Nearly a decade has passed since Ronda Rousey last stepped inside the Octagon, yet her shadow still looms large over women’s MMA. Once the face of the sport, Rousey reigned as an unstoppable force, finishing 11 of her opponents in the first round, most with her trademark armbar. Her downfall, however, was equally dramatic. Back-to-back knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes in 2015 and 2016 ended her MMA career and left fans wondering if they’d ever see ‘Rowdy’ again.

Now, as the UFC prepares for its most ambitious event yet, the UFC White House card, whispers of a Rousey return have resurfaced. And this time, they didn’t come from fan speculation alone. At the UFC 320 post-fight press conference, Dana White was directly asked about the former champion’s recent training posts and whether there was truth behind her supposed comeback. His answer, though cautious, sent shockwaves through the MMA world!

Dana White points to Ronda Rousey’s “ripped” physique as he breaks the silence on her UFC return

When asked if he’d spoken to Ronda about a potential return, White confessed, “Yeah, her and I are still very close and we talk… I would say we talk once every 3 months or something. And she was in Vegas recently, and she came by the offices, but I don’t know what her plans are. I think she’s just training again.”

Pressed further on whether he’d reach out to gauge her interest, White didn’t hesitate as he further shared during the UFC 320 post-fight press conference, “No, I mean she’s had 3 babies and she’s in a whole another place in her life. But I will say this, she’s just had another baby, and she’s in great shape right now. She’s frikking ripped like she used to be, so I don’t know. ”

Despite years of silence and a stint in the WWE, Ronda Rousey, now 38, recently shared clips on Instagram showing her back in the gym, and fans took notice. The footage showed Rousey working with coach AJ Matthews, throwing crisp combinations and grinning between rounds, a far cry from the haunted figure who walked away from the UFC in 2016. She added, “From 8 weeks after having a baby and 8 years of stepping away from MMA to 8 months postpartum and finding my love for it again…”

It’s not just nostalgia driving the conversation, as the timing couldn’t be better. The UFC White House event, backed by President Trump, has already been teased as “the greatest fight card ever assembled.” While the original plan called for 20,000 spectators, Dana White recently revealed a scaled-down but exclusive setup: only 5,000 attendees inside the White House grounds, with up to 85,000 fans watching from a nearby park.

Could a Ronda Rousey return fit into such a historic card? White’s comments suggest it’s unlikely, but not impossible. After all, ‘Rowdy’ remains one of the most recognizable names in combat sports, and her involvement, even in a ceremonial or promotional role, would make headlines worldwide. In fact, according to a former champion, she just might surprise everyone if she steps into the Octagon again!

Demetrious Johnson believes Rousey will be “fine” against the current UFC women’s bantamweight roster

Former flyweight king Demetrious Johnson has thrown his support behind Ronda Rousey, saying that if she ever decides to fight again, she could still compete at the highest level. Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Johnson didn’t hesitate when asked about the recent buzz surrounding her training videos.

According to ‘Mighty Mouse’, “If Ronda comes back, I think she’ll be fine, I look at the women’s bantamweight division — I don’t feel like this generation has really moved past her skill set. The only hole she had in her game was going against someone who was super athletic, like Amanda Nunes, and somebody who’s not going to allow her to use her judo, right?”

Against most of today’s roster, Johnson feels Ronda Rousey’s grappling, pressure, and submission skills could still hold up. He even joked about her toughness, recalling how Rousey once revealed she fought through a dislocated jaw for weeks, as he further shared, “So yeah, I think she could come back. She’d make a lot of money, and I think throw her a** on the White House card. Give her like $5 million and set her off in the sunset again.”

As mentioned earlier, it’s been almost a decade since Rousey’s last UFC appearance, which was marked by a brutal 48-second defeat to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in 2016. Since then, she’s conquered new worlds: a WWE run that saw her win every major women’s title, and a successful writing career, publishing two memoirs and a graphic novel. But Dana White’s comments, paired with Demetrious Johnson’s faith in her abilities, have reignited a question fans haven’t asked in years: could the pioneer who built women’s MMA still hold her own in 2025? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!