A potential Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano fight just got a whole lot more real.
The UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey, and UFC President Dana White agreed that they're not just interested in a fight between the two biggest names in women's MMA history, but they agree that Gina Carano would get an immediate title shot if she returns to fighting!
"I think it would be the best thing for women's MMA," said Rousey, who wasn't scheduled to be part of the event pushing UFC 173, but showed up midway through. "I think it would be the highest profile fight that could be done. I don't think it would make sense for her to come back and fight somebody else and take the risk of maybe losing and not being able to capitalize on the fight between me and her. I think it would make more sense to go straight to a title fight."
The biggest point of contention in making the fight is the fact that Carano has not competed since 2009 and has not won a fight since 2008.
Rousey was all praises for Gina Carano:
"She's one of the pioneers on the sport," Rousey said. "She's the reason I fight at all. You can't say she's just coming in off the street. How can you say no to the woman that I owe everything to? I would bend over backwards to fight her. I'm not going to make her run through the gauntlet to fight me. I would show up at her house if that's where she wanted to fight."
White made it clear that if such a fight would happen, it would have to occur at 135 pounds.
"Last time I've seen her, have you seen her recently?" White says. "She's smaller, she said she's walking around way lighter than she used to."
White shot down the idea that the bout could be contested at a catchweight, which was the route the company took the last time a champion vs. legend opportunity presented itself, with then-welterweight champ Matt Hughes vs. pioneer Royce Gracie in 2006.
"Royce doesn't give a s--- about titles and stuff like that," White said. "He didn't want time limits, rounds, or rules, completely different way of thinking. Royce didn't give a s--- about belts or anything like that. Royce just wanted to fight Matt Hughes. Big difference.
The UFC inherited Carano's contract from Strikeforce when the latter company was purchased.
"She's going to come back when she wants to sign," White said. "She's the type of person like this one here (pointing at Rousey), she's not coming back just because. She's coming back because she wants the title."
Following last night’s TUF Finale event, UFC President Dana White told FOX Sports that he believes Gina Carano will return to Mixed Martial Arts.
“Gina [Carano] and I had a good meeting. I’m very confident that she does want to come back and she does want to fight. We do not have a deal but we might [soon].”
