The UFC women’s bantamweight champion spoke out about her personal relationships at a recent fan Q&A in Australia and admitted that while she respects Rousey in the ring, she doesn’t plan on developing a friendship with her foe after their careers are finished.
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“Is it going to disappoint you if I say hell no?” Tate said, via Fox Sports. “I just don’t see it. I don’t feel like I’m missing anything. Maybe some people feel bad, like ‘I wish they could be friends,’ but I don’t. I don’t feel like there’s some big hole that I’m missing in my life by not having Ronda be my best friend, so I’m OK with it.
“No tea parties planned any time soon.”
As for her third bout with Rousey, Tate “hopes” the matchup will happen sooner rather than later. With UFC 200 slated for July 9, however, a rematch between Tate and former bantamweight champ Holly Holm could be the biggest draw if Rousey doesn’t want to expedite her return to UFC.
UFC president Dana White said earlier this month that a third meeting between Tate and Rousey is most likely the next step, though Rousey likely won’t return from her loss to Holm last November until the fall. If Tate doesn’t want to wait, a rematch between Rousey and Holm could be in the cards.
