Ronda Rousey will not compete in UFC 200 on July 9 in Las Vegas, the organization’s president, Dana White, told Yahoo Sports. Rousey has not fought since losing her title and perfect record against Holly Holm on Nov. 14.
Rousey asked for more time off because of a delay in the filming of her new movie, “Roadhouse,” White said. The promoter also said that’s why he’s allowing Holly Holm to defend her title against Meisha Tate in UFC 197 on March 5. It’s a risk for White, because if Holm loses, a Rousey-Holm rematch is worth far less.
Nevertheless, it’s a chance he’s willing to take.
“The filming of the movie got pushed back,” White told the website. “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.”
White said he is not rushing back his star draw.
“The way I look at this one is, Ronda has worked her ass off for us for the last three years,” White said. “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.”