If Ronda Rousey does decide to fight again, she has a pair of fellow former UFC champions backing her up.
Rousey, 38, has fans buzzing about the possibility of a potential comeback after recently posting
video of her sparring along with a caption in which she said she is “finding my love” for MMA once more. The former UFC bantamweight champion last fought in 2016, later focusing on raising a family and a successful pro-wrestling run with WWE, but Rousey never completely closed the door on fighting again.
On their Pound 4 Pound podcast, Henry Cejudo and Kamaru Usman debated the likelihood of Rousey returning and where she might fit in the current bantamweight landscape.
“She rekindled that love once again,” Cejudo said. “There’s videos of her training. She believes that she can be the champ once again. I will say this, people don’t know this, she’s beaten Kayla Harrison in a judo competition before, now that is the reigning world champion at 135 pounds.”
Cejudo admitted there’s little financial incentive for Rousey to return given she was one of the highest paid athletes in the UFC during her run from 2013-2016, has made even more money from wrestling and acting appearances, and is due to receive a healthy payout from the UFC’s recent antitrust lawsuit settlement.
So while he wouldn’t bet on it, Cejudo warns against doubting Rousey’s will to fight again altogether.
“The other thing that you’ve got to think about, too, she’s only three years older than Kayla Harrison,” Cejudo said. “I wouldn’t count out Ronda. I’m not saying she’s going to beat Kayla, so let’s not start something like that, what I’m saying is you still can’t count her out.”
Usman was initially more reluctant to acknowledge the possibility of a Rousey comeback, but he warmed up to the idea, especially when considering the still-to-be-official Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes matchup and what would be next for Harrison should she defeat “The Lioness.”
“It’s an intriguing matchup because you’ve got Kayla Harrison right now potentially—there’s no date yet—but going up against the GOAT in Amanda Nunes,” Usman said. “If she’s able to get past Amanda Nunes, who next, who’s the best next to bring back for Kayla Harrison to really solidify Kayla Harrison as that woman? … I’m just saying there is potential here.”
Cejudo and Usman later mentioned Rousey again when discussing who might be included on the proposed UFC White House card, which is in the works for June 2026. In addition to the usual suspects like Conor McGregor and Jon Jones, Usman suggested that could be where Rousey steps back into the octagon .
“Then you’ve got your girl Kayla Harrison, who was just at the White House with Mr. President,” Usman said. “Kayla Harrison taking on either Amanda Nunes or … [imitates drumroll] … Ronda Rousey. Either one, I love it. I think it’s a phenomenal matchup.”
Rousey herself has ruled out fighting at the proposed event, recently telling The Lapsed Fan podcast, “I ain’t fighting on the f*cking White House.”
TOP STORIES
Heated. Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira ran into each other ahead of their rematch at UFC 320.
Real. Dwayne Johnson’s emotional fight scenes with Emily Blunt were more brutal than his MMA scenes in The Smashing Machine.
Feelings. Joe Rogan is brought to tears thinking about watching his fighter friends lose from cageside.
Sure. Conor McGregor has some outlandish demands for a UFC White House booking.
Chicken. Wanderlei Silva’s coach doesn’t think Vitor Belfort pulled out of their fight with a legitimate injury.
VIDEO STEW
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, UFC Hall of Famer Mark Kerr, and director Benny Safdie talk The Smashing Machine with the MMA media.
ICYMI, check out the latest episode of Between the Links.
UFC Perth media day and pre-fight press conference.
Diego Lopes does the JAXXON podcast.
It’s good to laugh.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Everything is fine.
The right move.
Hmmm.
I’ll take that bet.
He’s back!
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Tecia Pennington (15-7) vs. Denise Gomes (11-3); UFC 111, Nov. 8
Mayra Bueno Silva (10-5-1, 1 NC) vs. Jacqueline Cavalcante (9-1); UFC 111, Nov. 8
FINAL THOUGHTS
I’m weirdly optimistic that the UFC will put together a pretty great card for the White House (assuming they manage to pull it off), but I’m damn near certain it won’t involve Rousey, Jones, McGregor, etc.
In fact, I’m curious who y’all think is most likely to ever fight again, period.
EXIT POLL
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