Dana White Says He’s Not Interested In Ronda Rousey’s UFC Comeback: ‘She Refuses To Retire’

Dana White knows Ronda Rousey is planning a return to the octagon, but admits he is not paying much attention to this.

Ronda Rousey UFC return news

The UFC President said he believes the 30-year-old former women’s bantamweight champion is financially stable, so he is confused as to why she would want to make a comeback.

Rousey (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) earned six consecutive titles from 2013-2015, and hasn’t fought since December 2016, when she suffered back-to-back title losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes. The 2008 Olympic bronze medalist in women’s judo — who made her MMA pro debut in 2011 — continues to undergo random U.S. Anti-Doping Agency drug testing because she hasn’t yet officially retired.

“She has not retired,” White said on Tuesday. “USADA is still popping up at her house testing her, but she refuses to retire.”

This raises the evident question: Why not?

“I don’t know. I honestly don’t know,” White said. ” … She’s not ready to say, ‘I quit.’ She’s not ready to say, ‘I’m done,’ for whatever reason. She doesn’t tick like everyone else ticks.”

In recent years, Rousey has signed a book deal, and landed minor movie roles and other mainstream media appearances, as well as endorsement deals. Among the films she has appeared in are Furious 7 (of The Fast and the Furious franchise), The Expendables 3, and the 2015 Entourage movie.

Despite Rousey’s two losses, which knocked her down to No. 4 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA women’s bantamweight rankings, White knows her return would still likely garner plenty of interest, though not from him.

“I wouldn’t want to see it,” White told MMAjunkie. “I don’t want it to have to happen. I care about her, and she’s got enough money. She’s got enough money and all of that stuff. I don’t want to see it happen.”

Rousey also recently married UFC heavyweight Travis Browne.

In other MMA news, the annual end-of-year UFC 219 women’s featherweight matchup at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas was recently announced: Holm will face Cris “Cyborg” Justino on Dec. 30. Justino said in September she would like to face Rousey one day, although in a WWE ring. 

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 22: Ronda Rousey speaks during Reebok Women’s Luncheon, hosted by Ronda Rousey, on March 22, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Reebok)