Jon Jones, a former UFC star, made a bold prediction in the past by backing Ronda Rousey to defeat Floyd Mayweather in a crossover fight. Rousey, a UFC bantamweight champion, had expressed extreme confidence in her ability to take on any opponent, regardless of gender or weight class. This sparked a debate among fight fans about how she would fare in an MMA match against Mayweather, a 50-0 boxing legend.
During an interview with FOX Sports in April 2014, Jon Jones surprised many by picking Ronda Rousey to come out on top. He highlighted Rousey’s strength, her high-level Judo experience, and her expertise in Jiu Jitsu as factors that could give her an edge over Mayweather in an MMA bout. Jones emphasized the importance of ground skills in MMA, suggesting that Mayweather might struggle in that aspect against Rousey.
While several prominent figures in the UFC, including Conor McGregor, Dana White, and Joe Rogan, supported Rousey in a hypothetical matchup against Mayweather, the fight never materialized. Instead, it was Rousey’s fellow UFC fighters, Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes, who ended her winning streak with devastating knockouts.
Rousey’s career in MMA came to an end due to concerns about her health, particularly related to concussions. Despite being consistently linked to a comeback, she revealed that she had a history of fighting through injuries, including concussion symptoms, which eventually led to her decision to retire. Rousey’s honesty about her health struggles shed light on the physical toll that professional fighting can take on athletes, even those as accomplished as herself.
While Rousey’s dream fight against Mayweather never came to fruition, her impact on the world of combat sports remains significant. Her confidence, skill set, and resilience continue to inspire a new generation of fighters, both male and female, to push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of mixed martial arts.