Ronda Rousey is planning a return to the UFC and is aiming to reassert the dominance she enjoyed before her November defeat to Holly Holm, according to her nutrition coach, Mike Dolce.
Before the brutal knockout loss to Holm in Melbourne, Australia, Rowdy was untouchable, having gone 12 fights undefeated in her professional MMA career. Dolce insists the 29-year-old is on her way back, per MMA Junkie's Steven Marrocco:
We’re planning Ronda’s comeback and her world domination. That’s really what it’s about. The last loss Ronda suffered was in the 2008 Olympics, where she battled back and won a bronze medal. She has been undefeated since, all the way to November 2015.
She’s extremely refocused, and the team is definitely moving forward. We’re all rowing in the right direction, and now it’s just a matter of sitting back and waiting for the right time for her to step back in again.
However, former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida believes Cris Justino could be one of the key threats to Rousey as she looks to reassert her dominance, backing Cyborg as "the real deal" ahead of her UFC debut and insisting she can "beat anyone," including Rowdy, per TMZ Sports.
Machida also hailed Justino's aggression and dedication ahead of her long-awaited UFC bow against Leslie Smith at a 140-pound catchweight on May 14—see the full interview below:
Cyborg is currently on the kind of winning streak Rousey enjoyed at bantamweight before her loss to Holm, a run of 15 fights which has seen her crowned Invicta FC and Strikeforce featherweight champion.
Many expected her first UFC bout to be against Rousey, but that is not on the cards at the moment, while there remains the issue that the pair fight in different weight classes.
However, they could be on a collision course if the American is indeed set on reclaiming her place as the undisputed star of the UFC.
Miesha Tate now holds the UFC women's bantamweight title that Rousey lost to Holm, and she will defend it for the first time at UFC 200 on July 9 against Amanda Nunes, per the Associated Press (via the Guardian).
With Rousey preparing to return in November, Tate said she is willing to fight her right away for the title should she make a successful defence against Nunes, per UFC Tonight:
UFC champ @MieshaTate reacts to the announcement of her title defense against @Amanda_Leoa at #UFC200https://t.co/boQx7dwTjX
— UFC Tonight (@UFCTonight) April 7, 2016
The pair have met twice before in their careers, with Rousey prevailing on both occasions.
However, Rowdy has definitely lost some of her aura because of the Holm defeat. The manner of the knockout in itself brutally exposed Rousey's weaknesses, per BT Sport UFC:
"Unbelievable!" @_HOLLYHOLM drops @RondaRousey out cold to win the women's bantamweight title. #UFC193 https://t.co/MDPbMooJQJ
— BT Sport UFC (@btsportufc) November 15, 2015
It is also likely to have been a year at least since she stepped into the Octagon when she finally does return, and that could have an impact on her sharpness.
Clearly, though, Rousey is aiming to come back in a big way and wants to reclaim her spot as the best female fighter in the world.
