Ronda Rousey revealed she spoke with Dana White about a potential UFC return before ultimately signing with Jake Paul’s MMA promotion.
The former bantamweight champion and WWE star said she reached out directly to White to explore a comeback fight. Those discussions, however, did not lead to an agreement.
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Her comments provide additional context behind her decision to return to competition outside the UFC.
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Rousey says UFC talks “didn’t exactly work out”
Ronda Rousey explained that she contacted Dana White about fighting again under the UFC banner. The opponent she proposed was former women’s MMA star Gina Carano.
Despite the historical significance of the matchup, Rousey told ESPN that the promotion did not move forward with the idea.
“I reached out to Dana about Gina, but it didn’t exactly work out with the UFC.”
Carano has not competed in professional MMA since 2009 after her loss to Cris Cyborg, and the potential bout never advanced into formal negotiations. The UFC ultimately chose not to pursue the fight.
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Jake Paul deal followed stalled UFC discussions
After those talks stalled, Rousey later aligned with Jake Paul’s MMA venture as part of her return plans. The move represents a significant shift given her role in helping establish the UFC’s women’s divisions.
Rousey was the organization’s first female champion and one of its most prominent stars during her title run. Since stepping away, speculation had persisted about whether she would reenter the UFC fold.
By disclosing the failed discussions with White, Rousey confirmed that a UFC comeback was at least considered before she committed elsewhere. The revelation clarifies the sequence of events leading to her return.
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Although the proposed Carano fight did not materialize, Rousey’s remarks indicate that the possibility of returning to the UFC was revisited before closing again.
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