‘The Best Ronda Rousey That Anyone Has Ever Seen’ Is Set to Return to the UFC

Look out, ladies.

When Ronda Rousey makes her long-awaited return to the UFC, something that may very well happen before the end of the year, she will be “the best Ronda Rousey that anyone has ever seen,” her trainer told ESPN.

Edmond Tarverdyan, who’s been training Rousey since she made the transition from judo to MMA, didn’t say if that return will come at UFC 207 as many have speculated, but he did confirm that it’s been discussed. Rousey is still recovering from minor knee surgery she had in early June. 

Tarverdyan did tell ESPN that Rousey has been training in anticipation of her return to the Octagon and she must be looking pretty good for him to promise that she’ll be better than she’s ever been. 

Rousey is a fighter who held the UFC women’s bantamweight belt for 1,074 days. Before her loss to Holly Holm last November she had won four fights in a total of two minutes and ten seconds. If she’s a better fighter than that after more than a year off, that will be one hell of an accomplishment. 

One fighter watching Rousey’s return closely is her hated rival Cris Cyborg. The former Invicta champ is fighting Saturday night at UFC Fight Night 95 in Brazil in her second UFC bout. A Rousey return in December sets up a potential dream matchup between her and Cyborg at some point in 2017. That is, if the issue of weight can ever be resolved. 

Rousey typically fights at 135 pounds and even though Cyborg has previously expressed a willingness to meet her there, it just might kill her. The Brazilian had to cut 22 pounds to get to 140 pounds for tomorrow’s fight and at today’s weigh-in she looked like she was about to die.

Seems like as good a time as any for Rousey to take her on. 

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