It was an off week in the world of MMA this past weekend, with zero major events going down. And while it’s always nice to have some time off, we’re back at it this weekend with UFC Perth on Saturday.
Unfortunately, UFC Perth isn’t the greatest event of all-time, and as such, people aren’t all that interested in talking about it. What they are into talking about is Ronda Rousey’s possible comeback, Kelvin Gastelum missing weight, and, of course, the UFC White House card.
Ronda Rousey’s comeback?
“Kayla Harrison would annihilate Ronda if Ronda returned to UFC and got an immediate title shot, wouldn’t she?”
I can hear the sounds of Dana White and Paramount executives salivating over the possibility of a Ronda Rousey return. Hell, if Paramount knew Rousey would be coming back, the price of the deal is probably closer to $1.2 billion a year than $1.1. billion.
Sadly, it’s unlikely that Rousey will return. I know she recently said “never say never” about an MMA comeback, and no MMA fighter is ever truly retired, but I just can’t see it for Rousey. For one thing, her exit was so bad. Now, Rousey bought and paid for some of that, but the MMA community largely didn’t exactly send her out in style. Even with years of space, it’s hard to see what the drawback would be, especially since she could just go back to professional wrestling. I’m not super versed in the WWE world, but it seems like they always have old stars crop back up and the fans love them for it. If Rousey was going to return to anything, WWE seems the way to go.
Then again, crazier things have happened. If 20 years ago you told me the UFC would be taking place on the White House lawn one day, I’d have thought you’d lost your mind. It’s a funny old world, and the weirdest things can happen. Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey both making a return to fight at UFC White House would be pretty remarkable, and I guess it’s possible. So let’s pretend for a moment.
Rousey goes on Instagram and announces that after eight years away from the sport, she’s coming back to the UFC one final time. She’s fallen in love with the sport, and this time it’s not about ego or championships, it’s about love of the game. The fans receive her warmly. After all, the sport is desperately in need of stars, and Rousey has come back with a positive attitude. And, of course, the UFC isn’t mucking about. Rousey vs. Harrison for the 135-pound strap at UFC White House. The Battle of Judo.
Things get a little chippy in the build-up. While Rousey has a different approach this go around, Harrison wants to build up the drama. Many things are said about their past training together and their judo match 20 years ago. Harrison says Rousey wasn’t half the judoka she was (true), and Rousey says Harrison is just copying her life. Tension builds.
Fight Week comes. Rousey is a huge underdog. Harrison looks like death trying to make 135 pounds. She does it. Rousey has a much easier weight cut. People talk themselves into Rousey having a chance. Isn’t that how the Disney story would end?
Nope. It’s a sanctioned mauling. A salmon would have more chance against a bear. Harrison tosses Rousey in the air like a toddler. Ippon after ippon for the two-time Olympic gold medalist. Rousey has been beaten up and she’s been dominated, but she’s never been HOSSED before. Harrison HOSSES her, finally ending things with an armbar, one final exclamation point on her dominance.
Rousey leaves MMA again, but this time she’s at least cool about it. And while it’s not the storybook ending, it’s a better one than she got last time around.
“With recent notable weight struggles this year, including but not limited to guys like Kelvin Gastelum, Losene Keita, Bryan Battle, and Brian Ortega, what would be the best deterrent to avoid weight misses in the future?
“A larger fine, an immediate move up to a heavier division, a suspension to be added on to post fight suspensions (like injuries/damage sustained in the bout, or a PED failure), or an immediate release? Or would another solution be better to help deter weight missers?“
So this isn’t exactly something new, but it’s nevertheless a great question.
First off, you’re never going to get rid of weight misses because we’re not going to get rid of weight-cutting. It’s such a deeply ingrained part of the sport that it’s hard to imagine how the culture could be changed at this point. It doesn’t matter that cutting weight is almost certainly going to lead to the first true catastrophe in the UFC at some point; the fighters won’t change. They want the edge they believe they gain from it, so they’re going to cut weight, and there’s no way to stop it. And if they’re going to cut weight, some are going to miss. It’s a numbers game.
As far as deterrents, I’m skeptical that most of them would work. In general, punishment is not a great deterrent for anything, but especially not with something like weight-cutting because it’s not premeditated. Fighters think they can make it, and then they screw up. Oops! And to be honest, I’m already iffy about fining fighters. UFC fighters don’t make a ton already, and taking some of that pay isn’t the best. And a suspension doesn’t feel like it does anything? But maybe there’s something there.
The best course of action, I think, is for the UFC — or whatever promotion — to have a hard stance against it with clearly outlined rules. Meaning that, for a first offense, if you miss weight by more than a pound, fight is off and the non-offending fighters gets show and win money, offending fighter goes home. Second offense, same outcome except offending fighter is automatically moved up a weight class. That feels like it will solve the issue as best as possible because it removes the ambiguity and sets clear boundaries.
“Who headlines the first UFC on Paramount+ card and you’re minimum gymnastics score it needs for it to be a successful event? Scale is 1 to 10, 1 being so bad it kills nearly all momentum for the Paramount deal, 10 means its a perfect event and paramount adds 3 more years to the deal as a result of the events success.”
Great question. My best guess is the first Paramount+ event is NOT a numbered UFC event (AKA a pay-per-view event). Historically, when the UFC starts a new TV rights deal, they ease into things with a big Fight Night card, before going to the numbered stuff. For the record, I’m predicting Ilia Topuria vs. Paddy Pimblett for the first numbered event of 2026, but I digress.
So the first event is probably going to be a road show, not an APEX card, and it’s going to be headlined by a big fight, but not a mega fight. A few possibilities jump out to me, but one stands above the rest: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Joshua Van for the flyweight title.
It’s a title fight, and it’s one of those fights that is, at best, a co-main on a numbered event, so it’s perfect. Also, Pantoja is one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the sport and beloved by hardcore fans. But most importantly, the first event on Paramount should be a banger, and this is it. Pantoja is never in a boring fight, and I’ll eat my hat if this one ends up being a snoozer. It’s precisely what they should be looking to bring to the table.
As for a gymnastics score, they need a solid 7 out of the gate. Anything better, and that’s gravy, but anything worse, and things look like a continuation of the ESPN deal, which is not a great thing.
“Should the fighter’s gear for UFC White House replicate that worn by the common man 250 years ago, as a tasteful & respectful tribute to your great country?”
If Michael Chandler doesn’t walk out wearing a white powdered wig, what are we even doing here, people? In a perfect world, one fighter recreates Washington crossing the Delaware for his walkout, but there are roughly 400 great ideas to have fun with this, and we’re gonna have the same old nonsense of dudes rocking Venum gear or whatever, and it’ll drive me up the wall.
Thanks for reading, and thank you to everyone who sent in tweets (Xs?)! Do you have any burning questions about things at least somewhat related to combat sports? Then you’re in luck, because you can send your tweets to me, @JedKMeshew, and I will answer my favorite ones! Doesn’t matter if they’re topical or insane, just so long as they are good. Thanks again, and see y’all next week.
