Dana White's backpedaling is nearly as impressive as Holly Holm during her shocking upset victory over Ronda Rousey for the UFC women's bantamweight championship two months ago.
One month after declaring "It's Rousey" when discussing Holm's next fight, the UFC president recanted Wednesday, saying "Holly Holm will fight before she fights Ronda," on Fox Sports 1's "UFC Tonight," mmajunkie.com reported.
Holly Holm Doubts Whether Ronda Rousey Even Wants A Rematch
White made sure to head off any speculation that the change of plans with Holm leaves Rousey's fighting future in doubt.
"You will see Ronda Rousey fight again," White said. "Ronda has dedicated the last three-plus years to working hard here. Not just fighting, but promoting and taking the sport and the UFC to a whole other level. Ronda has some well-deserved time off but she will fight this year."
Ronda Rousey's Nutritionist Fears For Her Safety In A Rematch
Considerable concern had arisen about whether Rousey would be physically -- or emotionally -- recovered from her second-round knockout loss at the hands (and feet) of Holm on Nov. 15 in Australia. A rematch between the two was tentatively talked about for UFC 200 in Las Vegas.
White did not name Holm's next opponent, but it's widely assumed Miesha Tate will be next for the new champion. According to mmajunkie, UFC 197 in March doesn't have a main event, and a Holm-Tate matchup would make sense.
In a Dec. 9 interview with The Los Angeles Times, White scoffed at a suggestion from Holm's camp that Rousey might not be ready for a rematch in July and that Holm wanted to fight before then.
"We're real concerned with his opinion," White said in a sarcastic tone about Lenny Fresquez, Holm's manager.
White added that Rousey is one of his close friends and that he had talked to her as much as seven times per day in the weeks following her loss.
"Ronda is the fiercest competitor I have ever met in my life and she's also very proud," White told the Times. "What made the world love Ronda is that Ronda absolutely 100 percent knew she was not going to lose. ... People rallied around this powerful female figure.
"Ronda's never lost a fight. She will overcome it and be back."
But he told mmafighting.com on Monday that he has not talked to Rousey about her fighting future.
"I honestly don't know what we're going to do," White said. "I've got to talk to Ronda. I haven't had one business conversation with her since her fight."
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