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UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey is backed to fill Dana White’s UFC CEO role to bring positive momentum to the promotion.

Ronda Rousey returned to Mixed Martial Arts earlier this year when she defeated Gina Carano in mere seconds by armbar submission. It was Rousey’s first fight since her UFC finale against Amanda Nunes at UFC 207.

Despite Rousey’s harsh criticism of the UFC’s business model, she remains close with CEO Dana White. Rousey was briefly in talks to fight Carano in the UFC before falling out with UFC CBO Hunter Campbell.

As 2026 nears a close, many have wondered whether or not White remains fully invested in MMA. White’s inaugural year of Zuffa Boxing, combined with his at-times unenthused promotional strategy for UFC fights, led many to question his passion for the sport.

A former UFC analyst believes Rousey would be a great head of the UFC if White were to transition out of his current role.

Dan Hardy: Ronda Rousey the best fit to replace UFC’s Dana White

In a recent interview with Submission Radio, former UFC television analyst Dan Hardy endorsed Rousey as White’s eventual successor.

“I don’t know whether he’s lost a bit of the hunger for that because the promoting is not necessarily that difficult anymore. I think he likes a challenge, and I don’t think MMA is a challenge for him anymore. He’s kind of conquered it, hasn’t he?” Hardy said of White’s UFC future.

“It just makes me think we need a fresh voice. I think maybe Dana’s time in mixed martial arts has passed. Maybe if he crosses over to boxing now and lets somebody else take his place. I don’t know if it’s Hunter [Campbell], though. I’ve not really spoken to him much.

“I was kind of getting the vibe that Ronda was going to be gunning for the UFC face job at some point in the future,” Hardy continued on White and Rousey. “So, we’ll see how that plays out. I could see Ronda going for it.” (h/t Bloody Elbow)

What changes would you like to see in the UFC in 2027? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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