Dana White: Ronda Rousey will probably fight in November
Although Ronda Rousey has remained relatively silent about when she will return to the Octagon, the speculation continues regarding exactly when we’ll see the “Rowdy” one back in the UFC.
It looks like UFC president Dana White may have a timeframe on her return.
While appearing on “Big Boy’s Neighborhood” radio show, White revealed that we are likely to see Rousey back in competition toward the end of 2016 against the winner of the UFC 196 bout between Holly Holm and Miesha Tate.
“The winner of that fight will fight Ronda probably in November,” White said.
Rousey has been on the sidelines since suffering a devastating knockout loss to Holm last November. Since then, the 29-year-old has, for the most part, been virtually invisible. Aside from a hosting gig on Saturday Night Live, Rousey hasn’t done much by way of public appearances. She participated in a pair of photo shoots with Sports Illustrated wearing only body paint, has a pair of films in the works and occasionally posts on Instagram. But when it comes to fighting, she’s remained mum on the subject.
If White’s timetable is accurate, Rousey will have a full year away from the sport to get herself together for a rematch with Holm or a third fight with Tate.
Her shocking loss to Holm still remains fresh on everyone’s mind, including famed boxing trainer Freddie Roach. Roach, who is currently training Manny Pacquiao for his upcoming third fight with Timothy Bradley, went so far as to suggest that Rousey should “stay away” from Holm.
“If I was … Ronda, I’d stay away from the girl,” Roach said. “It’ll take [Rousey] four-to-five years to get the [boxing] experience [Holm] already has.”
Former women’s boxing champion Laila Ali shares the same sentiment as Roach.
"I think that if she fought her again, then the same thing and worse will happen," she told Chael Sonnen on “Beyond The Fight.”
The odds are certainly being stacked against Rousey, but perhaps a year off will help yield a different result.
