Issue 221
October 2025
Paul Browne jumps into the Fighters Only wayback-when machine to recap the best of mixed martial arts in September 2025
Colby Covington Eyes Paddy Pimblett for UFC Return at Welterweight
Colby Covington wants to welcome Paddy Pimblett to the UFC welterweight division.
The three-time title challenger (17-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC) hasn’t fought since being stopped by Joaquin Buckley in the main event of UFC Tampa last December. Despite the weight-class gap, ‘Chaos’ says he would relish the chance to face Pimblett (23-3 MMA, 7-0 UFC) when he finally returns to the Octagon.
“I mean the Paddy Pimblett fight (is) super interesting (to) me because in Miami, he was talking s***, running his mouth backstage like I wasn't even looking at him or talking to him,” Covington told Helen Yee. “He wants to start some s***, he's been saying some s***.
“He was saying (in an) interview the other day his doctor said he had liver failure from cutting to 155. Dude, come up a weight class, come to 170. Why are you being a weight bully, Patty? You know you're a bum. You're a gimmick. You're a f***ing, you know, little English accent and your little bowl cut. That's the only reason people know you. So let's get it going, Paddy. And if I can't get Paddy, then maybe Gilbert Burns.”
If Pimblett decides to move up to 170 pounds, he would be following in the footsteps of Islam Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC), who recently vacated the UFC lightweight title to challenge newly crowned welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena (18-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) at Madison Square Garden on November 15.
“Yeah, it's an interesting fight,” Covington said of the UFC 322 main event. “I'm excited to see how it goes. You know, Islam, you know, is a lightweight. He's gonna be a little smaller in the fight, but he's a well-rounded fighter. So, you know, if he's able to take down JDM and control him, you know, he could definitely get the job done. But it's gonna be interesting to see how the size advantage plays a difference in the fight.
“I know what the odds, if they're going three to one, but just because JDM doesn't have good takedown defense, but you never know. It's a fight, and JDM has some good hands. So, it should be an exciting fight for the fans.”
“I Fight for Legacy”: Patricio Freire Explains Why He Walked Away From Keita Fight
There was controversy at the official weigh-ins ahead of UFC Fight Night 258 in Paris, France, on Friday morning when the highly anticipated featherweight clash between Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (37-8 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and newly signed OKTAGON two-division champion Losene Keita (16-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) was canceled after Keita failed to make weight.
“Black Panther” stepped on the scale at 149 pounds at 9 a.m.—three pounds over the 146-pound limit—and opted to stop cutting, despite having another two hours to attempt to make weight.
As a result, the bout was scrapped after Freire refused to compete at a catchweight.
"He said in an interview that he was faster, stronger, younger," Freire told the UFC. "I gave him all these advantages, in addition to allowing this fight to be here in Paris. It only took him two hours to get there by car, so he didn't have any trouble. His weight was low. He arrived weighing 74 kg (163 pounds), just like I did, and he didn't make weight. Our division, its limit is 145 pounds, and the commissions still let us hit a pound above, which is 146. So, besides going over the 146 limit, he didn't hit 147, 148 – he's at 149 pounds.
"So, since I gave him all the advantages, besides the time zone, he doesn't have jet lag, problems with sleep adaptation, which we call acclimatization, right? We have to arrive a little earlier to get used to the weather here. All the advantages, he had. Even so, he didn't make weight, so I wasn't going to give him that advantage. He was more than a kilo heavier than me.
"When it comes to (my career), I no longer fight for money – I fight for legacy," Freire said. "I'm not going to give this guy that advantage. Unfortunately, the fight will not happen. I came ready. I did my job. I'm a professional. I never stopped making weight. He has a video. I'll release it in full later. He apologized and said he didn't have much time (to cut weight).
"I'm absolutely sure he didn't try (to keep cutting weight). … It was 9 o'clock in the morning, He arrived at the commission, weighed himself, and instead of trying until 11 o'clock, which is the (time) limit, the guy went to eat banana puree, bro – baby food. Go f*ck yourself, man. So if you want to blame someone, blame my opponent."
Freire also addressed the situation in a post on his X account, stating that he would love to compete at the UFC Fight Night event that is set to take place in Rio De Janeiro on October 11 against “anyone who makes weight.”
"Black Panther" Responds
Keita offered his side of the story in an open letter to his fans on his Instagram account, saying:
“Dear Fans,
I need to start to say sorry to everyone, to Pitbull and his team, to the UFC, Hunter, and to my fans! I’m so sorry to let you down.
In 25 fights i never missed weight, i have always be profesional with weight, with the promotions and to my oponents, i’ve made 5 tittles fights, two of them at Featherweight, where there is no allowance and i never missed weight, unfortunatly this happen when couldn’t never happen, on my UFC Debut!! I’m truly sorry, this was for sure the first time and last it happen on my career.
I am devasted with this and i just hope UFC give me another chance, because i live for this, this was my dream!!
Thank you for your support!”
Matches to Make: What’s Next For The Big Winners From UFC Paris?
Many of the fighters from Saturday’s electrifying event in Paris may still be dealing with the ringing in their ears after the deafening noise generated by the passionate French fans inside the Accor Arena. Beyond being a massive success in terms of gate receipts and atmosphere, several notable names on the card delivered in a big way.
Let’s take a look at what could be next for some of the biggest winners from UFC Fight Night 258.
Nassourdine Imavov
The first installment of what many consider to be a four-man middleweight grand prix played out in Saturday’s main event. Nassourdine Imavov (17-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) extended his winning streak to five with a composed decision victory over Caio Borralho (17-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC), further strengthening his case to be next in line for newly crowned middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev.
While “The Sniper” got the job done impressively on Saturday, the outcome of the UFC Vancouver headliner between Reinier de Ridder (21-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) and Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez (15-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) on October 18 will surely play a role in determining who gets the next title shot.
On merit alone, Imavov should be the clear frontrunner. But given the pragmatic, methodical nature of his win over Borralho, the door remains open for one of his rivals to leapfrog him with a statement performance in Vancouver. In fact, with both Hernandez and de Ridder earning their recent victories in far more chaotic and unpredictable fashion, there’s a strong chance the winner of their clash could snatch Imavov’s spot in line.
If that scenario unfolds and Imavov is forced to fight once more before a title shot, a No. 1 contender matchup against recently dethroned champion Dricus Du Plessis (23-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) could very well be the fight to make.
Benoit Saint Denis
One of the biggest surprises of Saturday’s card came in the co-main event, where Benoit Saint Denis (15-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) derailed the Mauricio Ruffy hype train in emphatic fashion. “God of War” delivered a sensational performance to become the first fighter to defeat Ruffy inside the Octagon, while also reminding fans that—despite a pair of crushing setbacks to Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano in 2024—he remains a dangerous force at 155 pounds.
In his post-fight press conference, the Frenchman called for a matchup with Arman Tsarukyan. While that fight might not materialize immediately, Saint Denis could earn his way back into the lightweight elite with another big win or two. A more realistic next step might be Mateusz Gamrot (25-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC), who currently holds the No. 8 spot in the rankings, just five places above him.
Modestas Bukauskas
Former Cage Warriors champion Modestas Bukauskas (19-6 MMA, 7-4 UFC) continued his career resurgence on Saturday, capping off the first round with a devastating elbow that knocked out—and retired—Paul Craig.
“The Baltic Gladiator” has now won six of seven since rejoining the UFC in 2023, putting together the kind of momentum that all but demands a step up in competition. A shot at the light heavyweight rankings seems inevitable, and a matchup with Nikita Krylov (30-11 MMA, 11-9 UFC) could be just the test to get him there.
Mason Jones vs. Kaue Fernandes
Two of Saturday’s standout performers may well find themselves on a collision course.
Welsh talent Mason Jones (17-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) overcame a rocky start to stop Bolaji Oki and collect a Performance of the Night bonus, pushing his record to 2-0 since returning to the UFC. Earlier in the evening, Nova União’s Kaue Fernandes (11-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) dismantled promotional newcomer Harry Hardwick with brutal leg kicks that left the former Cage Warriors champion exiting the arena in a wheelchair.
The solution seems simple: match Jones and Fernandes against each other and let the sparks fly.
Matches to Make: What’s Next For Diego Lopes After Noche UFC?
On what was a chaotic weekend in the world of combat sports, Diego Lopes and Jean Silva delivered the most electrifying moment of all in their main event clash at Noche UFC on Saturday night.
Fans at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio were treated to one of the fights of the year when former title challenger Lopes (27-7 MMA, 6-2 UFC) went toe-to-toe with rising Brazilian star Silva (16-3 MMA, 5-1 UFC) in front of a raucous Texas crowd.
After a frenetic back-and-forth battle, Lopes became the first fighter to defeat Silva inside the Octagon when he landed a vicious spinning elbow in the second round, then followed up with a barrage of strikes that forced referee Mike Beltran to step in and stop the fight.
Now that the dust has settled, it’s time to figure out what’s next for Diego Lopes in the wake of UFC Fight Night 259.
Murphy the Real Winner of Noche UFC
Given that Diego Lopes lost a title fight to Alexander Volkanovski as recently as April, the likelihood of a win over Jean Silva on Saturday earning him another shot at the champion was always slim. Silva, on the other hand, had a golden opportunity to position himself at the front of the line—and he may come to regret letting that chance slip away.
Lerone Murphy’s spectacular spinning-elbow finish over Aaron Pico had provisionally put him in pole position for the next title shot, but the feeling going into Noche UFC was that “Lord” could leapfrog the UK star if he managed to notch a sixth consecutive stoppage victory over Lopes.
Instead, when the Brazilian overthrew that leaping left hook against the cage late in the second round—allowing Lopes to capitalize on the mistake—the title picture was turned on its head. Lopes had his hand raised inside the Octagon, but you can be damn sure that Murphy walked away from Saturday’s card as the night’s biggest winner.
What’s Next for Lopes?
With the next title fight at 145 pounds likely set in stone, the question now turns to what to do with the remaining contenders.
Two fighters Diego Lopes has history with sit on either side of him in the featherweight rankings. Movsar Evloev (19-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) — who Lopes lost to in his UFC debut two years ago — remains an afterthought for the UFC matchmakers, with the Russian’s inability to secure any finishes during his UFC career seemingly keeping him out of title contention up to this point.
Former title challenger Yair Rodriguez (20-5 MMA, 11-4 UFC) is also perched inside the top five of the featherweight rankings, and he and Lopes nearly came to blows during the pre-fight press conference for UFC 314 back in April. They had been rumored to be facing each other at last Saturday’s event before Jean Silva was confirmed in that spot instead.
And former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling (25-5 MMA, 17-5 UFC) has also thrown his name into the mix following his dominant win over former featherweight title challenger Brian Ortega at UFC Shanghai recently. “Funkmaster” even went as far as to call for a fight against Lopes immediately after Saturday’s main event.
The task now for the UFC matchmakers is to create two semifinals from those four contenders, mirroring what’s happening in the middleweight title picture.
Unfinished Business
Letting Diego Lopes and Yair Rodriguez settle their differences certainly sounds like a fun option, but it would leave Movsar Evloev and Aljamain Sterling on the sidelines. Given that those two fought as recently as December, it’s unlikely the UFC will go with this option right away.
That leaves Lopes with two realistic potential opponents — Sterling or Evloev. Lopes has been calling for another crack at the unbeaten Russian for quite some time. In the lead-up to his failed title bid in April, Lopes had named Evloev as the first fighter he wanted to face if he won the belt.
“My focus is on Alexander Volkanovski,” he told MMA Junkie at the time. “I win the belt and I will ask the UFC for a fight with Movsar.”
With the title picture temporarily locked up, now is the perfect time to revisit unfinished business. Lopes has evolved into one of the division’s most dangerous finishers, while Evloev remains its most technically sound undefeated contender—a clash of styles that practically sells itself. Matching Lopes against Evloev not only gives Lopes the chance to avenge the lone blemish on his UFC résumé (outside of his title fight defeat to Volkanovski), but also provides the division with a clear next-in-line contender. It’s the fight that makes the most sense, and it’s the fight the UFC should make next.
Kamaru Usman Offers Solution to Fighting Nerds’ Struggles
Kamaru Usman believes he has a solution for Fighting Nerds’ current struggles.
The former UFC welterweight champion Usman (21-4 MMA, 16-3 UFC) has been watching closely as the Brazilian team’s core group of stars have each suffered their first defeats inside the Octagon over the past few months, derailing some of the hype they had collectively built after an electrifying start to their UFC careers.
Carlos Prates (22-7 MMA, 5-1 UFC) was the first to stumble when he was outpointed by Ian Machado Garry in the main event at UFC Kansas City back in April, although “The Nightmare” has since returned to the win column with a devastating spinning-elbow knockout over Geoff Neal at UFC 319 last month.
Both Mauricio Ruffy (12-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) and Caio Borralho (17-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) saw their unbeaten UFC runs snapped by Benoit Saint Denis and Nassourdine Imavov respectively at UFC Paris, while Jean Silva (16-3 MMA, 5-1 UFC) became the latest Fighting Nerd to taste defeat when he was stopped by Diego Lopes at Noche UFC last Saturday.
"They have an incredible team, I think they could add to that team, and that's probably someone to work on the wrestling," Usman said on his Pound 4 Pound podcast with Henry Cejudo. "Having that wrestling background is something Caio Borralho could have utilized in getting those takedowns in that fight, which I think could have potentially helped him and blew that fight away.
“With Carlos Prates, the fight that he did lose to Ian Garry, of course Ian was really good at just moving away and then maybe drop down and get a takedown, control him. Then the Mauricio Ruffy fight, Saint Denis was just all over him. Once he got him down, he was able to punish him down there.
"So, I do think these guys would definitely benefit from a wrestling coach. ... We had Greg (Jones) at one point. We had Kenny Monday at one point. We've had Mike van Arsdale at one point. Our team, I think that our foundation was when we were the Blackzilians, it was hot.
“The one that they did very well is Rashad Evans made it a point for us to have a wrestling coach because obviously you know Rashad is a wrestler, as well. We had to have a wrestling coach because everyone knew our standup was so good at that time because of coach Henri Hooft. This is something that the Fighting Nerds can utilize, is getting a good wrestling coach out there."
Dakota Ditcheva Already Among MMA’s Elite, Says Dan Hardy
Dakota Ditcheva is already at the top of the food chain, according to Dan Hardy.
Ditcheva (15-0) has been on a sensational run since signing with the PFL in 2022. The UK star captured both the PFL Europe and PFL World Tournament titles over the past two years, defeating every opponent the promotion has put in front of her.
Former UFC welterweight title challenger Hardy (now serving as the PFL’s head of fighter operations) believes Ditcheva is more than just a hot prospect. In his view, she already belongs in the same conversation as the UFC’s No. 1 pound-for-pound female fighter, flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko (25-4-1 MMA, 15-3-1 UFC).
“I Would Put My Money on Her Against Valentina”
“I would put my money on her against Valentina right now,” Hardy told MMA Fighting. “That’s with all due respect to Valentina, who I’ve held in high regard for a long time. The thing that Valentina always made challenging about my job when I was doing Inside the Octagon for the UFC was there’s no highlight reel moments in her fights really. Very, very rarely — and that’s because she completely dominates people with just this steady pace.
“The kind of person that would break that style of fighting is someone that attacks ferociously. Like Dakota’s got the height and reach, the power, she’s got the viciousness, and the reality is American Top Team is probably one of the toughest mats, especially for a female fighter.”
More Than Just a Striker
Ditcheva transitioned to mixed martial arts after a highly successful Muay Thai career as a teenager. With twelve knockout wins already on her professional record, “Dangerous” is widely regarded as one of the most feared strikers in women’s MMA today. Still, Hardy insists that the rest of her skill set should not be underestimated.
“I’ve got to expect her to at least hold her own on the ground with Valentina, if not be able to defend the takedowns,” Hardy said. “I think Dakota beats anybody right now in her weight class.
“I think pound-for-pound, if she’s not top three, then I’m crazy. I think she has a damn good chance against anybody and even going up to bantamweight and fighting there and having a lot of success there as well.
Built for MMA Greatness
“She is ideally built to be a striker in mixed martial arts,” Hardy said. “She’s got that ability to have those long-range limbs to attack you with. She can be overbearing like Anderson Silva was with his clinch against the likes of Rich Franklin. I feel like she’s physiologically built for mixed martial arts and also for the skill set that she’s got. She could be a fantastic Muay Thai fighter, but if she was 5-foot-2, it wouldn’t be nearly as effective with the skills that she’s got.
“I also feel like she’s early in her career, too, which is quite terrifying. She’s achieved so much already, and that’s why I feel like bantamweight could be in her future because she’s going to certainly be able to shift gears and add more power to her frame.”
With Hardy’s backing and an unbeaten record to her name, Ditcheva’s rise shows no signs of slowing down. If “Dangerous” keeps dismantling opponents at her current pace, it may only be a matter of time before she’s not just compared to the best, but considered the very best herself.
Kayla Harrison’s Emotional Path to UFC Gold
Kayla Harrison learned a lot about herself in her last fight.
Harrison (19-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) became the UFC bantamweight champion in just her third Octagon appearance earlier this year when she submitted Julianna Peña at UFC 316. Adding a UFC title to the numerous PFL World Tournament victories and Olympic gold medals she had already earned before signing with the promotion last year, Harrison said the win over Peña erased any lingering doubts she had about just how good she truly is.
“I do think if I take anything away from this fight, it’s to remember who the ‘F’ I am,” Harrison told MMA Fighting. “Not that I was listening to the outside noise but I was like, ‘Oh yeah, this girl beat Amanda (Nunes) and she’s going to drag me into deep waters and I’m going to have to be smart’ and of course, all that is true. She beat Amanda. She is tough as nails. Her game plan was to drag me into deep waters.
“But I’m the best fighter in the world. I probably could have unleashed in the first round a little bit more but I was a little bit hesitant. The first round’s a feeling out process, what if she comes out swinging in the second round? Don’t get (impatient), take your time, pick your shots. No, I’m the best fighter in the world.”
Harrison’s promotional debut last year came under the brightest of lights when she took on Holly Holm at UFC 300. A dominant performance and an impressive submission win over the former bantamweight champion announced Harrison’s arrival as a real contender at 135 pounds, and when she outpointed Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307 in October, she became the clear frontrunner to challenge Peña for the title.
After dominating the “Venezuelan Vixen” for almost two full rounds, Harrison fulfilled her destiny when she forced Peña to tap in the dying moments of the second round by way of a kimura…a moment she will remember forever.
“I was overwhelmed with emotion,” Harrison said. “You’re almost holding your breath. You’re almost kind of like don’t mess up, don’t mess up, be smart. It was short time, I heard the clapper, I was like I had the grip, it’s a position I’m really comfortable in. I drill it with (Steve) Mocco and Mike (Brown) all the time. It’s a submission I get quite a bit in practice as well.
“Dude, I just couldn’t believe. I could not believe it. I couldn’t believe that she tapped. I couldn’t believe it was over. I couldn’t believe I was UFC champion. It was overwhelming.”
A superfight against the returning former champion Amanda Nunes seems likely to be next for Harrison. Peña has stated that she will wait to face the winner, but Harrison thinks her former adversary needs to get back to work and rack up some victories inside the Octagon before she can be considered for another title shot.
“I mean I don’t think so,” Harrison said. “Again, not talking crap. I think she’s 2-2 in her last four or 3-3 in her last six, something like that. I think she’s got to go back to the drawing board and get some wins.
“There’s also a whole division, there’s a lot of young, hungry killers coming up. We’ll see. I’ll fight whoever they want me to fight but in my heart, I don’t think that we’ll fight again.”
Cain Velasquez Could Have Been UFC’s Heavyweight GOAT, Says Daniel Cormier
Daniel Cormier believes Cain Velasquez could have been the greatest heavyweight in UFC history if not for his injury troubles.
Velasquez (14-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) held the UFC heavyweight title in two separate reigns between 2010 and 2015, earning wins over legends such as Brock Lesnar, Junior dos Santos, and Antonio Silva during that stretch.
However, Velasquez’s career was plagued by injuries. He was ultimately dethroned at UFC 188 in 2015, when Fabricio Werdum submitted him following a two-year layoff.
He fought only twice more before retiring—defeating Travis Browne in 2016, then falling to Francis Ngannou in 2019.
UFC color commentator Daniel Cormier, who trained alongside Velasquez at American Kickboxing Academy during his championship run, told Aljamain Sterling in a YouTube interview that Velasquez was a truly unique force during his prime years.
“I've never seen anything like it,” Cormier said of Velasquez. “I still today have not seen anything like it. The training, the skill set, the ability. He really could do it all. If he didn't have all those injuries, he would be by far the greatest heavyweight of all time. No one would have beaten him.”
Velasquez was known for his relentless pace and freakish endurance during his career, earning the nickname “Cardio Cane.” Cormier believes that his unbelievable work rate in the training room is what ultimately led to the injury woes that curtailed his career.
“He was one of those kids that had nothing. He had so little that when they, when he would get mixed up with people, no matter what they told him to do, he would do. So the strength coach told him to leg press 800 pounds. He did it. He'd leg press 800 pounds. He just did everything, bro. He was a monster, and he just worked, and he worked, and he worked, and he worked himself into like injury after injury after injury.”
“They Hid the Guy in a Little Room”: Pereira Blasts Ankalaev Before UFC 320
With just over a week to go before they clash in the main event at UFC 320, tension is building between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev.
Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) was dethroned as light heavyweight champion by Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) when they fought at UFC 313 last March. Both fighters are finalizing preparations for next week’s rematch in Las Vegas, and “Poatan” suggested that Ankalaev was ducking him when they nearly crossed paths at the UFC Performance Institute.
"Something funny happened just now when I was leaving the PI," Pereira said on his YouTube channel. "I saw Ankalaev's coach there. I stayed to myself, I didn't see Ankalaev there. And the funny thing is, when I left the PI, when I got into my car, someone from my team was still inside and he heard the girl from the PI say to Ankalaev, 'He can come now, he's already left.' Like damn, he was hiding. They hid the guy in a little room man. The guy thinks I'm going to run into him and start fighting. Do I look stupid, bro?”
The build up to this fight has been relatively quiet, although Ankalaev recently clapped back at Pereira in a tweet, promising the Brazilian that he would “sleeping and on your way (to) working at the tire shop again.”
Pereira says that he took no notice of Ankalaev’s tweet.
"This guy talks nonsense,” said the former two-weight UFC champion. “I hadn't even seen (his posts on X), for real. Honestly I would've handled it way better. But the fact that the guy hides in a room because I'm in the same place as him. He's a chump. He's a chump.
“I'll keep to myself, you know? I'll never pick a fight with the guy, never start something. Of course, unless he comes at me. I have to defend myself too. But what kind of champion is that man? A sh*t champion. I know that's harsh, but he's a sh*tty champion, man. A guy like that. And you know why? Not because of what he says, but hiding in a room today. He's shown he's a coward man. We'll see. Hiding now. We'll be in the cage, locked in there. Unless he jumps the fence. He's a sh*tty champion, this guy."
‘She’ll Get Destroyed’: Matt Brown Warns Against Rousey Return
Matt Brown doesn’t believe Ronda Rousey should be tempted back into the Octagon.
Former UFC bantamweight champion Rousey (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) recently got fans talking when she shared footage of herself training just eight months after the birth of her son. In the video, “Rowdy” can be seen hitting pads, sparking speculation that the former judo Olympian—who last fought when she was knocked out by Amanda Nunes in December 2016—might be considering a return to competitive action.
Former UFC welterweight Matt Brown, however, doesn’t think that would be a wise move, given how much the landscape of modern mixed martial arts has changed.
“We know everyone would get behind bringing Ronda Rousey back,” Brown said on the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer. “As big of a star as she was, yeah, f*ck yeah, everybody would be all about it. Whether they love her or hate her, we’ll watch 100 percent.
“(But) I would say the same thing with Conor (McGregor) … you cannot take that time off and expect to come back at a high level. Everybody else is working every day. This isn’t 1998 anymore where you can just kind of be a fighter in training camp and then chill and then come back. We’re not even talking about that. We’re talking about years off. She’ll get destroyed.”
Rousey became the inaugural bantamweight champion when the UFC first introduced women’s divisions in 2013. She cemented her status as an all-time great by winning six consecutive title fights over the next two and a half years—before things came undone in spectacular fashion.
Back-to-back knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes ultimately led Rousey to walk away from the sport at just 29 years old. Brown believes she should leave her UFC career exactly where it belongs—in the past.
“Maybe they’ll find a matchup for her, like a Bethe Correia type or something,” Brown said. “There’s still those girls out there in those divisions, unfortunately. But no, you can’t take that kind of time off. There’s a point where you’ve just got to say I’m done. I’ve spent enough time away from the sport that coming back is not going to be a good option for me anymore, and Ronda’s past that point for sure. She’s got to know it, too.
“The only question with her is just her ego. She really thinks she’s the greatest fighter ever and she can probably take this time off and come back, but it doesn’t work that way. It just doesn’t. You take a certain amount of time off, it’s over. Everybody else is training every day. You’re going to get smashed in there.”
