Ronda Rousey Guaranteed Title Shot In Next Fight, Injury Revealed By Dana White

After six successful title defenses, Ronda Rousey was finished by Holly Holm about seven months ago. Fans eagerly await her next fight, which was at first scheduled for UFC 200 then the historic November card at Madison Square Garden.

UFC president Dana White has revealed that the former Bantamweight champion may not fight this year and recently had surgery on her knee. “I’m hoping we’re going to get Ronda back this year. She actually just had surgery yesterday on her knee. Nothing serious, just get in there, scope it and clean it out a little bit. She feels great. Her spirits are great. She’s been training,” Dana White told ESPN.

White also confirms that Ronda Rousey gets an immediate title shot when she returns. At this point, that means her first match-up will be against Miesha Tate. At UFC 196, Tate stopped Holly Holm by getting the fight to the ground in the 5^th round; she sunk in a rear naked choke, which Holm refused to tap to.

Tate has her first defense against Amanda Nunes at UFC 200. She may also defend her belt a second time later this year, which leaves Ronda’s potential opponent in limbo, depending on who has the belt when she returns.

Ronda Rousey has defeated Tate twice by armbar submission. Stylistically, Ronda is a hard fight for Miesha Tate who is effective on the ground at wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. This is also where Rousey gets her armbar that finished Tate twice.

Knee injuries are common in MMA, and Ronda has dealt with them before; once when she was 16-years-old and after the Alexis Davis fight at UFC 170.

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Dana White also commented on a potential match-up between Holm-Rousey, which gives the UFC star a chance to avenge her loss.

“Injuries happen in this sport and a fight is made. Somebody falls out and somebody else slides in,” Mr. White explained. “I’m not even saying Holly Holm couldn’t be the champion by the time Ronda comes back. So, whoever holds that belt when Ronda’s ready.”

.@danawhite joins #TheHerd to discuss Conor McGregor's next fight, latest on Ronda Rousey & #UFC199. pic.twitter.com/4pYtgDFna4

— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) June 2, 2016

White also notes that Rousey is in good spirits and she has been photographed training frequently with her boyfriend, Travis Browne, who also trained at Glendale Fighting Club under Edmond Tarverdyan.

Ronda Rousey was visibly upset earlier this year in an Ellen interview where she told the host that she thought about suicide after the loss to Holm. Having never suffered defeat, the former champion was honest about how it made her feel. “Honestly, my thought, I was in the medical room and I was down in the corner, and I was like, ‘What am I anymore if I’m not this?'” Ronda told Ellen. “I was literally sitting there and thinking about killing myself, and that exact second I’m like, ‘I’m nothing. What do I do anymore?’ and ‘No one gives a (explicit) about me anymore without this.'”

In an exclusive interview with ESPN, she talked about how she felt after the loss. “I just feel so embarrassed. How I fought after that is such an embarrassing representation of myself. I wasn’t even fucking there.”

Outside of fighting, Ronda has become a feminist icon with her “D.N.Bs” speech going viral. She criticized women who lack ambition and only seek men for financial stability. Ronda Rousey also defends her body explaining that her athletic physique is not masculine, rather it’s built for a purpose.

Ronda Rousey also had a feud with Floyd Mayweather citing his history of alleged domestic abuse. Her current boyfriend Browne was also accused of domestic violence by his then wife Jenna Webb. He was briefly suspended by the UFC while they conducted an investigation, which found “inconclusive evidence”and reinstated the heavyweight fighter. Ronda Rousey’s boyfriend has not had any charges brought against him since.

Some popular fantasy match-ups for Ronda Rousey include a rematch with Holly Holm and Cyborg who had a dominant UFC debut.

[Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images]