Rousey vs Tate III not happening on Aldo-McGregor card

MANILA, Philippines – UFC president Dana White flatly shot down speculations that Ronda Rousey will meet Miesha Tate for the third time as part of the UFC 194 pay-per-view event on December 13 (December 12 in US).

In an interview with Yahoo Sports, UFC’s head honcho stated that Rousey’s upcoming bantamweight title defense against Tate will not take place on the same card as the highly-anticipated featherweight championship unification bout between Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor.

“We already said that Ronda was fighting Miesha Tate next and that’s what we’re going to do. That fight isn’t going to be on the [Aldo-McGregor] card for sure,” White said.

Rumors swirled in recent weeks that the third encounter between Rousey and Tate will serve as the co-featured attraction to the Aldo-McGregor duel, which is set to happen at the 16,800-seater MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

However, White has other plans in mind, but he did not mention the exact date of Rousey’s third date with Tate inside the cage.

(READ AND WATCH: Gone in 64 seconds with Ronda Rousey)

Rousey (12-0) is coming off a 34-second demolition of Bethe Correia nearly two weeks ago in Brazil to retain the gold-plated strap around her waist.

On the other hand, Tate (17-5) became the No.1 contender after attaining a unanimous decision victory over Jessica Eye this past July.

Regarding a potential super-fight between Rousey and Invicta FC featherweight champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino, White reiterated UFC’s stance that the Brazilian hard-hitter must prove she can make the 135-pound weight limit before securing a match versus the UFC women’s bantamweight titleholder.

“The deal with Cyborg is, we told her to make 135 and then we would talk about a fight with Ronda. And they haven’t done that. They’re still talking about fighting at 140 [in her next fight in Invicta],” he stressed. – Rappler.com