Gina Carano lasted 17 seconds against Ronda Rousey, and reconciling the lightning-quick loss has lasted much longer.
“My heart is heavy, I wanted to throw, battle, win, but I kicked when I should have moved and was down and done,’’Carano wrote on Instagramon Monday, May 18, two days after the highly promoted MMA fight. “If I hadn’t tapped she would’ve broken my arm, as it had begun to crackle.
“The disappointment of losing like that is very humbling.”
After the fight, Carano said, she was approached by UFC legend Jon Jones.
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Wrote Carano, “Jon said, ‘You haven’t fought in 17 years? Do you know how (courageous you) have to be to get back in there after that long? Did you set some sort of record or something? Respect!’
“That’s exactly what I needed to hear from the best to ever to do it.”
Carano, 44,noted she lost 100 poundsto get prepared to fight the 39-year-old Rousey at a maximum weight of 145 pounds. Carano weighed in at 141.1, and there were no audible boos when she tapped out almost as soon as the fight began.
“Thank you ALL for showing your support,’’ Carano wrote. “It’s because of you we get to face our fears and live our dreams.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Gina Carano explains why she tapped out vs. Ronda Rousey so fast