Dana White sounds off on Ronda Rousey, Brock Lesnar UFC returns
Contrary to what recent reports from the Daily Mail say about Ronda Rousey’s next career move, UFC president Dana White believes there’s zero chance the former women’s bantamweight champion returns to the fight game.
During a recent “Dana White Contender Series” post-fight news conference, White shut down speculation that Rousey was planning a UFC comeback now that her contract with WWE is up.
“Ronda’s having kids,” White told reporters. “Ronda built this whole thing that’s going on with the women here, then her dream was to go to the WWE. She went there and did everything that she did there and achieved. She’s made s---loads of money. She’s moved on with her life.”
Rousey (12-2) hasn’t fought in the UFC since December 2016 when she lost to then-bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes by first-round TKO. It was just the second loss of Rousey’s career and ended an eight-fight run in the UFC in which she won five of her first six fights in the first round, including four victories in 1:06 or less.
Conversely, Rousey isn’t the only former UFC champion rumored to have been targeted for the company’s upcoming super-card, UFC 300, in early 2024.
Many began to wonder if Brock Lesnar’s future involved a UFC return after Cody Rhodes revealed Lesnar was working with a strength and conditioning coach prior to their match at WWE SummerSlam in early August. However, White, again, shut that idea down as well.
“I think Brock’s done,” White told Sports Illustrated. “I don’t think he ever comes back.”
Lesnar’s last UFC fight was a no-contest against Mark Hunt at UFC 200 in July 2016. It was originally a unanimous decision win for Lesnar but was later overturned after he tested positive for a banned substance after the fight.
The former UFC heavyweight champion went 4-3-1 during his UFC run with wins over former champions Randy Couture, Frank Mir, and Shane Carwin.
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