Ronda Rousey has suggested her loss to Holly Holm at UFC 193 could be "the best thing that ever happened" to her.
According to Inside Halton, Rousey spoke at Reebok's Luncheon for Inspirational Women and said the defeat gives her room to grow as a fighter:
When it comes to challenges, I honestly believe that things happen for a reason. At the time yes it's hard on a personal, emotional level and it's hard to look past what's happening to the future, but you have to believe in yourself because down the line in two, five, 10 years' time you'll look back and think that was actually the best thing that ever happened to me.
Every single setback it's not the end of the world, it's just the beginning of that lesson. That had to happen for me to learn these certain things and it's not about being completely infallible, it's about getting better and there's no room for improvement in perfect.
Rousey lost the first match of her career and her bantamweight title to Holm in November when she was knocked out by an impressive kick to the head.
Holm subsequently lost the title in her first attempt to defend it, submitting to Miesha Tate in the fifth round of a hard-fought contest.
MMA Fighting's Shaheen Al-Shatti revealed Rowdy's response to the result, while Ariel Helwani of the same outlet believes the 29-year-old will have enjoyed a significant confidence boost:
Dana White says he texted Rousey the result of Holm-Tate. She responded: "Back to work for me."
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) March 6, 2016
The $ Holm-Rousey rematch is on ice but this has to be a huge confidence booster for Rousey. The rivalry has a new layer now.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) March 6, 2016
Per David St. Martin of MMA Fighting, Rousey is "expected" to take on Tate—whom she has beaten twice already—in the autumn with the chance of regaining her belt.
Tate has been stoking the fires in the wake of her victory over Holm, per Damon Martin of Fox Sports and St. Martin:
Miesha Tate says she has no desire to ever be friends with Ronda Rousey. Now or later.#UFC
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) March 18, 2016
No love lost - Miesha Tate -- Ronda Wants to Get Knocked Up ... I'll Knock Her Out https://t.co/ugO6XBVR33
— David St. Martin (@SaintMMA) March 8, 2016
Rousey's defeat to Holm was a dent in her ambitions and undoubtedly a bruise to the previously unbeaten star's ego having displayed such a confident persona throughout her career.
According to St. Martin, in February Rowdy said on The Ellen DeGeneres Show she had suicidal thoughts in the wake of the defeat, but from her latest comments it seems she has adopted a positive attitude toward her setback and one that can help her improve ahead of her next stint in the Octagon.
The bantamweight division is wide open now and if she does take on Tate and reclaim her belt, she'll likely be defending it against Holm once again.
There are exciting times ahead in the UFC, and a resurgent Rousey battling it out with Holm and Tate will only increase the hype surrounding the women's division.
