Dana White: Ronda Rousey is the greatest athlete I've ever worked with
A couple of years ago when Ronda Rousey first started to explore the possibility of having a movie career in addition to her reign as women's bantamweight champion, UFC president Dana White admittedly had a few misgivings about the idea.
White had already dealt with former light heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson forgoing a fight against Rashad Evans as a result of his role in "The A-Team" movie, so his trepidation about another fighter lime-lighting as a Hollywood star was understandable.
Thankfully, Rousey has handled her movie career and UFC career with flawless results. She's managed to film parts in two major movies being released in 2015 — "Furious 7", currently the biggest movie in America as well as the "Entourage" movie opening in June — while also defending her title in February with another fight already scheduled for UFC 190 in August.
"The greatest athlete I've ever worked with No. 1," White called Rousey on Tuesday when speaking to AM 570 Sports in Los Angeles. "She's so hard working, focused, she's amazing, she's incredible. I couldn't say enough good things about her.
"She's one of the very few that can juggle all the things and make it all work."
Rousey is about to begin filming her next movie titled "Mile 22", and last week she appeared at Wrestlemania, attended the premiere for "Furious 7" in Los Angeles, and cornered one of her teammates in his first professional boxing win.
Following the completion of her new film, Rousey will then begin preparing for her Aug. 1 bout against undefeated Brazilian Bethe Correia in Brazil. Rousey undoubtedly will enter the fight as an overwhelming favorite to take out Correia like she's done every other opponent she's faced since coming to the UFC in 2013.
Correia is the second straight undefeated fighter to face Rousey, who dispatched previous No. 1 contender Cat Zingano in just 14 seconds. As dominant as Rousey has been, White says there's no problem finding any number of fighters willing to face her in the Octagon.
Someone actually beating Rousey? Well that's an entirely different conversation.
"It's not hard to find people to fight Ronda. There's a long list of people to fight Ronda," White said. "The question becomes is there someone who can beat Ronda?"
While Correia is next in line, another Brazilian seems to be on the top of everybody's list as a potential challenger who could defeat Rousey.
Cris "Cyborg" Justino, who fights at 145 pounds for Invicta Fighting Championships, is signed to a UFC contract, according to White, but until she makes the bantamweight limit, there won't be any fight with Rousey.
"The Cyborg fight: Cyborg is signed, the title is at 135 pounds," White said. "Cyborg has to make 135 pounds and if she does, that fight will happen."
