Gina Carano just revealed a stunning personal milestone that’s been kept secret for nearly four years. The MMA legend announced she married her longtime love, Kevin Ross, way back in August 2022. Nobody knew. This intimate courthouse ceremony marks the end of a romantic journey spanning two decades.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Marriage Date: August 2022 courthouse wedding, announced May 16, 2026
- Kevin Ross: Retired Muay Thai fighter and kickboxer, born July 27, 1980, nicknamed “The Soul Assassin”
- Love Story: Ross first inspired Carano‘s MMA career after they dated in 2001
- Current Life: The couple now lives on a farm in Montana after Carano‘s comeback fight vs. Ronda Rousey
A Two-Decade Love Story Comes Full Circle
Gina Carano and Kevin Ross first began dating on May 29, 2001, per Ross’s Instagram. Their connection was immediate and transformative. When Ross started training in Muay Thai in January 2003, he inspired Carano to pursue mixed martial arts. Their careers took them in separate directions, and they split after four years together. But fate had other plans for the pair. They rekindled their romance around 2015 and ultimately took the leap to marriage seven years later.
“I got married to my first and last love, Kevin Ross,” Carano announced at a Los Angeles press conference on May 16, 2026. “And it was the best thing I’ve ever done.” The revelation came just before her return to professional MMA to face Ronda Rousey on Netflix.
Who Is Kevin Ross, The Soul Assassin?
Kevin Michael Ross, born July 27, 1980, in Reading, Pennsylvania, earned the legendary nickname “The Soul Assassin” after his first professional fight in Mexico. He moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1994 and discovered Muay Thai at age 14. Ross became one of the most accomplished American Muay Thai fighters to ever compete. He was voted Muay Thai North American Fighter of the Year in December 2010 and held multiple titles throughout his distinguished career.
Ross began formal training in Muay Thai in January 2003 under Master Toddy at a Las Vegas gym. He trained and competed globally, maintaining a high profile in the sport across the United States and Thailand. He retired from professional fighting in June 2021 after years of dedication to combat sports.
The Secret Courthouse Wedding Details
| Detail | Information |
| Marriage Date | August 2022 |
| Wedding Type | Courthouse ceremony |
| Family Knowledge | Kept secret for months |
| Public Announcement | May 16, 2026 press conference |
Ross revealed the intimate details to The California Post about why the couple kept their marriage quiet. “We just wanted to keep it to ourselves,” he said. “We didn’t even tell our family about it for a few months.” He explained that Carano’s public life motivated the secrecy. “We wanted to do something for ourselves and not tell anybody.”
Ross added that keeping the secret was meaningful. “It was nice keeping it a secret,” he shared. “Something only we knew. Nobody knew we were married I don’t think for like a year or so.” The couple had originally planned a “big wedding” in 2025, but postponed those plans as Carano prepared for her Rousey superfight.
“I moved up to Montana, I live on a farm, I got married to my first and last love, Kevin Ross, and it was the best thing I have ever done.”
— Gina Carano, MMA Legend and Actress
How Ross Inspired Carano’s MMA Legacy
Kevin Ross fundamentally transformed Gina Carano’s life trajectory. When Carano was asked about Ross’s impact on her fighting career, she revealed his profound influence. “Being a fighter changed his life completely,” she told The Las Vegas Sun in July 2009. “In one night he just made the decision to stop everything that he was doing and start something that he always wanted to do, and that inspired me to eventually sign up.”
Carano continued, “He really did start off my career and gave me meaning to my life.” Despite their romantic split, Carano and Ross maintained deep respect for one another. Carano credited Ross as the catalyst for her entire MMA journey, from inspiration to execution. The pair’s mutual dedication to combat sports created an unbreakable bond that ultimately led them back to each other years later.
Where Is Gina Carano Now, and What’s Next for the Couple?
Carano revealed major life changes during her May 2026 announcement. “I moved up to Montana, I live on a farm,” she shared. The couple has stepped away from the spotlight, seeking tranquility away from Los Angeles‘s entertainment industry demands. Carano was fired from Disney‘s The Mandalorian in 2021 after controversial social media posts. She later sued Disney and Lucasfilm for wrongful termination and discrimination, settling the lawsuit in 2025. Her focus now is split between family life with Ross and her MMA return. The couple’s future plans include potentially hosting that delayed “big wedding” celebration when the time feels right.
Sources
- People Magazine – Comprehensive profile of Gina Carano and Kevin Ross’s relationship history and marriage details
- USA Today For The Win – Coverage of Carano’s surprise marriage announcement and Ross background
- Wikipedia – Biographical information on Kevin Ross as Muay Thai fighter and kickboxer
