The final UFC fight of 2016 lasted all of 48 seconds, as Amanda Nunes (14-4) bludgeoned Ronda Rousey (11-2) and forced a standing stoppage by referee Herb Dean. While Nunes made her first successful UFC women’s bantamweight title defense, Rousey suffered her 2nd career loss in as many fights, with both ending by knockout.
UFC president Dana White told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne about his interaction with Rousey following Friday’s UFC 207 main event.
“I must have tears, blood and boogers all over my f—ing jacket. I went in there and hugged her for 45 minutes,” White said. “I told her, ‘I love you so much, and whatever you want to do next, I got your back. You built this. This doesn’t exist without you. You’re the best decision I ever made.'”
Rousey’s future in the sport is in a state of uncertainty. The Nunes fight was her first inside the Octagon since her November 2015 loss to Holly Holm, after which she was largely out of the media spotlight. On Saturday, Rousey released a statement, also to Shelburne, about how she needed “to take some time to reflect and think about the future.” Retirement was never explicitly mentioned in the statement, although it’s already known that Rousey was planning to wind down her fighting career.
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