Dana White gives update on Ronda Rousey’s fighting future
Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion and transcendent MMA superstar Ronda Rousey has not been seen in action since she was bludgeoned to a first-round TKO loss by reigning champ Amanda Nunes in December. This layoff was preceded by an even longer one, as the former champ spent more than a year on the shelf after her next most recent fight, a shocking, head-kick knockout loss to Holly Holm.
While we have seen Rousey return from long layoffs before, it seems unlikely that she’ll return from this latest hiatus. Speaking to ESPN on Monday, UFC President Dana White assured that Rousey is probably done fighting.
“I think people realize she’s probably going to retire,” he explained.
White then explained there her recent absences from the sport are simply a product of her extremely competitive spirit.
“That’s not because she had to, that’s the way Ronda Rousey is built,” he said. “Ronda Rousey is super competitive and doesn’t like to lose. I know she’s been criticized for that by a lot of people, but that’s just who she is and the way she is.”
“And the way she is, is what made everybody get behind her. It’s what blew up the women’s divisions. Now she’s going to move on to the next chapter of her life, get married and have kids, do that thing. It’s not sad, it’s the way she wanted it.”
Rousey’s back-to-back stoppage losses to Amanda Nunes and Holly Holm were preceded by a fantastic 12-0 run which saw her capture the Strikeforce women’s bantamweight crown and become the first-ever female UFC champion at bantamweight. She has defeated game foes in Bethe Correia, Cat Zingano, Alexis Davis, Sara McMann, Miesha Tate (twice), Liz Carmouche, Sarah Kaufman, and Julia Budd.
Do you think Ronda Rousey should retire, or would you like to see her fight again?
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 8/2/2017.
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Ronda Rousey
