Ronda Rousey came out of hibernation, and now she's preparing for another fight with Holly Holm.
Ronday Rousey Happy To Attend Marine Ball
"Rowdy" kept her word and accompanied Lance Corporal Jarrod Haschert to the Marine Corp Ball on Friday, and she finally seemed happy. Rousey has been mostly off the grid since her Nov. 14 knockout loss to Holm, which marked her first ever defeat in the Octagon and caused her to drop the UFC women's bantamweight championship.
"He was a real gentleman and a real sweetheart," Rousey said about Haschert to TMZ. "It was the only smiling I've been doing I think."
A photo posted by rondarousey (@rondarousey) on Dec 12, 2015 at 8:38am PST
Conor McGregor Gives Holly Holm Bargaining Chip
Rousey hopes to be smiling again when she takes on Holm in a rematch as Dana White believes the two will once again cross paths inside the cage at UFC 200 on July 9 in Las Vegas.
"Rowdy" had previously said she'd be "crying and eating ice cream" on Friday if she didn't go to the ball, but it seems the outing lifted her spirits. And now, she'll have plenty of marines cheering her on when she takes on Holm after the Marine Corp Ball. It looks like Rousey has all the inspiration she needs to take on Holm again.
"Who knows if I'm going to pop my teeth out or break my jaw or rip my lip open again?" Rousey told Fox Sports about the fight. "I have to (expletive) do it. It doesn't matter. I have to do it."
Holm's people aren't as happy about the rematch because it means the reigning UFC women's bantamweight champion has to stay out of active competition until July. "Holly's used to staying active," Holm's manager Lenny Fresquez said, according to the Los Angeles Times. "We're from the old school and we believe the No. 1 contender is there for a reason. ... [Miesha Tate] deserves a shot, but it's not for me to decide."
Fresquez also said he didn't know if "Ronda would be ready for a fight in July."
Judging by her smile when TMZ caught up with her following the Marine Corp Ball, Rousey is done feeling sorry for herself and is ready to battle again.
