UFC boss on Holm-Rousey rematch: ‘It makes sense’

MANILA, Philippines – UFC president Dana White says he is not ruling out a second meeting between newly-minted champion Holly Holm and former titleholder Ronda Rousey.

Holm dethroned Rousey for the women’s bantamweight championship in the main event of UFC 193 on Sunday, November 15 (Manila time) as she knocked out the previously-unbeaten fighter with a left head kick and polished her off with follow up shots on the ground to compel referee Herb Dean to intervene at the :59 second mark of round two.

According to the 46-year-old promoter, a title rematch between Holm and Rousey is sensible to book in the near future.

“Obviously, we don’t make fights on the night of the fight, but the rematch makes a lot of sense,” White said during the post-UFC 193 press conference.

(READ: Ronda Rousey taken to hospital after knockout loss)

Rousey’s defeat also opens new avenues for other female competitors in the 135-pound rankings as Holm was only ranked no. 7 when she accepted the offer to vie for the belt.

Ahead of Holm in the official UFC women’s bantamweight standings are Miesha Tate, Cat Zingano, Amanda Nunes, Sarah Kaufman, Julianna Pena and Sara McMann.

Holm has never fought any of the aforementioned names in Top 6 of her division, while Rousey was able to defeat 4 of the 6 world-ranked female bantamweights.

In addition, it spoils the talks of the much-awaited encounter between Rousey and Invicta FC featherweight champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino.

“It changes a lot of things, [including] the Cyborg fight. And some other stuff we are working on,” White shared.

White did not mince his exuberance on the outcome of the pay-per-view event, especially deciding to pit Rousey against Holm.

After Rousey savagely defeated Correia in Brazil, White announced that she would meet Tate for the third time, but he apparently opted to go a different direction and chose Holm as the opponent.

“I made this fight. I said it was a good fight. Holly was the right fight. Ronda never faced [a fighter] who can use range and distance the way she does. This woman has four times more fights than Ronda does,” White stated. – Rappler.com