It's one thing for a Ronda Rousey rival to say her planned return to the octagon is premature. It's quite another when someone from her own camp says it.
Nutritionist Mike Dolce, who has worked with Rousey to shed weight prior to her fights, says she and those pushing for her to get in the ring against Holly Holm in July are acting irresponsibly and without regard for her safety, according to MMA Junkie.
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Rousey and Holm are tentatively scheduled to meet at UFC 200 on July 9, 2016, which Dolce believes is far too soon.
"No way -- absolutely not," he told MMA Junkie Radio when asked whether Rousey should fight again next summer. "Personally, it makes absolutely no sense for any athlete who is TKO'd."
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As MMA Junkie pointed out, Holm actually won by KO, not TKO.
Dolce began working with Rousey during her second match against Miesha Tate at UFC 168 that took place in December 2013, and he worked with Rousey before her bout with Holm last month. It was Tate who told MMA Junkie earlier in the week that she believed Rousey would lose again to Holm if they were to fight next summer.
"They need a minimum -- a minimum -- of three months no contact," Dolce said. "And then they need another three-month period of light contact just getting back into the gym again. That puts us at six months, which is May (2016). And then you get into more intense training. That's even before training camp kicks in."
Rousey plans to shoot two movies before next summer's penciled-in rematch, which also flies in the face of how Dolce believes she should proceed. Rousey needs to take a gradual approach to re-entering the ring.
"I would much rather see Ronda fight in fall to late winter," he said. "Maybe even that December card of next year. Optimally, I believe that's the best interest in the health and safety of my athlete."
Dolce added that he understands from a business perspective why UFC president Dana White is pushing for the rematch. But the rush is putting Rousey's health in jeopardy.
"I hear the quotes, and they're running a business, so that's right for the business, for sure," he said. "Ronda will probably get paid more money if she fights on UFC 200 as opposed to UFC 204 or 206 or whatever happens because that will be the bigger event, the biggest, most stacked card, and she'll get the pay-per-view points as a result of that.
"This is serious business, getting punched and kicked in the skull, risking traumatic brain injury -- these are all serious things that we do not take lightly. It makes no sense for an athlete to come back two seconds too soon in order to make money.
"But this isn't about money. From our perspective, it's about the health and safety of the athlete."
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