Ronda Rousey Return: Rousey Expected to Lose In UFC Return Fight?
After more than one year in the shelves, former long-time UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey will be making her much-awaited Octagon return.
"Rowdy" will be facing current champion Amanda Nunes, following a stipulation of UFC president Dana White about her getting an immediate title shot upon return. The two women will square off at UFC 207 in December 30 in Las Vegas.
Many observers have already deemed Rousey to be on the compromising end, despite being the early favorite in various betting odds. Most point to Nunes' versatility in striking, as well as her solid grappling background, being a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. But according to former champion Miesha Tate, the fight mindset coming into the contest would be the most important factor.
"Cupcake" has had the opportunity to face both women, fighting Rousey twice and Nunes most recently at UFC 200, when she, unfortunately, lost her belt. And according to her, the contest could go either way, depending on which version of Ronda Rousey shows up.
"If we're getting Ronda at the best she's ever been, then I say Ronda," Holm said via Yahoo! Sports. "But if we're getting Ronda coming back kind of with a half-ass mentality, kind of like I have to do this one time and she's got a lot of ring rust - I mean, is she still punch-shy since Holly?"
Rousey has experienced her most devastating defeat in the hands of 19-time world boxing champion Holly Holm at UFC 193 last November in Melbourne, Australia. Being the first loss of her career, "Rowdy" went as far as having suicidal thoughts after the Holm fight. With those variables in mind, Tate says she is leaning a little towards Nunes to come out victorious.
I really just don't know what we're going to get with Ronda. I know what we're going to get with Amanda. I just have no idea what we're going to get with Ronda," Tate said.
