Ronda Rousey on UFC return, Mike Tyson talks dark side of boxing return, Israel Adesanya reacts to injury claim: MMA News Roundup
Ronda Rousey gave a definitive statement on a potential UFC return amid a long-running rumor. Mike Tyson, meanwhile, discussed how making a comeback to the ring brings out a part of himself he isn't too fond of.
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Ronda Rousey speaks on potential UFC return
It has been rumored time and again that ufc-title-kids-also-pipeline-a-close-source" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-is-sponsored="false">Ronda Rousey will return to UFC, especially during her breaks from WWE. She has been linked with opponents like Holly Holm, Miesha Tate and Amanda Nunes (back when she was not retired) for high-profile rematches.
However, 'Rowdy' has no such plans, as her health will not support it. Speaking with Chris Van Vliet on the INSIGHT podcast, she said:
"Every couple [of] years … the same rumor comes out. It’s nice to feel missed, I guess. But it’s not happening. I’m not neurologically fit to compete anymore at the highest level. I just can’t. You just get to a level where the neurological injuries you take accumulate over time. They don’t get better."
Rousey's early UFC retirement after only two losses has been a topic of discussion in the MMA community. But she feels she hung up her fighting gloves at the right time, as it was her "responsibility to age gracefully" because she represents the sport.
"If I’m rolling around in a wheelchair, people aren’t going to let their little girls go and do it. You never know when you take one hit too many until decades later. You see these guys who are like punch drunk.”
Check out Ronda Rousey's comments below (31:00):
"It’s unfortunate that I have to fight" - Mike Tyson on boxing Jake Paul
Mike Tyson isn't a big fan of the person he becomes when he goes into fight mode. Things have been more or less cordial between him and Jake Paul in the buildup to their controversial fight. But it's only a matter of time before his mean streak makes its way to the surface, the boxing legend said in an appearance on Logan Paul's IMPAULSIVE podcast:
"Every time I drink or get ready to fight I break out in handcuffs. It’s unfortunate that I have to fight and be that guy. I wish I could stop that guy. That guy haunts me. I wish that guy died... I just think of when I was younger and people bullied me."
He also added that he has been using psychedelic mushrooms while training for Paul and will continue to do so.
Israel Adesanya reacts to Alex Pereira's injury claims
Alex Pereira has claimed that Israel Adesanya may have been injured at UFC 305 against Dricus du Plessis. 'Poatan' came to this conclusion observing the lack of Adesanya's signature inside leg kick in the fight.
Reacting to his kickboxing and UFC arch rival's comments, 'The Last Stylebender' took to X and hinted that the Brazilian may have been right:
"It’s weird how this guy knows me. …it’s like we’ve spent hours studying each other’s moves and fought multiple times or sumn’. I mean that."