Dana White has always been committed to boosting Ronda Rousey’s prominence in the UFC. Rousey is a trailblazer in women’s mixed martial arts, transitioning from Olympic judo success to becoming the Strikeforce bantamweight champion and competing in the UFC’s first-ever women’s fight.
Following her UFC debut victory over Liz Carmouche, Rousey successfully defended her 135-pound title five times until she was knocked out by Holly Holm at UFC 193, ending her reign and aura of invincibility. Despite this loss, White maintained that her star power remained strong, calling her the biggest UFC star ever and anticipating a powerful comeback in 2016.
Rousey returned 13 months later at UFC 207 in December 2016, challenging the new bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes but was defeated in the first round, which marked the end of her competitive UFC career. Prior to this fight, White boldly predicted that Rousey’s return would surpass the pay-per-view (PPV) numbers of high-profile events headlined by Conor McGregor, such as UFC 196 and UFC 202. Although UFC 207 did surpass one million buys, ranking seventh at the time, it ultimately fell short compared to McGregor and Diaz’s events and even some Lesnar headlined fights. Over time, UFC 207 has dropped out of the top ten PPV events, with Rousey’s best UFC fight now ranking 12th historically.
Looking ahead, Rousey has hinted at a possible comeback to MMA, sharing on social media that she is rediscovering her love for the sport. While on “The Breakfast Club” radio show, she acknowledged the possibility of a return but tempered expectations, citing Mike Tyson’s comeback as an example that anything is possible in combat sports. She clarified that her current MMA training is for personal fulfillment rather than a plan to return to competition. Meanwhile, her former teammate Kayla Harrison now holds the UFC bantamweight title and aims to defend it against Amanda Nunes.
Fan Take: This news highlights Ronda Rousey’s enduring influence in the world of MMA, reminding fans of her groundbreaking role and star power. A potential return could reignite interest in women’s MMA and inspire new rivalries, adding excitement and growth to the sport.
