Is Ronda Rousey Returning to MMA?

785 days ago

Following Shayna Bazler turning on Ronda Rousey to cost them the women’s tag team titles at WWE Money in the Bank and igniting their feud; rumors and speculation have run rampant on a possible UFC return for the once- “Baddest Woman on the Planet.”

WWE's Plans for Rousey

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer said on a recent episode, “The point is that whatever it is they’re planning to do, they want to do a feud. The whole tag team was to set up Ronda and Shayna doing a feud. Ronda wanted to do this feud with Shayna, she got what she wanted. She’s always wanted to do it because Shayna’s the one who got her into pro wrestling, so to pay her back, they’re going to do a program. I don’t know if it’s one match, I don’t know if it’s two or three, but based on whenever that out is, they had to get it done now.”

Meltzer also noted this was always the plan in place for Wrestlemania 39, but Rousey’s arm injury prior to the big show put the plans on hold. So now it seems likely that the feud will possibly reach its end at Summerslam next month. Meltzer also stated that Rousey has a “hard out” for her next departure from the WWE, which will occur long before Wrestlemania 40 next year as she takes a hiatus or possibly explores other ventures.

The MMA World's Comments

UFC Fighter- Chelsea Chandler (5-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) told MMA Junkie, “I’ve been hearing Ronda is coming back. I’ve heard she’s coming back at 145. You never know, if I got out there and put on the performance I plan on putting on, I’ll welcome her to 145. I think it would be a great fight. It has been a long time for her and things change, people get better, and I think people are on to her one-trick-pony armbar. Money talks, and she would bring eyes to the sport again. I feel like her time in WWE is starting to go down, so I’d like to see it.” Chandler is scheduled to face Norma Dumont (9-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) this Saturday at UFC on ESPN 49.

Renowned MMA Journalist & Reporter- Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting tweeted, “Ronda Rousey is not considering a UFC comeback, I’m told. No truth to the rumor started yesterday.”

Ronda Rousey is not considering a UFC comeback, I’m told.

No truth to the rumors started yesterday.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 13, 2023

Rousey has not competed in MMA in nearly seven years. Rousey (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) was the inaugural UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion due to the UFC’s buyout of Strikeforce, where she was the champion. Rousey went on to defend her title six straight times in the UFC, defeating Liz Carmouche, Miesha Tate, Sara McMann, Alexis Davis, Cat Zingano, and Bethe Correia. Rousey then suffered two back-to-back losses, the first of which shocked the world in a big upset as Holly Holm knocked Rousey out in the second round of their UFC 193 Title fight. Rousey then returned 13 months later at UFC 207, to challenge Amanda Nunes for the title, Nunes defeated Rousey via. First round TKO in December of 2016 which was Rousey’s last MMA bout. Rousey is currently 36 years old.

Holm recently told MMA Fighting, “She’s doing her thing, let her live. Obviously she’s not passionate about fighting anymore, let her do her thing. She’s still active, she’s still living her life. She’s still doing her thing, let her do it.” Holm then commented on the speculation surrounding Rousey, “I don’t know what it is, maybe it’s just fans want it so bad that they’re just wishing it to come true. She’s doing her own thing. Honestly, I truly think she’s happier doing what she’s doing now than she was in fighting. I just sense that, I don’t know so I’m not going to say 100 percent on that, but I sense that she’s enjoying her time and her life and being a mom and doing her wrestling. I honestly don’t think she’s coming back.” Holm (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) takes on Mayra Bueno Silva (10-2-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC) this Saturday as the main event of UFC on ESPN 49.

Austin Marr

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Austin Marr was introduced to the sport of MMA when his father enrolled him in Billy Scott's MMA & Catch Wrestling classes when he was eleven years old. Since then, Austin's passion for MMA and sports, in general, continues to grow.

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