Dana White has formally killed the rumor mill surrounding a boxing match between Ronda Rousey and Katie Taylor. The UFC boss took purpose on the hypothesis through the UFC 323 post-fight press convention, calling the entire thing “whole bullsh*t”.
Dana White Kills Ronda Rousey Comeback Discuss
When reporters requested White in regards to the report suggesting Rousey may face the Irish boxing champion in 2026, he didn’t maintain again. “That entire factor is whole bullshit. Folks simply make stuff up and run with it. There aren’t any talks, there’s no secret deal for Ronda Rousey to field Katie Taylor in the summertime or regardless of the story was. None of that’s actual”. White went on to make clear that this isn’t about Rousey personally.
“Ronda can do no matter she desires along with her life and her profession, and I’ll at all times assist her, however this concept that we’re out right here placing collectively a Ronda vs. Katie Taylor boxing match is simply not true. It’s made-up nonsense. I can’t say sufficient good issues about Ronda and what she did for this sport, however that story is rubbish.”
Ronda Rousey vs. Katie Taylor
The rumor began when BoxingScene reported in early December that the 2 fight sports activities icons had been in talks for a Las Vegas bout in 2026, with Netflix displaying curiosity. The timing appeared so as to add up too, since Rousey had been posting coaching movies on social media all through 2025, sparking comeback chatter. She even mentioned she was “falling again in love” with MMA after giving delivery to her second daughter in January 2025.
Taylor herself added fuel to the fire when she told reporters at the WBC convention in Thailand that she was “very, very open” to the fight. The Irish boxer called Rousey “an iconic figure in female sport” and said the matchup would “capture the imagination of the fans.” Taylor suggested it could even surpass her trilogy with Amanda Serrano, which drew six million viewers on Netflix in July 2025.
But the matchup never made sense on paper. Rousey hasn’t fought since Amanda Nunes knocked her out in 48 seconds at UFC 207 in December 2016. That loss got here 13 months after Holly Holm kicked her face off at UFC 193. Each defeats uncovered her lack of hanging expertise, notably her boxing. Rousey constructed her profession on judo and grappling, not punching.
Cris Cyborg was amongst those that laughed on the thought of Rousey boxing anybody, writing on social media: “I as soon as noticed Ronda Rousey shadow boxing and her shadow gained! Zero probability she fights boxing.” The remark referenced a viral clip of Rousey’s shadow boxing that received torn aside by followers and fighters for her head motion and method.
There’s additionally the small matter of Rousey’s mind. In her 2024 autobiography “Our Struggle,” she revealed she handled concussions for many of her profession and admitted they performed a significant position in her retirement. She mentioned she continued to coach and combat whereas concussed, which led to signs lasting weeks or months as a substitute of days. Rousey has two younger daughters now and worries about her future mind well being, particularly since her household has a historical past of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Taylor, on the other hand, is 39 years old and holds the undisputed super lightweight title with a 25-1 record. She’s one of only eight boxers in history to hold all four major titles at once. Her only loss came against Chantelle Cameron in 2023, which she avenged six months later. She beat Amanda Serrano again in July 2025 to sweep their trilogy 3-0.
When asked if Rousey is in talks to return to UFC competition, White simply said “no.” He praised Rousey for her pioneering role in women’s MMA and said he told WWE she’d be “the greatest athlete you ever worked with over there” when she made the jump to wrestling in 2017. Rousey was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018 as the first woman to receive the honor. Her UFC record was 6-2 with an average fight time of three minutes and six seconds.
White’s response made it clear that whatever comeback Rousey might be planning, it won’t be against Katie Taylor in a boxing ring. The UFC CEO wasn’t buying it, and neither should anyone else.
