UFC fighter Jose Aldo believes fans have seen the last of Ronda Rousey in the Octagon following her shock loss against Holly Holm at UFC 193.
Speaking to the media at Nova Uniao, the Brazilian compared Rousey's situation to that of Gina Carano, who never returned to fighting after her first-round loss against Cris Cyborg at Strikeforce. Like Rousey, Carano's career outside of the Octagon was blossoming at the time of her first loss, and she hasn't fought since.
Per MMA Fighting's Guilherme Cruz, Aldo had this to say about Rousey:
I think it’s really hard for her to return to fighting. Her career has taken a different direction. If I’m making a lot of money doing movies or something else, I’d go that direction too. Am I going to mess my face up getting punched in the face? You’re crazy [laughs]. In my opinion, I don’t think (she fights again). If she comes back, of course she can (win the title). She was always a fighter, but if I were her, I wouldn’t come back.
I see this as Gina’s situation. Gina was a great fighter and went her way to become an actress after she lost to Cyborg, and she’s getting more attention than if she was still fighting. No diet, not getting punched in the face, nothing.
Rousey was a heavy favourite going into her bout with Holm at UFC 193 as the undefeated women's bantamweight champion. Only one fighter, hated rival Miesha Tate, had ever made it out of the first round with her, and her last three wins combined took fewer than two minutes, per ESPN.
Former boxing champion Holm was in full control of their title match from the start, however, tagging Rousey with several good punches and a sharp elbow in the first round. Rousey returned to her corner bloodied and breathing heavily, and she couldn't make the necessary adjustments to find more success in the second round.
A vicious kick sent her tumbling to the canvas, ending her undefeated reign:
UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier is more optimistic than Aldo and believes Rousey will return and face Holm again, but he believes it will take her at least a year to prepare for such a fight.
Appearing on The Herd with Colin Cowherd on Tuesday (h/t MMA Fighting's David St. Martin), he said he personally wouldn't take a rematch, and the stylistic differences between the two fighters mean Rousey will need a lot of time to change her approach in the Octagon:
Holly Holm looked like a world-beater on Saturday. Going forward, they're talking about an immediate rematch for Ronda Rousey? The improvements Ronda needs to make will take much longer than the six-month break she's anticipating. She needs a year or so. I would actually not fight her back again, if I was Team Rousey.
Here's video of the interview:
As reported by Elias Cepeda of Fox Sports, Rousey has been handed a six-month medical suspension by the UFC, which can only be overturned by a head CT scan which reveals no damage. She's also not allowed to “have contact” for 45 days.
The 28-year-old could very well use the time to make some important decisions regarding her future, and following Carano's example is something she'll have to consider. Rousey has already found more mainstream success than Carano did during her fighting career, appearing in blockbuster films like Furious 7 and The Expendables 3.
If she does return to the Octagon, a rematch with Holm is likely to be made rather quickly. The shocking upset at UFC 193 went viral, and Rousey has been one of the organisation's most popular and visible athletes, so her ability to generate a ton of interest in a rematch won't be questioned.
Few will blame her if she decides her fighting days are over, however. Hollywood and mainstream stardom await, and after suffering her first loss in the Octagon, now might be the time to say goodbye to her old life.
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