UFC Fans Buzzing With New Rousey Training Footage
Posted on: July 30, 2025, 03:14h.
Last updated on: July 30, 2025, 06:33h.
- Rousey back training, sets off buzz in MMA circles about a potential return
- UFC President Dana White planning UFC card for Trump White House event in 2026
- McGregor sends out missive fuelling UFC return rumours
A blast from the past, set to return to the Octagon? Or just a piece of social media-hyped fiction, on a relatively slow news day?
UFC Icon
The buzz in the world of MMA is that Ronda Rousey, whose electrifying presence and groundbreaking achievements in the UFC a decade ago placed her on the pantheon of all-time greats, is back training again. Is a possible UFC return in the cards? Rousey, 37, hasn’t made any public announcements about a UFC return. UFC 207 was the last time she fought in the UFC, in December 2016 – a loss to Amanda Nunes.
Rousey stepped away from UFC in 2016. The past few years she has been on the pro wrestling circuit, winning several WWE titles, although she has taken time off of late to have her second child.
Rousey Back Training
Rousey was the UFC’s first women’s bantamweight champion, with a career dominated by rapid, often brutal fight finishes. Her blend of fierceness and marketable beauty made her an icon. She broke gender barriers in a male-dominated sport, was a cross-over star in movies and television, and the interest in UFC champions like Kayla Harrison and Valentina Shevchenko today is in large part because of the path Rousey laid down.
UFC fans remember her rivalries with Miesha Tate and Holly Holm. Her signature move was the arm bar, an aggressive submission technique from her judo background. Nine of her 12 professional MMA wins were by armbar, within seconds of a takedown. Hip tosses and foot sweeps were some of her other best moves.
UFC Planning Big White House Event
Rousey has the brand power to step back into the WWE or return to UFC and either way have an enormous impact.
White has challenges coming up with the White House card. The stakes are too high – it’s to take place on the White House lawn next July, part of the America’s 250th anniversary celebration, under the watch of U.S. President Donald Trump, who wants the event to happen.
What Would the Betting Impact Be Like?
White can’t afford to be dealing with any of the outside-the-Octagon soap operas and shenanigans that you see with ex-UFC fighters.
Former heavyweight champ Jon Jones has said he wants to fight on the White House lawn event, but his retired, un-retired song and dance means White can’t count on him. White has already said he can’t risk putting Jones on the White House card. Jones said he was “disappointed” to hear that. Despite that, Jones said he is still training.
Then there is Conor McGregor, who has also indicated he wants to fight on the White House card. But there have been so many stops and starts with McGregor, one can’t be sure that news leaks about McGregor coming back is more about keeping his name in the headlines for the purpose of promoting a run for the Irish presidency or selling cigars or whiskey.
McGregor, Jones Updates
McGregor today released a teaser about getting a blood test, suggesting that’s part of a UFC comeback. McGregor hasn’t fought in the UFC Octagon since breaking his leg in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021. He was supposed to make his comeback against Chandler at UFC 303 last June. However he had to pull out weeks before because of an injured toe. McGregor has lost three of his last four UFC fights
We’ve been writing on a McGregor UFC comeback for a year now, and it’s nowhere closer to becoming reality.
If White puts a fighter on the card for Trump’s event you can be assured that fighter will compete, barring a serious injury of some kind.
Instagram Post
I’ve heard recovery for the 2nd baby is easier than the first so maybe it’s partially due to that, but being able to train MMA again made such a huge difference this time – like my joints feel tighter and I just feel healthier and more sturdy compared to just doing regular gym lifting/cardio workouts like I did to recover from my first pregnancy,” said Rousey on Instagram.
Betting interest if she were to come back would be huge. Rousey still has huge interest among UFC bettors.
“Personally, with the variables involved such as Donald Trump, the outside set-up and most crucially bouts likely to be pay-per-view level, then surely we would expect above-average business,” said Mark Collier, a trader with BetVictor.
Enormous Handle
According to Phillip Gray, a Canadian sportsbook trading analyst: “Given the spectacle and the names involved it certainly could be one of the biggest betting events of the year. Adding the lead-up time from when the card is announced and odds available, the handle will be enormous. I booked the McGregor/Mayweather fight from open to close. At the time it was the second largest traded event online ever (behind the 2016 US election).”
There’s no question the Trump White House UFC event will be a star-studded affair.
“UFC is a star-driven competition, and the return of a fan favorite like Rousey would almost certainly generate massive betting interest, with a surge in casual bettor engagement driven by nostalgia and name recognition,” said Adam Landeka, VP Sportsbook Strategy & Growth, ESPN BET.
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