The UFC has found itself amidst a substantial period of transformation following its merger with the WWE, operating under the TKO Holdings umbrella, ultimately leading to a significant partnership with Saudi Arabia. As the anticipation for UFC 300, scheduled for the upcoming year, continues to build, UFC President Dana White has definitively ruled out the participation of two prominent figures – Ronda Rousey and Brock Lesnar.
Brock Lesnar has remained absent from the Octagon since his triumph over Mark Hunt in 2016, an outcome that was later nullified after Lesnar tested positive for a prohibited substance during a post-fight drug screening.
Similarly, Ronda Rousey has refrained from stepping into the UFC ring since her defeat at the hands of Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in December 2016. Addressing the prospects of their return, White clarified during a discussion with Sports Illustrated that neither Rousey nor Lesnar would be making an appearance at UFC 300 in Las Vegas.
Expressing his understanding of the enduring enthusiasm for these iconic athletes, White affirmed:
“I get why everybody asks. I love that everybody loves them like that, and with so much passion. I do, too. But they’re definitely not coming back for UFC 300. I’m focused on Madison Square Garden. But no, they’re not coming back.”
While Rousey has planned to participate in an independent professional wrestling event this month, Lesnar is expected to remain absent from WWE television until the following year. As the UFC 300 event looms on the horizon, the combat sports community eagerly anticipates the unfolding of the highly anticipated event, curious to witness the new stars and narratives that will emerge in their absence.
