Ronda Rousey mentioned she’s “discovering my love” for MMA after years of retirement however UFC CEO Dana White isn’t positive meaning a possible return. But, top-ranked bantamweight Norma Dumont doesn’t purchase a possible return to the octagon.
Dumont, who hopes to earn a shot on the 135-pound title with a win over Ketlen Vieira this weekend at UFC Vegas 110, could be shocked if the previous UFC champion — one of many greatest celebrity in UFC historical past — decides to place the gloves again on to face the elite of the 135-pound class.
“I’ll wager something that Ronda Rousey received’t step within the octagon in opposition to any top-5 fighter within the division,” Dumont informed MMA Combating. “She’s not coming again, guys. She’s not. She was enormous in her time, she acquired her advantages, achieved all the things, however she’s not coming again to face this new era. No likelihood.”
Rousey was final seen within the octagon in December 2016, when she misplaced to then-champion Amanda Nunes by way of first-round knockout. That was her first bout in 13 months, getting back from a brutal knockout loss to Holly Holm in Australia. “Rowdy” was unstoppable previous to these bouts, profitable 12 in a row with 11 first-round stoppages.
“The ladies now are twice her measurement, with means higher putting and grappling — not higher than hers essentially, however means past what existed in her period,’ Dumont mentioned. “They’re knockout artists, enormous ladies. Kayla [Harrison is] huge, along with her judo. Truthfully, I don’t assume Ronda might beat Kayla in MMA. With Amanda coming again, I don’t see any matchup that is smart for Ronda’s return. I actually don’t assume she’s coming again. I feel these are simply rumors for individuals to have enjoyable with and preserve that ‘what if’ power alive. When an athlete retires early, individuals all the time surprise in the event that they’ll come again.”
Dumont mentioned she’s probably not “involved” about Rousey coming again and delaying her title hopes, nor with the potential signing of Larissa Pacheco. The 2-time PFL champion has a historical past with present UFC champion Harrison, going 1-2 in opposition to her in PFL, and have become a free agent this week after being launched by PFL.
“I don’t know if she’ll come again to the UFC or not, however I feel she’s a really attention-grabbing identify for the division,” Dumont mentioned of Pacheco. “I feel the UFC ought to carry her again as a result of she’d simply be top-5 and a reliable title contender. From an funding standpoint, I feel it’s one thing the UFC ought to do, although I don’t assume they are going to. They’ve had loads of probabilities to signal Pacheco, and for some motive, I don’t know what, they haven’t. However I consider they need to as a result of she’d add actual worth to the division. That’s precisely what this weight class wants.”
Pacheco’s return to the octagon would enhance the bantamweight division, Dumont mentioned, including extra identify worth to a weight class that presently has Harrison and former champions Julianna Peña and Raquel Pennington, plus a returning “The Lioness” Nunes and up-and-comers like Bia Mesquita. Dumont does surprise, nevertheless, if Harrison is in for a future within the UFC.
“If she loses to Amanda, I feel she retires instantly,” Dumont mentioned. “As a result of on high of the loss, there’s the brutal weight minimize. That complete mixture of weight cuts and defeat, particularly relying on the way it occurs, like if she will get knocked out, I feel she may not come again. However I’ve additionally heard from individuals near her that she’s eager about staying energetic and defending the belt. I simply don’t know. We’ve additionally heard from her personal mouth, contained in the octagon, that the one motive she didn’t retire was as a result of she nonetheless had that battle with Amanda to do. So, I feel it’s actually open.”
