5 potential blockbuster matchups for Ronda Rousey if she returns to UFC
Ronda Rousey is the biggest star in the history of female combat sports. She is a former UFC women's bantamweight champion who has also gained fame from her time in the WWE. While she has not competed in MMA since 2016, she recently indicated she could be tempted to return to the octagon.
On The Kurt Angle Show, Rousey suggested she might return to the UFC for a specific opponent: Gina Carano. Carano never competed in the UFC but was one of the pioneers of women's MMA. As such, Rousey is interested in the bout as a sign of respect for the fighter who inspired her so greatly.
Gina Carano and Ronda Rousey are Talking Seriously About Fighting Each Other barstoolsports.com/blog/3423208/gā¦ https://t.co/ozLDDBgaFS
While it would be awesome to see Rousey return to the UFC, there are definitely other match-ups that would get fans more excited. Here are five potential blockbuster fights for Ronda Rousey if she returns to UFC:
#5. Ronda Rousey vs. Valentina Shevchenko
In Ronda Rousey's absence, Valentina Shevchenko has taken up the mantle as the most dominant champion in women's MMA, if not MMA in general. She has become one of the biggest names on the roster, so she would make a lot of sense as a potential opponent for Rousey.
Shevchenko may be the Flyweight Champion, but she has fought at bantamweight in the past, expressing that she has no problem doing so again. A bigger concern is how good she is. Rousey struggled towards the end of her last run with the UFC, so taking on such a talented fighter right away may not be the best choice.
With her win at #UFC275, Valentina Shevchenko passes Ronda Rousey for the most consecutive title defenses in a female weight class š
(via @BulletValentina) https://t.co/s41aiQPot0
However, Rousey has never shied away from taking on the best. She doesn't appear to be a fighter who fears her opponents, so she may not be put off by Shevchenko's form. If that's the case, a clash between these two all-time greats would be sure to get fans everywhere tuning in to watch.