Dana White gives first response to Ronda Rousey MMA comeback fight as talks ‘didn’t work out’

Dana White insists he is happy for Ronda Rousey despite talks over a UFC return breaking down.

MMA trailblazer Rousey, who fought Liz Carmouche in the first ever UFC fight in 2013, has announced her stunning comeback to MMA.

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She will take on fellow pioneer Gina Carano in a blockbuster and historic clash, which will be promoted by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions and will land on streaming service Netflix.

It was a huge surprise to see Rousey return, given her previous admissions that she’d be unlikely to make a full comeback due to her concussion history.

But she did reveal that she did hold discussions with UFC president White, to which they came to no avail.

And when speaking out on the UFC legend’s hallmark new bow, the kingpin explained that there were no hard feelings.

“Her and I have been talking about this since last year,” White said.

“It just didn’t work out. But I’m happy for her.

“Listen, me and Gina are in a really good place, we weren’t at one point. I’m happy for both of them.”

Should Rousey’s MMA comeback go well, it is unclear if White could make a new move to secure her services, but financial limitations make it unlikely.

But for now, it will be a big history-making event for Rousey who will be looking to make a winning return.

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Why did Rousey’s deal with the UFC fail to go through?

Rousey has a rich history with the sport’s premier promotion, where she last fought in 2016.

She suffered back-to-back defeats in her final two outings against Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes after a steep decline, but holds a rich legacy in the octagon.

‘Rowdy’ did herself approach White with the details of a potential fight, but believes the UFC’s new $7.7 billion broadcast deal with Paramount+ prevented any official deal from coming.

She said: “Yes, it it very much is [part of the saga of making the fight]. Well, originally I wanted to do it for New Year’s.

“I went to him and I’m like, ‘You always say that I’m the best fighter you ever worked with. Reward me for it.

“Don’t punish me for being easy to work with. Give me the best deal you ever gave anybody.

“But Gina needed more time. And it happened to go to the other side of when ESPN’s deal and their PPV model would be ending and they would be going to streaming [with Paramount].

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“They didn’t want to set a precedent of giving me the guaranteed money that I deserve, because once I rise that raise that tide it lifts all the boats. And they just made a $7.7 billion dollar deal at Paramount.

“So it no longer made sense for for me to go over there, because they didn’t want to pay us the money that we deserve.”