Ronda Rousey trains again, fuels eight-year MMA comeback talk

Ronda Rousey, the former UFC women's bantamweight champion who has not fought since December 2016, said this month she is rediscovering her love for mixed martial arts after posting video of recent training sessions, reigniting debate over whether the once-dominant fighter will return to the Octagon. The 38 year old Olympic judoka and UFC Hall of Famer shared clips of padwork and sparring while reflecting on postpartum training and an eight year absence from MMA.

"From eight weeks after having a baby and eight years of stepping away from MMA to eight months postpartum and finding my love for it again," Rousey wrote on Instagram, describing early sessions with boxing coach AJ Matthews and the pleasure she has found on the mat. She added that the last six months "have been an absolute blast" and that she feels she has "so much left to grow."

Rousey's social posts and comments have produced mixed reactions across the fight world. Some fans seized on the footage as evidence she could mount a comeback, with particular discussion around a proposed UFC card at the White House next year. Rousey herself said on The Lapsed Fan Podcast that she is not fighting at the White House, adding...