UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta discussed the expected rematch between Holly Holm and Ronda Rousey this week, and continued pressing the plan of a UFC 200 meeting in July.
In an interview with FoxSports.com, Fertitta explained that Rousey has two film commitments early in 2016, but feels she’s going to be ready to go by the July 9 date.
“I went out to see her in L.A. Had some real good conversations with her. She is, as you would expect, very disappointed,” Fertitta said. “Distraught, to some extent. She’s never lost. She never lost a fight in the Octagon. She never lost a fight in the street. She didn’t know what it was like. Right? She is champing to be back in there.”
Fertitta says he’s going to see what Holm’s management would like to do, but believes the rematch is the biggest money fight, and indeed thinks it could be as big as it gets for the organization.
“It will be the biggest fight in UFC history,” Fertitta said. “We certainly believe that as a company. I think the world will be interested in a rematch because it was a huge upset. So many people thought Ronda was just completely invincible. To see her get beat like that was a shock. They want to see if she can come back.
“We’d like to make that fight happen in July at UFC 200. We’re still talking to Holly’s management team to figure out whether that works for them. We should know in the near future.”
Penick’s Analysis: While Holm has made it clear she’s willing to fight before UFC 200, and perhaps might even prefer it, there’s no denying the business to be done with the rematch. There’s a ton of money to be made on that fight given how big Rousey was and still is; her trying to get back after such a devastating loss is a big story. Holm trying to fell the biggest star in the sport a second time is a big story. If it culminates at a historic UFC 200 event, that raises things even further. There’s no question why the UFC wants to put that together, and I’d expect Holm and her team to realize it’s the direction to go.
[Photo (c) Jayne Kamin-Oncea via USA Today Sports]
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