Ronda Rousey’s boyfriend already feels sympathy for her next opponent
There is still no timetable for former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey’s return to action, yet her boyfriend already is feeling sympathetic for her potential opponent.
“Physically and mentally, (she’s) doing great,” UFC heavyweight Travis Browne told ESPN’s Brett Okamoto. “I feel bad for whoever’s next.”
It’s assumed Rousey will return at some point and fight whoever has the belt at the time in what promises to be one of the biggest fights in UFC history.
Browne’s comments provided at least some reassurance that Rousey does at least plan to fight again.
Rousey’s unbeaten reign was shattered by a Holly Holm kick to the head that knocked Rousey out in November 2015 and changed the complexion of the division.
The title has changed hands twice since then and Rousey, who had been the only 135-pound female champion in UFC history, still has not announced her return.
Rousey famously said through tears on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” she had briefly pondered suicide after her loss to Holm before seeing Browne and realizing she needed to stay alive to “have his babies.”
UFC president Dana White has ruled Rousey out as a potential headliner for UFC 205 in New York on Nov. 12.
Champion Amanda Nunes favors waiting for the potential massive payday Rousey could provide as a challenger rather than risking it by putting the belt on the line against a different opponent.
Browne will fight former champion Fabricio Werdum at UFC 203 on Sept. 10 in Cleveland.
Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow @adamhilllvrj on Twitter.
