Written at MMAJunkies.com
Are you getting antsy for something definitive on when Ronda Rousey will be back in the octagon?
Well, you can keep waiting. And if you were hopeful she’d make her way onto the historic UFC 205 card that will be the promotion’s debut in New York at Madison Square Garden, it sounds like your hopes have been dashed.
UFC President Dana White, on Tuesday’s “UFC Unfiltered” podcast with Matt Serra and Jim Norton, said Rousey won’t be a part of UFC 205, which takes place Nov. 12 at MSG with a main card on pay-per-view.
“She’s definitely not fighting in New York,” White said. “I’m actually going to start building the New York card this week. Maybe when I get the New York card done, I’ll jump back on with you guys and announce it. But nothing yet (for Rousey).”
At one point, ex-bantamweight champ Rousey’s (10-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) comeback was anticipated for UFC 200 in July, first against Holly Holm, and then pushed to the year’s end against longtime rival Miesha Tate after Tate (18-6 MMA, 5-3 UFC) became women’s bantamweight champion.
But at UFC 200, Amanda Nunes (13-4 MMA, 6-1 UFC) took out Tate to win the title. And a couple weeks later, Holm (10-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) lost to Valentina Shevchenko (13-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC), which may have taken the former champ out of the running for a rematch with Rousey, whom she knocked out at UFC 193 in November 2015.
Earlier this year, White said he was hopeful for Rousey’s return sometime this calendar year.
“Ronda’s going to come out and let us know when she’s ready to fight again,” White told Dan Patrick in May. “I would really like her to fight this year. I hope she does.”
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