Netflix.Rousey vs Carano headlines stacked card in Inglewood, CaliforniaGettyCarano’s comeback against Rousey, who is also returning after a lengthy hiatus, features a host of MMA’s biggest stars, including Francis Ngannou and Nate Diaz.The card is being promoted by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and marks the first time Netflix has ever broadcast an MMA show.Rousey has been open about wanting to make the fight with Carano after seeing the latter had ‘gained an unhealthy amount of weight.’And Carano has now revealed the tumultuous journey she’s embarked on to make the fight happen.Carano: It hurts sharing 100lbs weight loss“Vulnerable post, but here we are,” Carano said on social media, after making weight on Friday for her fight against Rousey.“I just weighed in at 141.4lbs. Since September 2024 to today, May 15, 2026, I have lost 100lbs. “It hurts to say that and share, but I am going to share it because I worked so damn hard every week for over a year and a half to shed this weight. “It did not happen overnight. If it wasn’t for having this incredibly challenging goal in fighting Ronda Rousey, I most definitely wouldn’t have reached this.“I was pre-diabetic, had trouble simply walking in September 2024 and have been on the path to recovery to turn myself back into an athlete since then. “It was hard, so damn hard. There was so much to learn, too much to unpack here, ups, downs, plateaus, things I learned late I wish I learned earlier, trial by error, but I did it.Carano has praised Rousey for allowing her time to lose the weight required for them to fightGetty“Thank you to Ronda, who waited patiently while I lost this weight and giving me something to aim for. “There is still so much I need to learn and want to do in the health space and to continue transforming my body, but for today, I thank God, my husband and my family for sticking with and encouraging me the whole way.”Carano hasn’t fought since suffering the only defeat of her professional MMA career to Cris Cyborg in August 2009.The Texas native pursued acting after her fighting career, featuring in the likes of Fast & Furious, Deadpool and The Mandalorian.Both Carano and Rousey had to pass extensive medical tests to make their fight happen due to the long period of time they spent out of the fight game.California State Athletic Commission executive director Andy Foster said in February that both fighters faced ‘thorough neurological and concussion battery testing.’Carano tipped the scales at 141.4lbs on FridayAFPIt’s the lightest she’s been in a long timeGettyUFC ScheduleFor all the upcoming fights and results this year, check out talkSPORT.com’s UFC schedule.But after successfully making weight on Friday, the main event is on.The two female stars are set to become the highest-paid women in MMA history on Saturday.