While the most recent target for Ronda Rousey’s return focused on UFC 205 in New York, it appears that the form UFC champion’s return has been set back even further.
UFC president Dana White, in an appearance on SportsCenter on Thursday, said that Rousey had minor knee surgery on Wednesday that would delay her expected return even further, possibly until 2017.
“I’m hoping we’re going to get Ronda back this year,” White said. ”She just had surgery yesterday on her knee. Nothing serious, just get in there and scope it, clean it out a little bit.
“She feels great. Her spirits are great. She’s been training. So if she fights, I’m hoping she fights in December. If not, she would probably fight at the New Year’s show, beginning of the year, or something.”
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If Rousey doesn’t fight until December or later, it will have been more than a year since she last fought. In her most recent bout, she lost the belt to Holly Holm at UFC 193 in November. She has made a few major appearances since then, hosting Saturday Night Live, being interviewed on The Ellen Show, etc., but has largely been missing in action in the mixed martial arts world.
Regardless, when she returns, White is still promising an immediate title shot to the woman that drove mixed martial arts to a new level in the mainstream media.
“If Miesha Tate‘s still the champion, she will fight Miesha Tate. Whoever has the belt is who Ronda Rousey will fight,” White said.
“Injuries happen in this sport. Somebody falls out and somebody else slides in. I’m not even saying Holly Holm couldn’t be the champion by the time Ronda comes back.
“Whoever holds that belt when Ronda’s ready (is who she’ll fight).”
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