“I’ll tell you this, to be brutally honest with you, as a fan, I love her attitude and I love that. As the business side, I absolutely hate it. Holly vs. Ronda is the biggest fight in UFC history, without a doubt. I think this thing does close to two million buys, and she’s going in Saturday night against Miesha Tate, who A., is hungry and wants that belt so bad, and B., stylistically matches up very well to give her a tough night. So it’s going to be interesting.”
-Dana White talks to Jim Rome about the Holly Holm vs. Miesha Tate fight at UFC 196, and why he doesn’t like that they’re risking a potentially massive Holm-Ronda Rousey rematch (transcribed by MMAFighting.com).
Penick’s Analysis: It’s an understandable stance, but they also had no other choice but to give Holm another challenger. Though they’re putting an October/November date on Rousey’s return, there’s no guarantee that happens, and Holm is the active champion now. Sure it’s risky, but if she beats Tate the Rousey fight remains just as big as it was. Even if she were to lose, and Tate-Rousey III happened first, Holm coming back for the title could still be a big fight were Rousey to regain it. With that said, Rousey may yet want Holm again regardless whether the belt is on the line or not, though that certainly would make it the lowest level option available to them. Regardless, for Holm to stake claim to that top spot and keep it, she’s got others to beat in the division, and Tate’s at the top of that list with Rousey out of the picture.
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