Ketlen Vieira names Ronda Rousey as dream fight

Ketlen Vieira is gearing up for a women's featherweight title fight this Saturday at PFL Tampa. She takes on women's MMA legend Cris Cyborg in the main event, and while she's determined to dethrone her as PFL women's featherweight champion, there is one legend she wants to fight more than anyone.

Ketlen Vieira eyes Ronda Rousey ahead of PFL Tampa

A week ago, Ketlen Vieira was interviewed by Jake Noecker on Home of Fight. During the pair's conversation, they discussed numerous topics, including her sudden departure from the UFC. However, when talk of her dream fight was brought up, the answer was clear from Vieira. Despite the fact that she is set to challenge all-time WMMA great Cris Cyborg at PFL Tampa, where she will hope to dethrone her as women's featherweight champion, Vieira's dream opponent is none other than Ronda Rousey (13:20):

"Let's fight Ronda. I've dreamt of this fight for my entire career. That is the missing piece here for me, so to say, so let's get that one done, please."

Although Rousey recently returned from a near-decade-long retirement by beating Gina Carano via first-round submission at MVP MMA: Rousey vs. Carano back in May, and MVP recently merged with the PFL, where Vieira fights, a matchup against Rousey is unlikely. After submitting Carano, Rousey immediately announced her second retirement, expressing an eagerness to focus on family life, while citing her happiness with ending her career on her own terms. Furthermore, Vieira just isn't the kind of high-profile fighter that could draw Rousey's attention.

Don’t sleep on Ketlen Vieira heading into Saturday night 😤

Ketlen Vieira makes her PFL debut this Saturday, August 22nd as she looks to make a statement by defeating the PFL Women’s Flyweight World Champion Cris Cyborg!#PFLTampa presented by @VisitSPC | Saturday, August 22nd… pic.twitter.com/SyS3xpe1ZI

— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 19, 2026

Even if she were to somehow dethrone Cyborg as the PFL women's featherweight champion, the likelihood of Rousey returning to face her is low. After all, if Rousey isn't even interested in avenging her historic loss to Holly Holm, who knocked her out in round two at UFC 193, she's almost certainly not returning to fight Vieira, who, while serviceable as a fighter, has never sniffed either stardom or a UFC title. Regardless, Vieira can hold her head high knowing that she has faced the likes of Holm, Miesha Tate, Kayla Harrison, and in just a few days, Cyborg.