Skip to main content

Ronda Rousey's Possible UFC Return: Timing And Controversy Surrounding The MMA Legend

Photo: Instagram/Ronda Rousey

Ronda Rousey, the trailblazer of women's MMA, has been absent from the sport for nearly seven years. However, with the recent retirement of Amanda Nunes and the void it created in the women's bantamweight division, discussions about Rousey's potential return to the UFC have emerged.

According to UFC commentator Jon Anik, the timing couldn't be better for her comeback. In an interview with MMA Fighting, Anik expressed his belief that now would be the ideal moment for Ronda Rousey to make her UFC return, especially considering Endeavor's recent acquisition of WWE, where she is currently signed.

Anik suggested that if anyone deserves such an opportunity, it is Rousey, but emphasized that she would only reenter the Octagon if she felt confident in her ability to compete. While Anik acknowledged the excitement surrounding Rousey's possible return, he also expressed reservations about her receiving an instant title shot.

Photo: Instagram/Ronda Rousey

He highlighted the importance of a meritocracy in the sport and believed it would be unfair to bypass other athletes who have been actively competing and striving for success. Anik drew a parallel to Henry Cejudo's return and how it affected other deserving contenders.

Anik acknowledged that there are several worthy bantamweight fighters who could contend for the vacant title, even though it may not be clear who the top contenders are at the moment. He expressed his opinion that Ronda Rousey, despite her name recognition, does not currently fit into that category.

Nonetheless, he remained open-minded and stated that time would reveal the true contenders. Ronda Rousey's career in MMA began impressively, winning fights with her signature armbar submission.

Her dominant performances even convinced UFC President Dana White to change his stance on women competing in the organization. Rousey's success continued in the UFC, with most of her victories coming in the first round, except for a fight against her former rival, Miesha Tate.

However, her reign came to an abrupt end when she was knocked out by Holly Holm in 2015. Although speculations about her return surfaced in 2017 when Rousey started working with a new trainer, she played down the possibility in a 2018 interview with Ellen DeGeneres.

Rousey compared the chances of her returning to the UFC to her returning to judo in the Olympics, indicating that an MMA comeback was unlikely. Currently, Rousey holds a professional record of 12 wins and 2 losses.

Read Next: Kevin Garnett And Tony Allen Offer Valuable Guidance To Ja Morant In Wake of Suspension

Source: Bloody Elbow
 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Oscar De La Hoya Accuses Eddie Hearn of Favoritism And Personal Misconduct

Photo: Oscar De La Hoya, Eddie Hearn / Instagram   Oscar De La Hoya , a well-known boxing promoter, has made some serious accusations against Eddie Hearn, his fellow promoter. De La Hoya shared his thoughts in a now-deleted Instagram post during Thanksgiving, stirring up drama in the boxing world. De La Hoya first criticized Hearn’s handling of WBC Lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson . But things got personal when he mentioned rumors that Hearn is romantically involved with female boxer Skye Nicolson, who holds the WBC Featherweight title. According to De La Hoya, their relationship has been a topic of gossip in the boxing community since 2022. He went further, accusing Hearn of showing "preferential treatment" to Nicolson. De La Hoya pointed to a video of Hearn and Nicolson appearing "cozy" outside a club in Miami, claiming Hearn should have been focusing on promoting the big women's fight between Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor , instead of making moves for ...

Ben Affleck Turns To Ex Jennifer Garner For Help After Split With Jennifer Lopez

Photo: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner / Instagram   Ben Affleck is looking ahead after his split from Jennifer Lopez and has reportedly turned to his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner , for support in finding love again. According to a report by Radar Online, Affleck has asked Garner to help him find a partner who is grounded and genuine. A source shared, “He’s ready for something real. Jennifer is great at spotting genuine people, and he trusts her judgment. He’s done with Hollywood divas and wants someone mature.” Garner, who shares three children with Affleck — Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12 — is reportedly happy to help. “She wants Ben to be happy and is glad to have a say in who he dates, as that person will be around their kids,” the insider added. Photo: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner / Instagram   Affleck and Garner were married for 13 years before divorcing in 2018 but have remained close, co-parenting their kids and supporting each other through challenges. Meanwhile...

Khabib Nurmagomedov Reveals Justin Gaethje Hit Him Hardest In UFC Career

Photo: Khabib Nurmagomedov / Instagram Khabib Nurmagomedov , one of the greatest fighters in UFC history, has faced many tough opponents. But when it comes to punching power, he says no one hit harder than Justin Gaethje . The two fought at UFC 254 on October 24, 2020. It was Khabib’s last fight before retiring. During the bout, Gaethje landed heavy punches and kicks that Khabib admitted were painful. “He hit like a truck,” Khabib said on Mike Tyson ’s Hotboxin' podcast. “His left hook, right hook, uppercut—they all hurt. But I made him hit me because I knew he didn’t like wrestling. My plan was to tire him out by standing with him, then take him to the ground and finish the fight.” Photo: Khabib Nurmagomedov / Instagram Khabib ended the fight with a triangle choke submission. He explained he chose the move out of respect for Gaethje’s parents, who were watching. “I didn’t want to break his arm in front of his parents,” Khabib said. “So I put him to sleep instead. That’s better.” D...