UFC News: Current Champion Dreams of Matchup with Ronda Rousey
Earlier this year, Ronda Rousey fought her final MMA match against Gina Carano. Now, Mackenzie Dern, the UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion, has expressed her desire for a dream fight against Rousey.
After a lengthy break, 39-year-old Rousey returned to MMA to face Carano. The bout was brief, with Rousey securing victory by forcing Carano to submit to her signature armbar move within minutes.
Rousey skyrocketed to fame during her dominant tenure in Dana White’s UFC before transitioning to WWE. Despite her strong run, her UFC career ended with consecutive losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes at UFC 190 and UFC 193, yet she remains recognized as one of the sport’s toughest competitors.
Now reigning as UFC Strawweight Champion, Dern, who joined the UFC in 2018 after Rousey’s last fight, shared her enthusiasm to face Rousey before retiring. “Ronda Rousey is much bigger, but having an exhibition fight with her would have been incredible,” Dern commented during the red carpet event for UFC 331 hosted by Paramount+.
Dern also discussed the possibility of pursuing a career in WWE someday, saying, “That would be really fun. The Bella Twins are amazing. I’d consider it once I retire.”
Regarding Rousey’s MMA future, after defeating Carano, Rousey posted on Instagram reflecting on the fight and her retirement, expressing a bittersweet feeling as the preparation outweighed the thrill of victory. She concluded, “I’m finally ready to move on, this time with my head held high. Thank you, Gina.”
Fan Take: This potential matchup between Mackenzie Dern and Ronda Rousey is exciting for fight fans because it bridges generations of female fighters and showcases the evolution of women’s MMA. A bout like this could reignite interest in Rousey’s legacy while highlighting the new era of championship talent, ultimately benefiting the sport by blending star power with fierce competition.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
