Ronda Rousey Inspired By Mike Tyson’s Comeback

UFC analyst Din Thomas is against former UFC Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey making a return to the UFC based on her previous comments about her troubles with concussions.

Rousey left the UFC following knockout losses to Holly Holm (2015 at UFC 193) and Amanda Nunes (2016 at UFC 207), as she lost her bantamweight title. Rousey was open about the struggles that contributed to her decline, specifically attributing it to concussions. However, Rousey has been sharing online training clips, indicating she has found a renewed love for MMA. This activity has fueled rumors of a possible UFC comeback. However, according to Thomas, he is struggling to see how any athletic commission could justifiably grant her the license to compete again.

“She shouldn’t even be cleared. How irresponsible would it be for a fight organization to hear all that then put her in a fight? To me, it almost sounds like you might’ve leaked that stuff in hopes they don’t put you back in a fight. You can’t play with those issues. It wouldn’t be good for the sport. It would be a real bad look on the sport to have some complaining about those type of issues, and then you, knowing that, you still put her in a fight. If that’s the case, we’ve got to keep her out of the Octagon,” Thomas said

Tyson’s Return

However, Rousey recently said that she has been inspired by Mike Tyson’s comeback. Iron Mike boxed professionally for the first time since 2005 when he faced off against Jake Paul at 58. While he lost a unanimous decision, he managed to last the distance against someone who was around three decades younger than him. Tyson will also box again next year when he faces Floyd Mayweather in a December exhibition. Rousey has not ruled out a return. 

“They’re like ‘you look so good!’ Because I’m the greatest ever. Of course, this is what happens when I train! I look great. Sorry. I don’t have to have a plan for world domination in mind. But Mike Tyson coming back and being the biggest fight of last year just kind of proves that I don’t think anyone’s ever really done. So it just kind of came from a place of just joy, and I just want to do it just because I enjoy it, instead of this is what I feel obligated to do or this is what I’m being coerced to be doing for one reason or another,” Rousey said

However, a UFC return would immediately place her in a top-level division where she previously suffered brutal knockouts. Tyson’s comeback was largely a lucrative spectacle and an exhibition bout against a non-professional boxer in Jake Paul. The objective for Tyson was to prove his enduring legacy and earn a significant paycheck, not to compete for a world championship against a prime, elite-level contender.