When Is Ronda Rousey-Holly Holm Rematch? Former UFC Champion Trashes Retirement Rumors

Ronda Rousey trashed reports suggesting that she is retiring from the Ultimate Fighting Championship and told TMZ Sports over the weekend that there will definitely be a rematch with Holly Holm this year. Earlier reports speculated if Rousey was now looking at a career in Hollywood instead of returning to the ring.

The TMZ report said that Rousey is working with the president of the mixed martial arts organization, Dana White, to finalize a date for the rematch as soon as it could be arranged. Rousey also said in the interview that though an exact date for her fights was not yet decided, they would happen later in 2016. Holm had knocked Rousey out in the second round of UFC 193 in November last year.

Rousey recently confirmed a deal for a comedy movie with Tina Fey while she is also set to star in “Road House,” a remake of the Patrick Swayze classic, and “Mile 22.” Rousey was previously seen in “Entourage” movie, “Furious 7” and “The Expendables 3.”

Rousey’s latest comment on the next match follows her interview last month, when she said: "I need to come back," adding: "I need to beat this chick. Who knows if I'm going to pop my teeth out or break my jaw or rip my lip open again.”

She also said: "It might be three to six months before I can eat an apple, let alone take an impact. Maybe I can't do it all before my prime, before my body is done." The 28-year-old, however, added in determination: "But f--- it, maybe I can."

While Rousey has been preparing to get back to the ring as soon as possible, Holm said last month that she knew Rousey will come back “with a vengeance.”

“She’s a very dominant athlete, a very hard-working athlete, so I know she’ll be coming back with a vengeance, and I’ll have to be ready,” Holm said last month in an interview, adding: “I’ll train just as hard, I’ll train twice as hard for the rematch, because anyone who has been as successful as Ronda has obviously been a champion for a reason.”

Although an exact date has not been made public yet and it is reportedly expected that the rematch will not take place before July even if it is scheduled, White had been positive about a rematch after the November fight.

“The rematch makes a lot of sense,” White said in a press conference at the time, adding: “I think the rematch is what people would want to see.”