Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey are the two most successful MMA fighters. They both have helped popularize MMA around the globe. Not many would be aware that both McGregor and Ronda share huge respect for each other. A few years ago, ‘Rowdy’ appreciated McGregor for his evolution both as a “fighter” and as a “man.” The Irishman stepped into the UFC octagon in 2013 for the first time. His debut fight was against Marcus Brimage. The Irishman won the bout via TKO in the very first round. Soon afterward, McGregor began to catch the eyes of MMA fans with his antics and trash talk.

Many believe that it was ‘The Notorious’ who brought out the entertainment aspect of the sport. On the other hand, Ronda Rousey is a prominent figure who has contributed largely to the growth of the women’s division in the UFC. She was a part of the first-ever female fight in the promotion at UFC 157. Rousey was the first-ever women’s bantamweight champion in the UFC. Later, she became one of the biggest names in WMMA by defending her title six times. These two UFC stars share nothing but respect for each other. An old video of Rousey is proof of the same.

Ronda Rousey praises Conor McGregor

In a seven-year-old video posted on the YouTube channel, ‘Karyn Bryant,’ Ronda Rousey spoke about Conor McGregor. During the interview, the interviewer said that Conor McGregor had impressive words for Ronda. She further went on to say that the Irishman is a fan of  ‘Rowdy.’ Rousey felt delighted to know about McGregor’s take on her.

After listening to McGregor’s comment about her, Rousey said, “It’s been a real joy watching him progress and mature as not just as a fighter but as a man and I’ve seen him grow a lot and I’ve been happy to… I’ve been very encouraged by what I’ve seen you know and yeah, I couldn’t be happier for him and the company for winning and I really appreciate the respect that he’s shown me and it’s definitely mutual.” While talking about McGregor, she appreciated his overall growth both as a fighter and as a human.

‘Rowdy’s return to the UFC

At the moment, rumors of Ronda Rousey’s return to the UFC are spreading all over the internet. The speculations began when ‘Rowdy’s rival Amanda Nunes retired from the sport. Rousey left the UFC after she suffered two disappointing losses against Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes. Now that Nunes has retired from MMA, Rousey has very little danger in the UFC.

READ MORE: Why Did Ronda Rousey Quit MMA? All You Need to Know About UFC’s First Female Champion’s Career

The rumors strengthened when UFC fighter Chelsea Chandler hinted at Rousey’s comeback. Even though the rumors are spreading like wildfire, there is no official confirmation on it yet. Do you think that Ronda Rousey will be back in the UFC? Let us know in the comments below.

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