Ronda Rousey is without a doubt this generation’s Mike Tyson. Young, ferocious, dominant and aggressive. And when Holly Holm stopped her three weeks ago at UFC 193, it was as shocking as Tyson’s fall to Buster Douglas in 1990. UFC president Dana White however, believes that just like Tyson, Rousey will come back even more popular from her first professional defeat.
“It’s crazy, because you win and lose in the fight game,” White said on ESPN’s First Take. “It happens. It’s funny because we were comparing her to Tyson, who had this invincibility. She was a Tyson. It was never more true than when she lost. Because when she lost, everybody was shocked. A hundred million people were talking about it on social media. And I actually think that Ronda Rousey is bigger now after the loss than she was before the fight. And there’s gonna be a rematch.” (Transcription via MMA Fighting)
White didn’t give any details on when such a rematch can be expected to take place. According to the UFC’s head honcho, Rousey is “completely healthy” as a doctor’s check attested earlier this week. However, White won’t pressure Rousey to return and instead give her “time to relax”.
“You have to give Ronda the time,” White said. “When Ronda is ready to come back. There’s literally no pressure on her whatsoever to think about anything as far as fighting goes.”