UFC president tells Holly Holm her next opponent will be Ronda Rousey

UFC president Dana White has informed Holly Holm that her next fight will be against Ronda Rousey, regardless of her opinion on the matter

UFC president Dana White has informed current bantamweight champion Holly Holm that her next fight will be against Ronda Rousey, regardless of her opinion on the matter, Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Timesreports.

Both Holm and Rousey have indicated that they are up for a rematch after Holm handed Rousey her first defeat at UFC 193 in November, but neither had indicated a timeline for their next meeting.

Holm’s manager, Lenny Fresquez, told The Los Angeles Times that Holm’s team has decided she should fight Miesha Tate while she waits for Rousey to recover from the knockout that placed her on a six-month medical suspension. Fresquez informed White of this desire, but White is pushing for the rematch of the two biggest names in women’s fighting to be held on July 9 in Las Vegas, leaving Holm without enough time for an additional fight.

• Ronda Rousey opens up about UFC 193 loss to Holly Holm

“I’m not sure Ronda will be ready for a July fight,” Fresquez said, according to the report. “She took a severe beating and I don’t think it’s in her best interest to take the next fight so fast. They told me she’s been ready and cleared, but … .”

White expressed to The Times that he was not concerned with Fresquez’s opinion, and said “it’s Rousey” next for Holm.

“Ronda’s never lost a fight,” White said. “She will overcome it and be back.”

- Erin Flynn