The much-anticipated return will have to be anticipated another while longer.
Now we know why the UFC were so keen to get Holly Holm back in action again.
Ever since Holm KO’d Ronda at UFC 193, in Melbourne, Australia, the assumed narrative involved the defeated champion returning for July 2016’s gigantic UFC 200. There, she would take back her crown and prove to the world that she was better than ever.
In the aftermath of her comprehensive loss, Rousey did flag that she would be taking time out for other media commitments. Those commitments now appear to have stalled her comeback.
On Tuesday night, UFC president Dana White told Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports that he did not envision Rousey making it back in time for UFC 200.
The bantamweight is currently in production of two movies – Mile 22 and a remake of the Patrick Swayze CLASSIC Roadhouse. Those productions may not wrap until May/June, leaving Rousey with little time to prepare for the fight of her professional life. White commented:
“The filming of the movie got pushed back. She could do both, but the question is, should she do both? She could do both, but why should she?
“The filming is in a time frame where she’d finish before 200, but it would be cutting it too close.”
White did add, however, that Rousey will get an immediate rematch whenever she is ready to return.
Rousey fans may just have to settle for her January 23 hosting of Saturday Night Live and her next appearance in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition.
For the medium-term, Holm is the face of the bantamweight division.
