Beatriz Mesquita Calls Out Ronda Rousey – ‘I’m A Very Big Fan’

Following her win at UFC Rio, bantamweight Beatriz Mesquita is ready to face Ronda Rousey if the latter returns to the UFC.

Mesquita secured a second-round submission victory over Irina Alekseeva at UFC Rio, taking her record to 6-0. After the fight, the 34-year-old was quick to target one of the sport’s biggest names in Rousey. Ronda recently uploaded footage of an MMA training session, noting that her “love for the sport was being repaired.” Rousey left the UFC after her stoppage loss to Amanda Nunes in 2016, her second KO loss in a row. However, her training clips have fueled rumors of a possible return, potentially on the rumored UFC White House card next June. Mesquita was keen on being one of Rousey’s opponents if she did come back.

“I’m a very big fan of Ronda, too. Ronda Rousey, she made history in MMA and she opened a lot of doors for all the women that are coming out, as well as me. I respect a lot all her history and everything she did to [help] women’s MMA become what it is today. So I really hope she comes back, everybody enjoys her fighting a lot, and I think that would be amazing.

“The armbar battle, even though I haven’t got my armbars yet, but who knows, maybe fighting her it’s going to come. I really respect her, I’m a big fan of everything she did, and I’m just happy if she’s coming back, it’s going to be amazing for the MMA world and especially for the women,” Mesquita said 

The Case

Mesquita arguably deserves a high-profile fight because her submission credentials are arguably unmatched in the history of women’s MMA, making her a unique threat to Rousey. Mesquita is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Hall of Famer, holding a record ten IBJJF World Championship titles at black belt, as well as an ADCC World Championship crown. Her perfect 6−0 MMA record, capped by a second-round submission win in her UFC debut, shows her grappling translates seamlessly to the octagon.

Despite her superior skills, Mesquita’s lack of longevity in MMA and her absence from the bantamweight rankings makes her a debatable choice. She is still a promotional newcomer, and her 6−0 record lacks the necessary scale to demand a fight against a superstar like Rousey. Rousey’s comeback is purely a business move, and Mesquita offers a fight with a grappler who respects Rousey’s legacy but poses the ultimate threat.