Dana White: Rousey given extended break from the UFC

Sport360 staff 11:55 13/01/2016
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  • White and Rousey at an UFC promotion event.

    Rousey was sensationally beaten by Holly Holm on November 14, a result that stunned the world of MMA as the champion lost both her belt and unbeaten record.

    Originally, Rousey was due to return to action at UFC 200 in July but White confirmed that due to filming commitments for the remake of the movie Round House, he has approved her request for more time off.

    “The filming of the movie got pushed back,” White said. “She could do both, but the question is, should she do both? She could do both, but why should she? The filming is in a time frame where she’d finish before 200, but it would be cutting it too close.”

    The 28-year-old fought three times in 2015 and her rise to the top of the UFC brought both her and the company widespread acclaim.

    A role in the Entourage feature film followed before she eventually lost her unbeaten record in her 13th bout.

    White acknowledged the work Rousey has done to promote the sport, saying that if anyone deserved an extended break it was the former champion.

    “The way I look at this one is, Ronda has worked her ass off for us for the last three years,” White added. “She’s been fighting, promoting and building the sport. If anyone deserves the time off, it’s her.

    “The night [of UFC 193] Holly said she’d do the rematch and that Ronda deserved it and everything else. So we were holding it for her if she wanted to do it.

    “What that woman has done is above and beyond what anyone has done. I mean, it’s just unbelievable what she’s done in the last three years.

    “Anything we needed, she didn’t say no to anything; said no to nothing. She even took over responsibilities somebody else was supposed to have. So when she tells me she wants more time, you know what? She’s got it.”

    Holm next faces Meisha Tate at UFC 197 on March 5.

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