Katie Taylor vs. Ronda Rousey - Las Vegas in 2026

[Ruthless-RKO]

Katie Taylor vs. Ronda Rousey in the works for Las Vegas showdown in 2026

Katie Taylor and Ronda Rousey are involved in active negotiations to stage a mega-bout in Las Vegas matching the most compelling women’s combat fighters of this century, BS has learned.

Ireland’s two-time undisputed boxing champion Taylor, 25-1 (6 KOs), coming off a July victory over Puerto Rico’s Amanda Serrano that generated 6 million streams on Netflix, is 39 and nearing the end of a legendary career that has included an Olympic gold medal.

Former UFC bantamweight champion Rousey, 38, has performed in WWE after reigning as UFC women’s bantamweight champion for three years (2012-2015) before being upset by boxing hall of famer Holly Holm.

Rousey retired upon getting stopped by UFC great Amanda Nunes in late 2016, but she has been seen training in recent months, sparking speculation of a comeback bout.

Rousey has remained coy on the topic.

Although she won many of her UFC bouts by armbar submission, Rousey was schooled heavily in boxing by then-coach Edmond Tarverdyan in Glendale, California, and her confidence in fighting from the stand-up stance increased into her final bouts.

By devoting a wealth of training time to the craft for her return, Rousey would generate massive interest in a comeback against the gritty Taylor, who has battled through tooth-and-nail bouts to claim majority decision victories over the likes of Serrano (whom she defeated three times), along with former super-lightweight champion Chantelle Cameron and Delfine Persoon.

Taylor, being honored this week at the WBC Convention here in Thailand, told reporters Sunday she believes she misses the sport more than it misses her.

She was noncommittal about who lies ahead, telling BS, “I’m not too sure – waiting to see what happens. I’m ready to fight whenever, really, and take on whatever challenge comes next. Right now, I’m waiting to see what that is. Any of the big names, any of the big fights – I’m ready to take on them all.”

Taylor-Rousey talk has drawn the interest of Netflix, said an official familiar with the talks who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are unauthorized to speak publicly on the negotiations.

And given the success of Taylor-Serrano as a headline event, along with the intrigue in Rousey, the fight is being pursued as its own main event.

The bout is being pegged as a summer event, the official said.

[gilgamesh]

Depending on what sport they settle on. That's what will determine the winner.

Honestly at this point even in an MMA match Katie may have a realistic chance because she's been active while Ronda hasn't competed in a real fight in quite some time, and she's been beaten by a Boxer before in MMA.

Come to think of it. I hope it's MMA. At least that way, it's a fight. If it's a Boxing match. There's no way it's anything but complete domination for Taylor.

[gregregegg]

Depending on what sport they settle on. That's what will determine the winner.

Honestly at this point even in an MMA match Katie may have a realistic chance because she's been active while Ronda hasn't competed in a real fight in quite some time, and she's been beaten by a Boxer before in MMA.

Come to think of it. I hope it's MMA. At least that way, it's a fight. If it's a Boxing match. There's no way it's anything but complete domination for Taylor.

It’s more competitive boxing than mma…. Both a horrific mismatches though.

Katy would get armbared in 20 seconds in mma. Ronda will get peppered and stopped in a few rounds boxing.

This feels like a Katy tailor make some cash and retire boxing match to me.

[Kilburn]

Over her last few UFC fights Ronda got swept up in the idea that she was a really good striker, when she was anything but.

I agree that an MMA match would be way more interesting.

[Controversial]

I thought Rousey had issues with being knocked out and memory loss etc?

[gilgamesh]

Depending on what sport they settle on. That's what will determine the winner.

Honestly at this point even in an MMA match Katie may have a realistic chance because she's been active while Ronda hasn't competed in a real fight in quite some time, and she's been beaten by a Boxer before in MMA.

Come to think of it. I hope it's MMA. At least that way, it's a fight. If it's a Boxing match. There's no way it's anything but complete domination for Taylor.

It’s more competitive boxing than mma…. Both a horrific mismatches though.

Katy would get armbared in 20 seconds in mma. Ronda will get peppered and stopped in a few rounds boxing.

This feels like a Katy tailor make some cash and retire boxing match to me.

Holly Holm didn't get armbarred in 20 seconds...or at all.

[Kilburn]

From my recollection (crazy to think it’s already been 10 years), Ronda arrogantly thought she could go in with Holm and out strike the striker.

Although with Holm’s mobility, getting hold of her to deploy an arm bar wouldn’t have been a given either. That said, Holm did go on to lose something like 4 of her next 5 fights.

[Manchester Hitman]

Makes perfect sense for Taylor. She will make a load of cash and can then hopefully retire straight afterwards.

[MPW]

If it's MMA, Rousey has a chance if she can get Taylor off her feet. If it's boxing, Taylor will pick her apart and dominate.

[Coco]

Taylor is done, cash grab for her, don't begrudge it

[gregregegg]

Depending on what sport they settle on. That's what will determine the winner.

Honestly at this point even in an MMA match Katie may have a realistic chance because she's been active while Ronda hasn't competed in a real fight in quite some time, and she's been beaten by a Boxer before in MMA.

Come to think of it. I hope it's MMA. At least that way, it's a fight. If it's a Boxing match. There's no way it's anything but complete domination for Taylor.

It’s more competitive boxing than mma…. Both a horrific mismatches though.

Katy would get armbared in 20 seconds in mma. Ronda will get peppered and stopped in a few rounds boxing.

This feels like a Katy tailor make some cash and retire boxing match to me.

Holly Holm didn't get armbarred in 20 seconds...or at all.

Holy holm boxed, was a boxer and is a boxer… but she was also a kick boxer and an mma fighter…

She was part of an mma team 8 years befor fighting Ronda. She had kickboxer 12 years befor fighting Ronda.

Unless this fight is scheduled for 2036 and katy wants a 10 year mma camp Katy tailor would get ragdoled and beaten by whatever submission Ronda wanted almost instantly.

[jameswilson]

If it’s under boxing rules Taylor wins with ease. If it’s under mma rules, Rousey gets hold of Taylor and ties her in knots. While she hasn’t competed in god knows how long her Judo knowledge is such that it will be instinctive and you just can’t learn how to defend against the throws and submission holds that Rousey will do.

[Coco]

If it’s under boxing rules Taylor wins with ease. If it’s under mma rules, Rousey gets hold of Taylor and ties her in knots. While she hasn’t competed in god knows how long her Judo knowledge is such that it will be instinctive and you just can’t learn how to defend against the throws and submission holds that Rousey will do.

It will be boxing rules, Rousey will earn far more boxing

[gilgamesh]

I was genuinely surprised to see that Rousey is actually younger than Taylor.

[Glass Joe]

JP vs Joshua is the biggest mismatch in boxing in recent times. Hearn. Hold my beer

[Ruthless-RKO]

Katie Taylor ‘very, very open’ to fighting Ronda Rousey

It’s not just about the finances or worldwide attention that stirs Katie Taylor regarding a potential fight with UFC great Ronda Rousey. It’s also about matching her fighting mind with another who has so dominated her sport.

In her first comments since Monday’s report by Boxing Scene that Taylor’s and Rousey’s representatives are actively negotiating a fight being targeted for the summer as a Netflix presentation in Las Vegas, Taylor said the mental warfare makes the possibility of the bout riveting.

“[Rousey’s] an iconic figure herself in female sport,” the two-time undisputed champion told Boxing Scene. “She has an amazing mentality. You don’t get to the position she’s in without a fantastic mind, without a fantastic mentality.

“It’s just a very interesting fight. Seeing all the headlines this morning, I was thinking, ‘OK, I’m up and ready for this fight.’”

Taylor, 39, is coming off a third consecutive victory over seven-division champion Amanda Serrano in July in a Netflix main event that generated 6,000,000 streams to shatter the tally of Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford for undisputed super-middleweight title on the streaming giant in September.

UFC hall of famer and WWE star Rousey dominated her circuit from 2012 to 2015 as bantamweight champion, when producing a strong of early arm-bar submissions that displayed her progress as she trained throughout in a boxing gym in Glendale, California.

Taylor said she believes Rousey, 38, has sufficient time to develop her stand-up fighting skills to make it a compelling match, given women’s bouts often become all-action affairs due to their two-minute rounds.

“Absolutely, it’s an interesting fight,” Taylor said while being honored throughout the WBC Convention in Thailand. “It’s a fight that will interest and capture the imagination of the fans and that’s what boxing needs. I’d be very, very happy to fight Ronda. I’m very open to these kinds of fights where all generations can sit down and watch boxing.

“I’m very, very open… to fighting Ronda Rousey. Absolutely open to it, for sure.”

Ireland’s former Olympic gold medalist, 25-1 (6KOs), has displayed uncompromised grit during rugged majority decision wins against Serrano, former junior-welterweight champion Chantelle Cameron, and former lightweight challenger Delfine Persoon. The quality of the matches took her and women’s boxing from “pretty much being nonexistent” at the time of her pro debut to, in 2025, “headlining cards at Madison Square Garden, making more money than we ever have,” Taylor said on Tuesday.

“I hope that progress continues.

“I consider it an absolute privilege to be in this position… Ronda Rousey makes sense.”

Taylor believes a bout with Rousey has the potential to surpass the success of her third with Serrano.

While some speculate Rousey’s struggles fighting in the striking pose in her final two UFC bouts against boxing hall of famer Holly Holm and UFC legend Amanda Nunes indicate she will struggle against the ever-punching Taylor, the boxing champion said she has deep respect for the preparation Rousey will commit to in the months leading to the showdown, making theirs a wildly intriguing match.

“[Rousey] has such a huge following,” Taylor said. “It would be an amazing privilege to step into the ring with such a legend – not just in UFC, but women’s sports as a whole. We’ll see what happens.”

And the clamor for the bout will guarantee Taylor is ready to perform to her high standard.

“Whoever I fight, I’m very motivated,” she said. “I love sport. I love training. But this one is so interesting.”

Of the potential financial earnings to be negotiated in private, Taylor said the timing is superb, because her 40th birthday is in July.

“This is a very, very short career,” she said. “We all want to make as much money as we can, build our legacy and be involved in these big fights while wanting the integrity of the sport to be there, as well. At the end of the day, I have to do what’s right for me and my family.”

Taylor’s fame rose through her participation on Jake Paul’s exhibition fight versus Mike Tyson, and she was asked about Paul’s looming professional bout against former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on December 19.

“[Paul] has a boxing and an entertainment background,” Taylor said. “Professional boxing is entertainment. That’s how he’s been able to get these fights over the line on Netflix

“This is a risky fight for both. I’d be surprised if Jake Paul doesn’t get knocked out. Anthony Joshua’s a huge puncher.

“This is crazy. I have the utmost respect for Jake Paul for taking the fight. This is one of the biggest punchers in the sport. I think this is insane that it’s happening, but I don’t have any problem with it because of the attention it’s bringing to boxing.”

That’s an asset that Taylor, too, knows how to display.

[MPW]

It’s more competitive boxing than mma…. Both a horrific mismatches though.

Katy would get armbared in 20 seconds in mma. Ronda will get peppered and stopped in a few rounds boxing.

This feels like a Katy tailor make some cash and retire boxing match to me.

Holly Holm didn't get armbarred in 20 seconds...or at all.

Holy holm boxed, was a boxer and is a boxer… but she was also a kick boxer and an mma fighter…

She was part of an mma team 8 years befor fighting Ronda. She had kickboxer 12 years befor fighting Ronda.

Unless this fight is scheduled for 2036 and katy wants a 10 year mma camp Katy tailor would get ragdoled and beaten by whatever submission Ronda wanted almost instantly.

During that long career, Holm was a world champion boxer and a world champion kickboxer, so Rousey had to be concerned with both her hands and feet. Unable to get Holm off her feet, Rousey tried to strike with her, which obviously didn't work out too well.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

UFC President Dana White: ‘Total bulls*t’ on Ronda Rousey vs. Katie Taylor Rumors

UFC president clarifies no talks are happening between the former champion and the boxing star.

Dana White addressed a report suggesting Ronda Rousey might face Katie Taylor in a boxing match. During the UFC 323 post-fight press conference, the UFC president did not hold back his opinion on the story.

“Total bulls*t,” White stated firmly when the rumor was mentioned.

White elaborated on Rousey’s choice regarding a potential comeback. He emphasized that the decision belongs to her alone and praised her achievements both inside the octagon and beyond.

“That’s up to her, you know what I mean?” White said. “I personally cannot say enough good things about Ronda Rousey. When she was going to the WWE, the WWE called me to ask. I said, ‘I’m telling you right now, she’ll be the greatest athlete you’ve ever worked with over there. I’m telling you.’ I can’t say enough good things about her. She was great when she was here.”

[Ruthless-RKO]