Katie Taylor–Ronda Rousey Talks Stall as Taylor Weighs Next Fight

The crossover plan that once sounded like a Netflix blockbuster has flatlined. Negotiations for Katie Taylor to face former UFC star Ronda Rousey have cooled completely, sources confirmed this week.

Too many red flags. Rousey hasn’t thrown a real punch in nearly a decade, not since the Holm head‑kick loss that ended her MMA reign. Taylor, meanwhile, is a reigning undisputed junior‑welterweight champion who’s still campaigning at elite tempo. Matchroom and Turki Alalshikh’s team pushed the concept, but even Netflix, which funded Taylor–Serrano III in July, hesitated. The risk outweighed curiosity.

Why It Fell Apart

Rousey’s readiness was the problem from round one. No sparring footage, no training camp, no clear stance on whether she’d fight in ten‑ounce gloves or MMA hybrids. Dana White laughed the idea off, calling it “fantasy matchmaking.” Promoters privately agreed. Without a commission’s blessing or athlete commitment, the paperwork meant nothing.

One executive summed it up bluntly: “Katie’s in fight shape; Ronda’s in memory shape.” Even if it sold headlines, no sanctioning body wanted a mismatch that looked like a Netflix spectacle more than a contest.

Taylor Looks Toward Holm

With Rousey out, Taylor’s camp turned back to boxing logic. Holly Holm , a former multi‑division champion and the last woman to stop Rousey, has returned to her old craft, fighting Stephanie Han for the WBA lightweight title in January. If Holm wins, Taylor‑Holm has credibility and legacy all over it: two ex‑pound‑for‑pound rulers with real technique, not theater.

Taylor hasn’t fought since edging Amanda Serrano by majority decision in July, a chess match of timing and ring control that pushed her to 25‑1. She boxed off the back foot, countered the exchanges, and left enough debate to keep interest alive for whatever comes next.

The target window for her return is summer 2026. Holm’s result could decide everything.

The Bottom Line

The Rousey circus would have sold subscriptions, not satisfaction. Taylor’s too seasoned for exhibitions now. She needs names that test her rhythm, not her patience. For once, the business move and the boxing move might actually be the same fight.