Ronda Rousey might finally step back into combat sports, but not inside an Octagon.
According to a new report from Boxing Scene, Rousey is in “active negotiations” for a massive boxing match against Irish superstar Katie Taylor. The fight is being targeted for Las Vegas in 2026, although a specific date is still pending. Netflix is reportedly interested in broadcasting the bout.
Rousey, 38, remains one of the biggest names in MMA history. The former UFC bantamweight champion hasn’t competed since 2016, when her dominant run ended with knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes. Before that, she was a force, stacking eight straight title defenses, many of them wrapped up in under 90 seconds and rewriting what fans thought was possible in women’s MMA.
She later transitioned into entertainment, including a successful WWE run that ended with her becoming part of the first women’s match to headline WrestleMania.
Recently, Rousey has sparked comeback rumors with interviews and training clips across her socials. Even so, she has refused to fully commit to stepping back into a fight.
Taylor, 39, is a legend in her own lane. She’s coming off two decision wins over Amanda Serrano and remains one of the biggest attractions in women’s boxing. Her partnership with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions helped push her global popularity to new heights, leading to historic fights at Madison Square Garden and AT&T Stadium.
Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith reacted to the news with cautious optimism.
“Look, [Rousey is] obviously a superstar name in the world of fight sports, and if she came across it would be massive,” Smith told Boxing Scene. “I haven’t heard anything about her coming across to boxing, but let’s see.”
UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey is also reportedly being eyed for a streaming deal, with Netflix monitoring the negotiations closely. BoxingScene.com notes that the plan would be a summer 2026 super-fight if everything falls into place.
Many fans assumed that if Rousey ever returned to combat sports, it would be under the UFC banner, especially with all the hype surrounding a potential White House card. But that might not be the case anymore.
Not everyone supports the idea of Rousey fighting again. UFC analyst and veteran coach Din Thomas strongly pushed back on the talks.
“She shouldn’t even be cleared,” Thomas told MMAJunkie’s Mike Bohn. “How irresponsible would it be for a fight organization to hear all that then put her in a fight? To me, it almost sounds like you might’ve leaked that stuff in hopes they don’t put you back in a fight.
“You can’t play with those issues. It wouldn’t be good for the sport. It would be a real bad look on the sport to have some complaining about those type of issues, and then you, knowing that, you still put her in a fight. If that’s the case, we’ve got to keep her out of the Octagon.”
It’s unclear whether Rousey is using these boxing negotiations to leverage a better UFC deal or if she genuinely wants to test herself in a new arena. Her striking was never her strongest weapon in MMA, where she relied heavily on elite judo and lightning-quick submissions.
And against a world-class boxer like Taylor, who is still sharp, active, and technically superior, Rousey would walk in as a clear underdog.
Still, the idea of Rousey vs. Taylor in Las Vegas has already started heating up the combat sports world. If the deal gets finalized, 2026 could deliver one of the most unexpected crossover fights in years.
