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RM211

Sicc OG
Feb 10, 2006
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UFC boss: After minor knee surgery, ex-champ Ronda Rousey's return could come in 2017

Ronda Rousey’s anticipated UFC return won’t take place at UFC 200 in July. Nor will it be part of UFC 205, the organization’s debut event in New York, which is set for November. In fact, according to UFC President Dana White, it might not happen this year at all.

A minor knee surgery has thrown another wrench into the comeback plans of Rousey (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC), a former UFC champion and the No. 3-ranked fighter in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA women’s bantamweight rankings. Now she might not see action again until 2017.

“I’m hoping we’re going to get Ronda back this year,” White told ESPN’s “SportsCenter” earlier today. “She actually just had surgery (on Wednesday) on her knee. Nothing serious – just get in there, scope it and clean it out a little bit. She feels great, her spirits are great, and she’s been training. So if she fights, I’m hoping that she either fights in December. Or if not, she’d probably fight on the New Year’s show or beginning of the year or something.”



Rousey, 29, has largely been out of the spotlight since she suffered an upset second-round knockout loss to No. 2-ranked Holly Holm (10-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) at UFC 193 in November. The defeat ended Rousey’s nearly three-year title reign and stripped her of the distinction as the only 135-pound female champion in UFC history.

Although Rousey has been keeping occupied with Hollywood projects and other outside-the-octagon ventures in the seven months since she last fought, White said “Rowdy” is preparing for a comeback and very much plans to compete again.

What once seemed like a one-woman show in the women’s bantamweight division has evolved into a hot-potato passing of the title since Rousey’s reign ended. Holm didn’t make it through one defense and lost the belt to current No. 1-ranked Miesha Tate (18-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC) via fifth-round submission loss in a memorable title bout at UFC 196 in March.

Tate will try to hold on to the gold better than Holm did when she meets No. 6-ranked Amanda Nunes (12-4 MMA, 5-1 UFC) at UFC 200 on July 9. What happens after that remains to be seen, but regardless of who is holding the strap, Rousey will get an immediate title shot upon her return, White said.

“If Miesha Tate is still the champion, (Rousey) will fight Miesha Tate,” White said. “Whoever has the belt, Ronda Rousey will fight (her). You never know; injuries happen in this sport, and maybe somebody falls out and someone goes in. I’m not even saying Holly Holm couldn’t be the champion by the time Ronda comes back.”
 
Jan 29, 2005
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PHX
lol UFC is salty as fuck, took Ariel Helwani's credentials and booted him out of the building for breaking the Brock Lesnar news hours before the UFC did.

[ame]https://twitter.com/arielhelwani/status/739324103061032960[/ame]