Ronda Rousey will not be making a return to the UFC.
Speculation over a return first started when Chelsea Chandler stated that Rousey could return at featherweight. And thereafter, Holly Holm admitted that she would be open to having a rematch.
Rousey’s last fight in the UFC was all the way back in 2016. And as part of that process, Rousey suffered a TKO loss to Amanda Nunes. Just prior to that, Rousey suffered a stoppage defeat to Holly Holm.
And yet, Rousey did leave her mark in the sport given that she did defend her bantamweight title for a remarkable six times.
And in the process of doing so, Rousey became a major cash cow in the sport. But in the aftermath Rousey did admit that she had lost the hunger for the UFC.
“I think it was difficult [to quit] in both judo and MMA, in that everyone else felt that they wanted more from me. Like, in judo you peak in your mid-20s. I medaled at 21 so I was going to be 25 for the next Olympics. Everyone’s like, ‘Oh, this is it! You’re going to be the first [American woman] to win an Olympic gold!’ And I didn’t want it anymore, and I couldn’t do it for everybody else,” Rousey
With that being said, Ariel Helwani confirmed that Rousey would not be returning.
Ronda Rousey is not considering a UFC comeback, I’m told.
No truth to the rumors started yesterday.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 13, 2023