5 opponents for Ronda Rousey if she returns to UFC
Throughout her career, Ronda Rousey was a key figure in women’s MMA. The former UFC women’s bantamweight champion was an Olympic bronze medalist prior to her transition to mixed martial arts. Not only did she adapt to MMA, but she became one of the biggest draws in the sport.
The Hall of Famer began her career in 2011 and it didn’t take long before she was a household name in the sport. She became Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion in her fifth professional fight and was promoted to UFC champion when the promotion merged.
For years, 'Rowdy' had an aura of invincibility as she made her fights look easy. But that soon faded after back-to-back knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes.
‘Rowdy’ has since transitioned to pro wrestling, where she is currently WWE SmackDown women’s champion. Despite being a WWE superstar, a UFC return for a one-off fight shouldn’t be ruled out.
Like Brock Lesnar, she garners a lot of attention, so a one-off would be lucrative for all involved. This list will look at five opponents for Ronda Rousey if she returns to the UFC.
#5. Ronda Rousey vs. Aspen Ladd
No.7-ranked women’s bantamweight Aspen Ladd would be a suitable opponent and a great test should Rousey return to the UFC. Despite her 9-3 MMA record, the 27-year-old has been tested inside the octagon. She has fought some of the top bantamweights and remains competitive.
Ladd has been an entertaining fighter throughout her young career so far. Six of her nine wins have come via TKO, which shows that she is committed to finishing her opponents.
She is currently riding a two-fight losing streak after losing back-to-back unanimous decisions to Norma Dumont and Raquel Pennington. But, it’s important to note that the bout against Dumont was contested at 145 lbs.
The bout could have earned her a featherweight title shot because the UFC doesn’t have rankings for the division.
It would be a winnable fight for ‘Rowdy’ and could entice her to return. It could be a great grappling battle, so she may feel more confident in her jiu-jitsu skills. Meanwhile, Ladd’s striking could be effective and could see her become a bigger star at the former champion’s expense.