Ronda Rousey breaks silence with major update on UFC White House Card return

UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey has finally put an end to all the rumors with regard to her highly-anticipated return to the UFC for the 2026 fight card at the White House. The former UFC champion, who has not stepped inside the Octagon since 2016, has made it clear that she will not be participating in that event in Washington DC. Rousey last fought at UFC 207 when she failed in her bid to become a two-time UFC champ after losing to Amanda Nunes by knockout.


"I am not fighting at the White House," Rousey affirmed on The Lapsed Fan Podcast. "I mean, after Mike Tyson being the biggest fight of the year vs Jake Paul, you never say never [on a return]. But I ain’t fighting on the White House."


Replying to the question, what she would do if UFC CEO Dana White asked her to fight on the card, Rousey said, "I got better… to do. My kid needs pasta."

Rousey accidentally made it to the UFC in 2012 after defending the Strikeforce bantamweight title. Following the UFC’s acquisition of that promotion, she was crowned the organisation’s first-ever women’s champion. She made her inaugural title defense at UFC 157 in February 2013, defeating Liz Carmouche by submission.

The unstoppable Rousey went on to defend the belt six times before suffering a shocking loss to Holly Holm at UFC 193, despite being the heavy betting favorite. The fight against Nunes eventually marked her final UFC appearance nine years back.

Despite never officially announcing her retirement, Rousey's recent training footage ignited speculation about a possible UFC return. In interviews from August 2024, Rousey made it clear that she is 'not neurologically fit to compete anymore at the highest level', citing a history of concussions as the reason for stepping away from MMA for good.