Ronda Rousey's Return Delayed Until 2017
Ronda Rousey's Return Delayed Until 2017
Ronda Rousey will not return until the end of the year or possibly 2017 according to Dana White.
Ronda Rousey fans are going to have to wait a bit longer for “Rowdy” to return.
During an appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter on Thursday, UFC President Dana White broke the news Rousey had undergone minor knee surgery and won’t likely return to the Octagon until December or early 2017.
“I’m hoping we’re going to get Ronda back this year,” White said. “She actually just had surgery on her knee yesterday. Nothing serious; just get in there and scope it and clean it out a little bit.”
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/DamonMartin/status/738407389859192832" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
The news deflates rumors surrounding her potential placement on the promotion’s inaugural showing in New York at UFC 205. The event is set to take place on November 12 at the historic Madison Square Garden, and White’s apparent timeline for Rousey’s comeback would make that date impossible to hit.
The former women’s bantamweight champion has been absent in the MMA-sphere since being dethroned by Holly Holm at UFC 193 last November in Australia. Rousey's struggle with the first loss of her professional career have been well-documented, and recent photos of her training seemed to signal the UFC superstar was getting back to business.
Though Rousey’s surgery puts her return on hold, White is adamant that the former Olympian will still compete for the women’s 135-pound title in her first fight back inside the Octagon.
“If Miesha Tate is still the champion, she’ll fight Miesha Tate,” White said. “Whoever has the belt is who Ronda will fight. Injuries happen in this sport; somebody falls out, and somebody slides in. I’m not even saying Holly Holm couldn’t be the champion by the time Ronda comes back.”
During an appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter on Thursday, UFC President Dana White broke the news Rousey had undergone minor knee surgery and won’t likely return to the Octagon until December or early 2017.
“I’m hoping we’re going to get Ronda back this year,” White said. “She actually just had surgery on her knee yesterday. Nothing serious; just get in there and scope it and clean it out a little bit.”
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/DamonMartin/status/738407389859192832" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
The news deflates rumors surrounding her potential placement on the promotion’s inaugural showing in New York at UFC 205. The event is set to take place on November 12 at the historic Madison Square Garden, and White’s apparent timeline for Rousey’s comeback would make that date impossible to hit.
The former women’s bantamweight champion has been absent in the MMA-sphere since being dethroned by Holly Holm at UFC 193 last November in Australia. Rousey's struggle with the first loss of her professional career have been well-documented, and recent photos of her training seemed to signal the UFC superstar was getting back to business.
Though Rousey’s surgery puts her return on hold, White is adamant that the former Olympian will still compete for the women’s 135-pound title in her first fight back inside the Octagon.
“If Miesha Tate is still the champion, she’ll fight Miesha Tate,” White said. “Whoever has the belt is who Ronda will fight. Injuries happen in this sport; somebody falls out, and somebody slides in. I’m not even saying Holly Holm couldn’t be the champion by the time Ronda comes back.”