Ronda Rousey’s promise to Australia

SHE’S the baddest woman on the planet but Australia’s never had a glimpse of her in the flesh. That might be about to change.

Ronda Rousey

SHE’S the baddest woman on the planet.

And the undisputed female champion of the UFC, Ronda Rousey, says she would have “no problems going to Australia” to fight on Melbourne’s historic UFC 193 card in November.

Speaking via conference call ahead of women’s world bantamweight title defence at UFC 190 against Brazil’s Bethe Correia in Rio de Janerio on Saturday, Rousey said she was eager to venture Down Under.

“I would always want to come to Australia for any reason at all. It’s actually the one continent I’m missing, besides Antarctica, that I haven’t been to,” Rousey, 28, said.

“And I was actually walking with my mum last night and I was like, ‘I wanna go to Australia.’ Australia and New Zealand are the two places I really want to go. And if I can’t come there to fight, I still want to come there just to visit if I could.

“Any reason that I can come up with, I want to go. First things first, I’m going to beat Bethe and then we’re going to plan the next step.”

And with UFC president Dana White suggesting No. 2-ranked bantamweight Miesha Tate is next on the hit list, Rousey welcomed the potential match up on November 14, either at Etihad Stadium or Rod Laver Arena.

“There’s a chance I could be on their (card) 56 days from now,” Rousey declared.

“There’s definitely a chance. I wouldn’t be surprised by anything. I wouldn’t be surprised if they asked me on the mic, right after I’m done beaten the crap out of Bethe, ‘Wanna go fight in Australia.’ Nothing would surprise me right now.”

No woman has been able to match Ronda Rousey.

While the third grudge match against Tate — an all-American affair — could be slated for the US, Rousey revealed she has no problems bringing the bout to Melbourne.

“Not at all,” she said.

“If I’m willing to fight a girl (Correia) in her hometown where she has the home advantage, I would have no problems going to Australia, which is not just neutral territory, but gorgeous neutral territory.”

An Olympic medallist in Judo, Rousey is unbeaten in 11 MMA fights, defending her UFC title five times.

One of those victories was against Tate in the third round of UFC 168 in December 2013, while Rousey also submitted her in round one of their Strikeforce battle in March 2012.

Tate, 28, is full of confidence after her unanimous decision victory over Jessica “Evil” Eye on Sunday and is ready for another battle with Rousey, who maintains she still has a desire to fight for a third time.

“Well, there’s fan interest so there’s my interest,” Rousey said.

“I’m just interested in defending my title as many times as I need to until I feel like I’m done and if she’s the best competitor and she’s who the fans want to see then I’m extremely interested I doing it.

“I’m an entertainer. I’m not just here for myself, so if that’s what people want to see and she’s the No. 1 contender then I’m totally down because she’s the one that peak’s my interest after I’m done beating Bethe.”

Originally published as Ronda Rousey’s promise to Australia