Related: Watch Holly Holm earn her shocking KO victory over Ronda Rousey
Watch Miesha Tate choke out Holly Holm to earn the bantamweight crown
Ronda Rousey (12-1) is expected to make her return to the Octagon following a yearlong absence in November, which happens to coincide with the UFC's first-ever event in Madison Square Garden.
UFC President Dana White is on record that Rousey's return won't be before November, and she's expected to step right into the No. 1 contender spot for the bantamweight belt, per Daily Star:
"Ronda is not coming back until November," he told ESPN.
"So a lot of things can happen before then. Whoever holds that belt, whether it be Miesha or anybody else, is probably who Ronda will fight next."
Rousey has been vocal in her attempt to get MMA legalized in New York, and spoke out after the bill was signed in mid-April, per UFC.com:
"I would love to have the opportunity to fight here because this is another time I feel like I earned the right to fight here because I fought for it," she said. "It wasn't just something that fell on my plate; I was part of the process and I think that's what a lot of the New York fighters will be feeling when they finally get to fight in their hometown.
Rousey dropped her title to Holly Holm back in November in a shocking KO loss. Holy subsequently was choked out by Miesha Tate, who has lost two previous bouts against Rousey.
Tate will defend her belt against Amanda Nunes on a stacked UFC 200 card in July.
