Ronda Rousey experienced one of the most dramatic falls from grace in MMA history when she lost her bantamweight title to Holly Holm at UFC 193, ending a six-fight title defense streak. Her struggles didn’t stop there. After taking a year off, she returned only to suffer an even more crushing defeat, getting knocked out by Amanda Nunes in under a minute at UFC 207. That loss ultimately led to her retiring from MMA, seemingly closing the door on a return to the Octagon.
Rousey did find success in WWE between 2018 and 2023, but her original passion for the UFC never fully reignited until now. Recently, she shared training footage on social media, noting that she is rediscovering her love for the sport. The post immediately sparked speculation that a comeback could be on the horizon. Former UFC double champion Henry Cejudo shares that sentiment, suggesting a return may be possible.
Henry Cejudo Sees Ronda Rousey as a Potential Challenge for Kayla Harrison at 135lbs
The former 135lbs champion has shared several videos in 2025 documenting her journey to get back in shape after giving birth to her second child with former UFC heavyweight Travis Browne. But this is the first time she admitted to falling back in love with MMA and the tough training it requires.
In a recent video, Rousey revealed she hadn’t hit mitts in eight years. Since then, she has been working with boxing coach AJ Matthews, showing steady progress in her pad work. Rousey reflected on her comeback, noting that she returned to the gym just eight weeks after giving birth despite her long break from the sport.
That passion has caught the attention of former UFC double champion Henry Cejudo. On his Pound 4 Pound podcast with Kamaru Usman, Cejudo shared his thoughts on the possibility of Rousey fighting again.
He said, “She rekindled that love once again. There are videos of her training. She believes that she can be the champ once again. I will say this, people don’t know this, she’s beaten Kayla Harrison in a judo competition before, now that is the reigning world champion at 135 pounds.”
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Cejudo also acknowledged the challenges. He noted that Rousey has little financial incentive to return, given she was one of the highest-paid athletes from 2013 to 2016, earned even more from the WWE and acting, and is set to receive a payout from the UFC’s antitrust lawsuit settlement.
Still, he cautioned against counting her out completely. He added, “The other thing that you’ve got to think about, too, she’s only three years older than Kayla Harrison. I wouldn’t count out Ronda. I’m not saying she’s going to beat Kayla, so let’s not start something like that, what I’m saying is you still can’t count her out.”
Usman was more hesitant about the idea at first, but later warmed to it, especially with the anticipated Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes fight looming. He pointed out that if Harrison defeats the WMMA GOAT, Rousey could become a compelling option for her next opponent.
Later in the podcast, Cejudo and Usman even brought up Rousey again while discussing the proposed UFC White House card in June 2026. Alongside big names like Conor McGregor and Jon Jones, Usman floated the possibility that Rousey could make her return to the Octagon on that stage.
However, Ronda Rousey recently ruled herself out of that prestigious opportunity. It has been nearly 3,000 days since ‘Rowdy’ last stepped into the Octagon, and at 38 years old, the prospect of a comeback, nine years removed from her final fight, remains a daunting challenge.
