Ronda Rousey’s being targeted for the UFC’s November debut in New York City, but just whom she’ll meet on that card will depend on what happens with the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship. Miesha Tate will defend that belt against Amanda Nunes at UFC 200 in July, and though the expected turnaround would then be November, there’s a possibility she fights a third time in 2016 before meeting Rousey later in the year.
“[Rousey] is definitely part of the discussion [to fight on Nov. 12 in New York] and she will fight whoever has that belt,” UFC President Dana White said on ESPN Radio’s “Beadle and Shelburne” show (via ESPN.com). “I think Miesha, she’s fighting at [UFC 200], she might fight again before that. She wants to fight. We’ll see what happens. Miesha has been the No. 2 baddest woman in the world for years. For her to stay active right now, makes sense.
“What’s cool about that 135-pound division is that everybody is fighting right now. The only one not fighting is Holly. Miesha, depending on how she fights Nunes – who is very, very tough – if anything crazy happens and she comes out of that fight with a quick win, 100 percent healthy, she could turn around and fight again and then fight Ronda.”
Penick’s Analysis: I doubt we’d see Tate try to squeeze in another fight if the goal is Madison Square Garden in November, but Labor Day weekend would certainly be a possibility if she’s wanting to fight as often as possible. Given the lengthy layoff she had between beating Jessica Eye and fighting Holly Holm, that might be in her plans, but until we see how things pan out against Nunes on July 9 it’s far too early to make any determinations from there. A hard fight will almost certainly mean she sits out until the fall, and that’s with a win which certainly isn’t guaranteed. Regardless, Rousey at MSG is almost certainly among the top options the UFC wants on that card.
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