Ronda Rousey, the UFC’s first women’s bantamweight champion, is at the center of comeback rumors for a fight against current titleholder Kayla Harrison at a UFC event on the White House lawn on July 4, 2026. On his YouTube channel on August 6, 2025, former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen revealed the buzz comes directly from Rousey’s inner circle. Though the rumor is gaining traction, Sonnen doubts the fight will happen.
Inner Circle’s Big Claim
Sonnen confirmed the source of the speculation.
“I can confirm the story came from Ronda,” he said. “And in this space, it’s always Ronda’s camp, one of Ronda’s people, Ronda’s inner circle. I understand those things, but it was. The absolute inner circle of Ronda has let it be known: that she will take on the winner of Amanda and Kayla as long as it’s Kayla. So in other words, ‘I’ll return to fight for the title if Kayla needs an opponent’”
He noted the rumor’s spread in MMA circles.
“Everybody in our industry is hearing the story and they’re all talking about it, but they don’t have the quite the confirmation to come out and bring it to you,” Sonnen added. “As a matter of fact, it’s believed when Dana alluded to this big surprise that none of you will see coming, that is what he is alluding to. The idea of two Olympic medalists on the White House grounds, they think is very American and a very good feel”.
Sonnen remains unconvinced about the matchup.
“I don’t believe it’s going to happen. It is the rumor, though,” he concluded. “Ronda versus Kayla — not only will that not happen, but Ronda Rousey competing in anything at one hundred and thirty five pounds? Also not gonna happen”.
Rousey, now 37, has not fought in the UFC since a 48-second knockout loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in December 2016. Her time in WWE from 2018 to 2023 and recent focus on family make a return unlikely.
Rousey and Harrison share a judo background, with Rousey earning a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics and Harrison winning gold in 2012 and 2016. They were roommates during their judo days, with Harrison recalling Rousey’s habit of walking around naked at home.
Harrison, 34, joined the UFC in 2024 after a dominant PFL run, capturing the bantamweight title from Julianna Peña at UFC 316 in June 2025.
The White House event, announced by President Donald Trump and UFC CEO Dana White for America’s 250th anniversary, is expected to draw 20,000 fans and feature a title fight. Harrison, the only current American UFC champion, is a prime candidate for the card.
Rousey’s 2012-2015 UFC run transformed women’s MMA, with six title defenses before her knockout loss to Holly Holm at UFC 193 in November 2015. Recent training clips, including a takedown video captioned “I don’t shoot doubles often, but when I do, they’re called morote gari,” stirred comeback talk. She trained with UFC bantamweight Luana Santos, who called Rousey her inspiration. However, Rousey welcomed her second daughter in January 2025, prioritizing family.
