Ronda Rousey is back in the gym, and MMA fans are excited.
UFC Hall of Famer Rousey welcomed her second child to the world in January, but now appears to be back to her best after dropping some fresh training footage.
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Rousey hasn’t fought since losing to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in December 2016Credit: Getty
The video, uploaded to Rousey’s Instagram page, shows the former UFC champion rolling on the mats and displaying some of the judo that made her one of the greatest female fighters of all time.
“Martial art nerd s***,” Rousey, 38, captioned the video that has left several members of the MMA fraternity eager for more.
It has also left those same fans wondering if ‘Rowdy’ could be gearing up for a shock MMA return after a nine-year hiatus.
In July, US President Donald Trump expressed his desire to bring the UFC to the White House for the first time in 2026.
Trump’s announcement has since created speculation over who would be fit to headline such an iconic card, considering UFC CEO Dana White has ruled out Jon Jones’ return for the main event.
Well, fans of Rousey all seem to share the same consensus regarding her return.
“I’d like to see this woman back in the UFC,” one wrote, responding to Rousey’s training footage.
“The Queen is back!” a second said.
While a third added: “Ronda back at @ufc @danawhite.”
Rousey has in the past shut down any notions of a comeback.
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‘Rowdy’ uploaded training footage of her in the cage, leaving MMA fans excited
She suggested that concussions sustained from her UFC career will prevent her from making any return.
What is Ronda Rousey’s UFC record?
Rousey won six of her eight fights in the UFC following her February 2013 debut.
She was named the promotion’s first-ever women’s bantamweight champion before her debut, having previously been crowned the queen at 135 lbs under the Strikeforce banner.
Rousey secured her fifth successive armbar submission finish when she defeated Liz Carmouche on her debut, and went on to defend the women’s bantamweight title five further times to mark a one-of-a-kind UFC run.
Things turned sour for ‘Rowdy’, however, when she was shockingly knocked out by Holly Holm in her penultimate UFC bout in November 2015.
The defeat marked a passing of the guard, and one Rousey failed to bounce back from.
Ronda Rousey’s UFC career
One Last Dance?
Loss. Amanda Nunes via first-round TKO/KO at UFC 207 in December 2016Loss. Holly Holm via first-round TKO/KO at UFC 193 in November 2015 (dropped bantamweight title)Def. Bethe Correia via first-round TKO/KO at UFC 190 in August 2015Def. Cat Zingano via first-round submission at UFC 184 in February 2015Def. Alexis Davis via first-round TKO/KO at UFC 175 in July 2014Def. Sara McMann via first-round TKO/KO at UFC 170 in February 2014Def. Miesha Tate via third-round submission at UFC 168 in December 2013Def. Liz Carmouche via first-round submission at UFC 157 in February 2013 (won bantamweight title on debut in first-ever women’s UFC fight)
After over a year out of the sport, Rousey then made her return at UFC 207 against Amanda Nunes.
However, the 38-year-old was knocked out in under one minute on her comeback, which subsequently ended her career in MMA’s biggest league.
In an emotional interview, Rousey once fought back tears recalling the 48-second KO defeat, which left her feeling like she had ‘nothing left in me.’
Nunes went on to dominate the women’s MMA scene, becoming one of only four fighters to hold two belts in the UFC simultaneously.
‘The Lioness’ has since announced her return to MMA at the age of 37 to fight UFC women’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison.
Although nothing has been made official yet, the pair are expected to face off for the title in the next 12 months.
This could leave a door open for Rousey to fight the winner in what would be a more than appropriate bout for the UFC White House card.
Conor McGregor has also expressed his interest in fighting on the card, alongside Jones, which White has asserted will be his biggest event ever.