Liz Carmouche knows a thing or two about sharing the cage with Ronda Rousey. As the first woman to ever step into the Octagon with her in the UFC, Carmouche witnessed firsthand the Olympic-level tenacity that made Rousey a legend. Now, more than a decade later, Rousey is making her return to combat sports against another pioneer—Gina Carano—in what promises to be a historic bout.

The matchup, headlining the first-ever Most Valuable Promotions MMA event on Netflix, brings together two women who helped shape women's MMA. Carmouche, currently preparing for her own fight at PFL San Diego on June 27, shared her thoughts with Sherdog.com on what she expects when these two icons collide.

"It's funny—before I even started fighting, I was a huge Gina Carano fan," Carmouche admitted. "I watched her and Cris Cyborg build this sport. But after fighting Ronda and seeing her career up close, I think she's going to take this one."

Carmouche breaks it down simply: the ground game is where Rousey truly shines. While both women are well-matched on the feet, Rousey's judo background and submission expertise give her a decisive edge. "Unless Gina has made some massive grappling improvements during her time away, I see Ronda controlling the fight on the ground," Carmouche explained.

But even as she predicts a Rousey victory, Carmouche can't help hoping for the unexpected. "I'd love to be completely wrong and see something totally different. That would be really cool for the sport."

Looking ahead, Carmouche envisions a storybook ending to her own journey—a potential co-promotion fight with Rousey or even sharing a card with her. "We started this together in the UFC, making history. To come full circle and do something special again would be fantastic."

Whether Rousey's submission game proves too much for Carano or the returning star pulls off a surprise, this fight is a must-watch for any MMA fan who appreciates the women who paved the way.