Dana White revealed on the UFC Unfiltered podcast that he believes Ronda Rousey’s MMA career is over.
“I think she’s probably done” White stated on the show. “She’s going to ride off into the sunset and live her life outside of fighting.”
Dana White on Rousey’s Future
“She’s got a lot of money and she’s never going to need money again. Unless you spend money like crazy, unless you spend money like Floyd [Mayweather], you’re not going to need money again when you have the kind of money like Ronda has. She’s not a big spender. She has a cute place down in Venice, California, and I think she wants to move to a more desolate place and do her thing.”- Dana White
Since her loss to Amanda Nunes, White has stated he would support Rousey should she choose not to fight again.
After UFC 207, White relayed his post-fight conversation with Rousey. “I told her, ‘I love you so much, and whatever you want to do next, I got your back.'”
Those words make it sound as though White was confident then that Rousey will not be returning to MMA.
If White believes Ronda should retire it wouldn’t be the first time he has encouraged a big-name star to do so. This was also the case with Chuck Liddell, Matt Hughes and Forrest Griffin. He bribed all 3 of them with UFC office jobs to do so, though only Forrest survived the WME-IMG layoffs.
Ronda Rousey to WWE?
After her comeback attempt was thwarted in 48 seconds by Amanda Nunes, many have speculated as to what could be next for Rousey.
Stephanie McMahon, daughter of WWE Chairman of the Board Vince McMahon, had been vocal about signing Rousey, but has since been quiet following her loss at UFC 207.
Following her quick defeat at the hands of Nunes however, current ESPN broadcaster and former WWE personality, Jonathan Coachman was quick to state the WWE would no longer be interested in Rousey.
Sorry no chance. You can’t bring in her at any point. Perception matters. That performance mattered. https://t.co/0HGPgVNLod
— Jonathan Coachman (@TheCoachESPN) December 31, 2016
Michael listen to me. It will NEVER happen. They are not in the business of bringing in a broken star and rebuilding her. https://t.co/JUOAVig2ov
— Jonathan Coachman (@TheCoachESPN) December 31, 2016
The obvious rebuttal to Coachman however, is the success that Brock Lesnar had returning to WWE in 2012 after brutal losses to both Cain Velasquez and Alistair Overeem. Speaking of Brock Lesnar, the WWE-contracted performer’s suspension will be up this July, possibly allowing for him to fight in the UFC again. Perhaps Rousey’s UFC contract and Lesnar’s WWE one could be swapped.
Furthermore, Ronda Rousey’s career in Hollywood has come to a crashing halt as well. Movies featuring Rousey have been either cancelled or indefinitely delayed, and some are speculating this is because of growing concerns over her acting ability.
As mentioned by White on UFC Unfiltered however, Rousey has enough money to be set for life. She doesn’t necessarily need a new career to fall back on.
Hear Dana White Comment on Rousey’s Future Below
“I’m happy for her man. She came in, she changed the world. She put female fighting on the map.”– Dana White on Ronda Rousey
