Ex-Champ Ronda Rousey Takes Significant Step Toward UFC Return

BREAKING: @RondaRousey is "Back biting apples again!"https://t.co/AZd50JYI8p

— UNINTERRUPTED (@uninterrupted) March 14, 2016

Ronda Rousey may have just cleared a significant hurdle on her way to an eventual return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Taken out of context, the video Rousey recently posted via Uninterrupted was relatively innocuous. But for those who remember the traumatized, post-UFC 193 Rousey, what she recently accomplished was something of a milestone.

“This just as of last night,” Rousey said before taking a healthy chunk out of the shiny red obstacle in front of her. “No problem. I’m biting apples again. I’m pretty excited about this.”

Rousey’s last Octagon appearance resulted in the most shocking upset of 2015, as she was brutally knocked out by Holly Holm in Melbourne last November. Holm rocked the Olympic judoka repeatedly with counter left hands before putting her out for good with a with a head kick 59 seconds into the second round of their bantamweight championship encounter.

In an interview with ESPN, the previously unbeaten Rousey revealed how deep her anguish truly ran. Not all of it was mental, however. Holm’s work had taken a physical toll, as well.

“It might be three to six months before I can eat an apple, let alone take an impact,” Rousey said then.

Rousey’s estimation was correct, as it has been approximately four months since she fell to Holm. Whether that means “Rowdy” will make a quicker-than-expected return to the Octagon is unclear. UFC President Dana White has stated that Rousey is not expected to fight again until November or December. However, there has been some speculation that Rousey could come back sooner in the wake of Holm’s submission loss to Miesha Tate at UFC 196. Shortly after the event’s conclusion, White said on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” that Rousey will get the next title shot against Tate regardless.