Demetrious Johnson proposes Holly Holm-Miesha Tate, Ronda Rousey-Amanda Nunes

MONTERREY, Mexico – With the MMA world still reeling from Holly Holm’s incredible win over Ronda Rousey, it remains to be seen what comes next for the new UFC women’s bantamweight champ. Another UFC title holder has an idea how he would like to see it go.

“In my personal opinion, I’d like to see Ronda Rousey fight maybe Amanda Nunes,” UFC flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson told MMAjunkie. “I mean, everybody is trying to make the big money, but as a martial artist, I’d like to see her fight Amanda Nunes. And I don’t want to see Holly on ice. I want see Holly fight maybe Miesha Tate. Yeah, Miesha Tate would be good. That way things keep going.

“You don’t have to put things on hold. Holly Holm is a hot commodity right now. Let’s keep it rolling. I think she would like to get a fight in there, too. But, then again, everybody is all about the money, so we’ll see what happens.”

Johnson’s reasoning is simple. Sure, the UFC could cash in on an instant rematch between Holm (10-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) and Rousey (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC). But Johnson believes Rousey’s current game isn’t suited for another fight with Holm and points to recent history in the men’s 135-pound division for an example of what can go wrong.

“Holly Holm has been fighting like that her whole entire life,” Johnson said. “Ronda has basically been doing movies and doing other stuff. It’s like the T.J. Dillashaw and Renan Barao thing. Renan Barao fights like that, and he’s been successful fighting guys like that until he met someone who has footwork, who’s faster, who’s as athletic as him. That’s what Ronda Rousey ran into when she fought Holly Holm. She’s athletic, she has great footwork.

“In order to develop footwork like that, you can’t take six months off to try to develop footwork. Holly Holm has been fighting like that her whole entire life.”

Of course, the UFC’s matchmaking team isn’t likely to call Johnson for advice anytime soon, but “Mighty Mouse” does offer some sound logic. As for his own career, Johnson believes he may know more tonight, as Henry Cejudo (9-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) and Jussier Formiga (18-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC) square off in a key matchup at UFC Fight Night 78 in Monterrey, Mexico.

Johnson will be cageside for the contest.

“Obviously, there’s no secret why I’m here,” Johnson said.

While there have been no guarantees, the winner of that fight will likely find themselves in the cage with Johnson in short order. But Johnson said he has no preference of opponent and isn’t spending much time worrying about either athlete.

“I’m a date person,” Johnson said. “I don’t care who I’m going to fight. I ask Sean Shelby, Joe Silva, Dana White, ‘What day am I going to be fighting?’ Because at the end of the day they could be like, ‘Hey, Henry Cejudo, you’re next in line for the title shot.’ They’ll pass up on him and give it to somebody else. They did it to Miesha Tate. Dana White said to her face, ‘You’re next in line, Miesha. Holly Holm, hey, how you doing girl? Yeah, you’re going to fight.’

“So I never get focused on who they say I’m going to fight next. I wait until I get my contract in my hand, see the date, then I plan for that date. Then whoever is across from me, I go to work.”

For now, that target date remains UFC 196 on Feb. 6 in Las Vegas. Whether or not the UFC grants that wish remains to be seen, but Johnson insists he’ll be ready whenever he’s tagged to fight, as he seeks his eighth consecutive defense of the UFC flyweight title.

“That’s still the one,” Johnson said. “I did the math. When I get home, I ‘ve already been training. So when I get home, I have 11 weeks out, which is plenty of time for me to get in good shape. My weight’s still low. I’m probably the smallest guy in the division, so yeah, I’m waiting for that date.”

For more on UFC Fight Night 78 and UFC 196, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.