UFC bantamweight queen Ronda Rousey spoke with the New York Post about former WMMA star Gina Carano.

“I would never be an MMA fighter if it wasn’t for [Carano],” Rousey told The Post. “I’m not dumb enough to not be grateful. … I just say thank God for Gina Carano.”

Rousey watched Carano best Julie Kedzie at a 2007 EliteXC event, an inspiration that led her to persue a career in MMA herself.

“What she did before me has radically changed my life.”

The champ also shared some complimentary insight on Carano’s acting career.

“I really think what she’s doing with films is just as much an influence on women’s MMA as her fighting again,” Rousey said. “She’s continuing to represent us very well, bringing women’s MMA to an audience that doesn’t know MMA really at all.”

Rousey didn’t rule out a possible acting career in the future, but made it clear that fighting will take priority.

“I’m a fighter first,” Rousey said. “I came straight [to this interview] from sparring, not from getting my eye brows done. Once I feel like my fighting career is done, then maybe I’ll go into something else. I really havent gotten hit yet. If it keeps going that way, I can fight until I’m 90.”

Despite the kind kind words, Ronda didn’t hesitate when asked if she would fight Cerano.

“Of course I would,” said Rousey. “I would just hope that she’d be OK. Obviously, I’d want to win.”

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