Jon Anik Cites 'True Meritocracy' In Shutting Down Ronda Rousey Return & Title Shot After Amanda Nunes Retirement
UFC play-by-play commentator Jon Anik feels Ronda Rousey shouldn’t get an immediate title shot if she opts to come back.
Rousey left MMA following a loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 by first-round TKO. She signed with WWE for her professional wrestling career months later and has become one of the organization’s biggest stars.
Nunes, meanwhile, retired following a win over Irene Aldana at UFC 289 earlier this month. She leaves the sport as arguably the greatest female fighter of all time and a two-division UFC champion.
“Rowdy” seemingly remains uninterested in an eventual comeback to the UFC as she continues her WWE tenure. But, the recent UFC-WWE merger could make an Octagon return for Rousey down the line not off the table.
If Rousey decides to come back to fighting, Anik feels she shouldn’t get the chance to capitalize on Nunes’ retirement for an immediate shot at the belt.
Jon Anik Dismisses Possible Ronda Rousey Return For Title Shot
During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Anik dismissed the idea that Rousey should get an immediate shot at UFC gold.
“In a true meritocracy, that’s not gonna set well with me nor the athletes that have been donating blood, sweat, and tears to mixed martial arts over the last several years,” Anik said. “If anyone is worthy of that opportunity, it’s probably Ronda Rousey, and I do believe that she would be competitive. She wouldn’t enter that setting without the guarantee that she would be competitive. But, I didn’t like that Henry Cejudo came back and cut the line of a bunch of 35ers that have been active. So it would be hypocritical of me to say ‘absolutely’… But if there were ever a time, it would be absolutely now.”
Henry Cejudo returned after a three-year retirement to face UFC Bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288. He lost by split decision and is booked to return against Marlon Vera at UFC 292.
Before losses to Nunes and Holly Holm, Rousey was one of the biggest superstars in combat sports. Her dominant bantamweight title reign was one of the most miraculous runs in UFC history.
Rousey hasn’t publically expressed interest in a comeback to the UFC, but Anik feels it shouldn’t be for a shot at a championship redemption.
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