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Years after her dominance in the sport, Ronda Rousey still gets questioned about a UFC return. While she would have been open to it, Rousey has detailed the one thing that is preventing her from stepping back into the octagon.

‘Rowdy’ is arguably the most significant figure in the rise of women’s mixed martial arts. The jiu-jitsu phenom was the first real global superstar in the women’s game and was the first female to be inducted into the UFC Hall-of-Fame.

With unanswered questions beginning to surface regarding her future in combat sports, Ronda Rousey spoke of her appreciation for fans who still want to see her compete.

“I appreciate when people ask,” Rousey said during an interview with Sports Illustrated. “Maybe it means they still miss me.”

Rousey continued, discussing why we likely will never see her fight under the UFC banner again.

“If I could [return to the UFC], I definitely would. If I want to have a whole basketball team full of kids, I can’t take anymore detours. I’ve always wanted to be a mom with a lot of kids.”

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Ronda Rousey is among the most accomplished women in UFC history. For a long time, Rousey was being included into many fans’ Mount Rushmore of MMA, and understandably so.

Throughout her career, the now-37 year old has broken several records, some she holds until this day.

Related: Ronda Rousey thrashes ‘evil’ Vince McMahon in new memoir

Rousey was the inaugral women’s UFC bantamweight champion, making a division record six consecutive title defenses during that time.

The legend also holds the record for the fastest submission in title fight history. This came against Cat Zingano, which also earned submission of the year honors back in 2015.

In her absence from combat sport, Rousey has ventured into the world of comic books. Her graphic novel debut, titled: Expecting The Unexpected, will drop on Thursday, July 25.

Expecting The Unexpected follows a hitwoman who becomes pregnant after sleeping with a target. Now, the woman must juggle the dangers of her job whilst keeping her unborn child safe in a world of violence.

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It appears the UFC won’t be the only game in town on Mexican Independence Day.

According to a report from ESPN, a super middleweight title fight between Canelo Alvarez and Edgar Berlanga is close to being finalized for Sept. 14. The bout would take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, just down the road from the UFC’s September pay-per-view event UFC 306 — the promotion’s debut at Sphere.

Alvarez (61-2-2) is set to compete in his 66th professional boxing match. The undisputed super middleweight champ makes his second appearance of the year following a dominant decision victory against Jaime Munguia in May. Alvarez has won four straight, which includes a decision win over Gennadiy Golovkin.

The undefeated Berlanga gets the biggest opportunity of his young boxing career. The 27-year-old has won all 22 of his pro bouts, which includes a sixth-round knockout victory over Padraig McCrory in February.

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Julianna Peña has nothing but respect for Ronda Rousey’s contributions to MMA. It’s Rousey’s departure from the business that continues to rub her the wrong way.

“The Venezuelan Vixen” joined a chorus of voices weighing in on Rousey’s comments in association with the promotion of Rousey’s recently published autobiography, which has seen the former UFC star throw shade at fighters, executives, and the media who she believes wronged her during the darkest moments of her MMA career.

From one former bantamweight champion to another, Peña sympathizes with the mega stardom that Rousey had to deal with during her memorable championship reign, but she would like to see Rousey look inward more when it comes to doling out criticism.

“I will say, definitely, weight of the world on her shoulders, I’m sure, but it comes with the territory,” Peña said on The MMA Hour. “I do have this saying that I always say to everybody, ‘It sounds like an excuse, it sounds like an excuse. That’s what we call an…’ and then they’ll finish the sentence for me and they’ll say, ‘an excuse.’ I’ll tell you straight-up, ‘That’s an excuse, but…’ It’s never for her to say, taking accountability, ‘It’s an excuse, but I didn’t get to evolve.’ It’s just more of like blaming everybody else without taking any accountability.

“Especially if you lose, everybody loses. You get back up on the horse, you ride again, you fight another day. You’re not going to win every single fight. I think it was very poor taste for her to lose like that and then just be gone from the sport and never return. It just kind of shows her mentality.”

Rousey’s fighting career saw her incur a stunning fall from grace when she was knocked out by Holly Holm at UFC 193 in November 2015. That loss ended Rousey’s three-year run as champion and sent her into seclusion following a long period of widespread media attention. Thirteen months later, Rousey returned to the cage, only to lose to bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes in just 48 seconds at UFC 207.

That signaled the end for Rousey, who later went on to a successful run with WWE that ended in 2023. Rousey has made no indication that she plans to return to combat sports since.

Much of Rousey’s recent ire has been directed at the media, who she feels turned on her after her first loss. Peña wonders why Rousey couldn’t find a way to channel that negativity into motivation for a comeback.

“It’s a tool, and you can use it to fuel you or you can use it to sabotage you and ruin your life,” Peña said. “What are you going to do, you know what I mean? It’s some of that fighter mentality, for me. Are you going to fight back or are you just going to crumble and say, ‘My life is over. Everybody hates me and I’m done, and it’s all your fault.’

“Look, [I’m] appreciative, thankful, happy. Thanks for getting the foot in the door for the rest of us, of course. But I also had my own personal run-ins with Ronda, especially being on The Ultimate Fighter, that were not so pleasant, so I’m obviously going to feel a little bit differently about her than maybe most people would.”

Peña won The Ultimate Fighter 18 as the No. 1 pick of coach Miesha Tate, Rousey’s longtime rival. Not only was Peña on the opposing team, but she advanced to the semifinals of that season’s tournament by defeating Rousey’s close friend and No. 1 pick, Shayna Baszler.

Despite the beef between them — while Rousey was still active, Peña frequently campaigned to fight her — Peña has expressed her admiration for Rousey in the past. However, she believes that someone else would’ve eventually led the charge for women in the UFC even if “Rowdy” hadn’t paved the way.

“I don’t believe that,” Peña said when asked if women don’t become a part of the UFC roster without Rousey. “I think it was just a matter of time.”

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Sean O’Malley has long been a fan of Conor McGregor, but that didn’t stop him from tearing his idol to shreds on social media.

‘The Notorious’ often rubs people the wrong way with his blunt approach online, and that was the case once again. After the UFC bantamweight champion claimed that Ostarine — an illegal substance he was flagged with by USADA — can be transferred through sweat, McGregor reacted to the comment with a simple laughing emoji.

Sean O’Malley took offense to McGregor’s response and aired his thoughts on the former two-division UFC champion.

“Miss the old Conor,” O’Malley stated in response to McGregor on X. “You fell off bud.”

“Still a fan, though. I actually don’t care you are 1-4 in your last 5, I’m still excited to watch. Hope the toe is feeling better.”

Miss the old Conor 🙁 you fell off bud. Still a fan tho. I actually don’t care you are 1-4 in your last 5 I’m stills excited to watch. Hope the toe is feeling better. https://t.co/ENSkQw1RmB

— Sean O'Malley (@SugaSeanMMA) July 23, 2024

O’Malley continued, dispelling McGregor from any ‘greatest of all time’ discussions, before labeling him mentally weak.

“Conor isn’t in anyone’s GOAT talk. Entertainment, yes. But skill, no. [He] has a really good left hand.”

“[McGregor has] sh*t cardio. Weak [jiu-jitsu]. Decently athletic. Mentally weak. Drug addict, needs rehab. 1-4 [in his] last 5 fights. Still [a] fan, though. Hope toe heals up.”

Conor isn’t in anyone GOAT talk. Entertainment yes but skills, no. Has a really good left hand. Shit Cardio. Weak Jits. Decently athletic. Mentally weak. Drug addict, needs rehab. 1-4 last 5 fights. Still fan tho. Hope toe heals up

— Sean O'Malley (@SugaSeanMMA) July 23, 2024

Related: Sean O’Malley: ‘Conor McGregor’s time is running out’

This isnt the first time Sean O’Malley and Conor McGregor have butted heads online. After the Irishman again called O’Malley out for his alleged Ostarine usage, the bantamweight wasted no time in ‘switching up’ against the MMA icon.

Before reconciling following their first spat earlier this year, O’Malley jumped to side with Michael Chandler. The Arizona native wanted Chandler to put McGregor to sleep amid their rumored matchup.

Months later, that blockbuster matchup between McGregor and Chandler still hasn’t come to fruition. Despite the constant setbacks plaguing the fight, there is still hope that the two fan-favorites will collide later this year.

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ESPN just named its Top 10 men’s MMA fighters of the 21st century.

Not surprisingly, reigning UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones was No. 1, followed by former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre (No. 2) and ex-middleweight titleholder Anderson Silva (No. 3). It’s worth noting that both Jones and Silva were popped for performance-enhancing drugs during their respective careers while St-Pierre remained squeaky clean.

Must have been one of those Canadian loopholes.

One glaring omission is former UFC two-division titleholder Conor McGregor. While “Notorious” certainly has the star power — and box office draw — to make him one of the most celebrated fighters of his generation, his record inside the Octagon over the last several years is nothing to brag about. McGregor, who recently turned 36, is just 1-3 at lightweight and coming off back-to-back losses to longtime rival Dustin Poirier.

Here’s the Top 10 MMA fighters of the 21st century, according to ESPN:

1. Jon Jones
2. Georges St-Pierre
3. Anderson Silva
4. Demetrious Johnson
5. Khabib Nurmagomedov
6. Fedor Emelianenko
7. Randy Couture
8. Chuck Liddell
9. BJ Penn
10. Kamaru Usman

Expect that list to ruffle a few feathers.

Former PRIDE FC heavyweight champion, Fedor Emelianenko, is the only fighter among the Top 10 to never compete for UFC. Probably because Va-Dummy dropped the ball when it came time to put pen to paper. As for the rest of the lineup, only Jones (No. 1) and Usman (No. 10) are still competing inside the Octagon and as of this writing, are currently awaiting their next assignment.

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts