As expected, a rematch between Holly Holm and Ronda Rousey will be coming next for both fighters.
UFC President Dana White said on Thursday that it’s simply a matter of when the fight will happen, and thinks they’d be crazy not to make the rematch.
“I think that if we didn’t make the rematch, me and Lorenzo [Fertitta] should probably lose our promoters’ license,” White said during an appearance on ESPN Radio’s Mike and Mike program. “Yeah, that fight’s going to happen. I don’t know when, but that’s the fight that will happen.
“Ronda Rousey has gone undefeated, taken the sport to another level and was beating the best women in the world in 14 seconds or 30 seconds, so she deserves a rematch. Holly agrees she deserves a rematch, and we’ll figure it out.”
Holm knocked Rousey out last month in one of the most shocking finishes in UFC history, capturing the Women’s Bantamweight Championship and shattering Rousey’s aura of invincibility.
Rousey, still the leading star in the organization, is taking the early portion of 2016 off due to some outstanding film commitments, and was planning on holding off on fighting until UFC 200 next July. It’s not a set in stone plan, but is still an expected landing spot for the fight.
Penick’s Analysis: Time for Miesha Tate to start considering that Bethe Correia idea. This is really what had to happen. There’s far too much money in a rematch between Holm and Rousey to book anything that could risk it happening. If it happens at UFC 200, that build to both the historical numbered event, the build to the rematch, and the timing as the annual early July event combines to be perhaps the biggest pay-per-view in UFC history. Holm-Rousey II’s simply the way to go, and Tate and any others left on the outside simply have to wait.
[Photo (c) Matt Roberts via USA Today Sports]
I really do disagree with this, and believe that Floyd Mayweather had the right idea: Hold off on the rematch for now–and put them both on the same card for their next fights (e.g. UFC 200).
It’s like Rocky 3. Feature Holly in her first title defense, while Ronda gets a comeback fight a bit lower on the card. It builds intrigue. Rousey can answer whether or not she’s been filling the holes in her standup game, while Holm can show the world if she’s good enough to keep the belt. If they both win, great! There’s your better money build to the rematch.
That type of matchmaking is why Strikeforce didn’t get Overeem vs. Fedor when that was the hottest fight to make all those years ago. They were put in the same side of the HW GP draw, but against different opponents. Fast forward to the semifinals, and HARK! Fedor wasn’t there.