‘Terrible idea…’ UFC legend visibly shocked in live reaction to Ronda Rousey vs Katie Taylor news
Ronda Rousey’s return plan continues to raise eyebrows.
The former UFC women’s bantamweight champion has not competed in combat sports since a second consecutive knockout loss spelled the end of her tenure inside the Octagon nine years ago.
After Rousey was shockingly knocked out by Holly Holm in 2015, marking the end of her dominant title reign, the ex-judoka fell to a similar fate at the hands of Amanda Nunes the following year.
2025 has seen talk of a comeback pick up, but while many expected it to come inside the cage, the boxing ring appears to be the planned destination for ‘Rowdy’.
A match between Rousey and Katie Taylor is reportedly in the works for 2026, with Netflix named as the interested streaming party.
Eddie Alvarez concerned for Ronda Rousey if boxing match comes to fruition
Taylor is widely regarded as one of the best ever, having reigned as the undisputed world lightweight champion from 2019 to 2024, and held the unified world super lightweight championship since 2023.
With Taylor’s boxing credentials in mind, many have been questioning Rousey’s apparent interest in a showdown with the Irish star given her striking struggles in the UFC.
Among the big names shocked by the rumored bout is UFC legend Eddie Alvarez, who was visibly taken aback when learning of it for the first time while appearing on reporter Mike Bohn’s podcast.
“That’s a terrible idea for Ronda,” Alvarez said on The Bohnfire.
“I mean, even when Ronda was in MMA, her hands were notoriously known for not being good.
“It might be a money grab or maybe she needs a couple of dollars, something like that. But I can’t imagine that Ronda actually thinks she’s going to beat Katie Taylor in a boxing match,” he added.
“I’ve seen crazy things in this sport, but to go over to someone else’s sport — that’s Katie Taylor’s sport, she’s the best in the world.
“It would be like — let’s announce tomorrow that Katie Taylor’s going to go against Ronda in a judo match. It’s silly.”
Ronda Rousey said she ‘had to retire’ due to concussion symptoms
The concern regarding Rousey’s planned comeback largely stems from her worrying comments regarding health issues.
Just months before talk of the Taylor fight emerged, Rousey admitted suffering from neurological problems as a result of her fighting career.
“Two of my triggers (are) bright lights and head impacts – so I’d get hit and I’d basically lose big chunks of my vision and my depth perception and my ability to track movements quickly and make snap decisions, which is basically all the things that I need,” Rousey said on the UNTAPPED podcast.
“And I thought I have concussion, I’m out on my feet, but I wouldn’t be stumbling around. I didn’t lose my balance. This was like, I had to retire because this kept happening to me more often to the point where I would get a jab and I would basically go blind,” she added.
Controversial bookings and questionable returns for a number of combat sports veterans in recent years would suggest that Rousey’s remarks won’t stop a commission or governing body from sanctioning a return for the former UFC women’s bantamweight champ.
