Ronda Rousey's UFC return delayed

It looks like the world is going to have to wait just a little bit longer for the return of Ronda Rousey.

The former UFC women’s bantamweight champion hasn’t been seen in the Octagon since her stunning knockout loss to Holly Holm last November.

According to UFC president Dana White, it appears that her impending return has been delayed even further after Rousey underwent a minor knee surgery.

"I'm hoping we're going to get Ronda back this year," White said on ESPN’s “SportsCenter”.

“She actually … she just had surgery on her knee yesterday. Nothing serious, just get in there and scope it, clean it out a little bit."

Since the loss, there have been questions regarding when Rousey would be seen back in action. There was some speculation that Rousey would participate at UFC 200 in July but those hopes were squashed when White revealed earlier this year that Rousey was targeting an October or November return. A November return put her on course with the UFC’s first show in New York at Madison Square Garden on November 12. But now, it’s increasingly unlikely that she’ll be ready by then. As a matter of fact, there’s a chance that Rousey doesn’t compete until early 2017.

But whenever Rousey is healthy, White assured that the former champion would immediately be thrust back into the title picture and get a crack at the champion, whoever it may be.

"If Miesha Tate's still the champion, she'll fight Miesha Tate," White said. “Whoever has the belt is whom Ronda Rousey will fight.

"Injuries happen in this sport, somebody falls out and somebody else slides in, I'm not even saying Holly Holm couldn't be the champion by the time Ronda comes back,” he continued. “Whoever holds that belt when Ronda's ready."

More from Cagewriter