Former UFC Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey is apparently still the favorite mixed martial art fighter of UFC President Dana White. A scenario that White suggested could possibly lead to a rematch between Ronda Rousey and Holly Holm, the only MMA fighter who has defeated her.
After Dana White announced on Tuesday the creation of a new 145-pound women’s division, he suggested the winner of the maiden Women’s Featherweight title fight would have Ronda Rousey as opponent. To fight for the new title are Holly Holm and Germaine De Randamie, Yahoo reports.
PPV Buys
In suggesting Ronda Rousey as the challenger to the winner, the UFC is apparently hoping to sell 1 million pay-per-view subscriptions for a Ronda Rousey-Holly Holm rematch which never happened because Holly Holm lost her first title defense. However, promoting that fight would mean airing footage of her seventh title defense on Nov. 15, 2015 in which Holly Holm’s high kick to Ronda Rousey’s neck ended the champ’s three-year dominance of the sport.
Dana White clarified that in suggesting that Ronda Rousey challenge the winner of the Featherweight match, he did not disrespect Cris Cyborg, the No. 1 fighter at 145 pounds. He said Cris Cyborg turned down the offer because she could not reach 145 pounds in eight weeks since the Holly Holm-Germaine De Randamie match is slated on Feb. 11 in Brooklyn, New York.
Downsizing To 125 Pounds
Meanwhile, Fox Sports reports that MMA fighter Paige VanZant said she is willing to fight Ronda Rousey on the octagon ring. However, it should be the ex-bantamweight champion who should downsize to her weight category of 125 pounds. She downplayed an incident at an event sponsored by Reebok when Ronda Rousey spoke against her after Paige VanZant congratulated Holly Holm for her win at UFC 193.
Before Ronda Rousey would face either Holly Holm or Germaine De Randamie after their February 2017 match, she would first fight Amanda Nunes on Dec. 30 at UFC 207. The former champ had previously stated the match against Amanda Nunes would be one of her last fights before she retires from MMA.