7 Predictions For Ronda Rousey's UFC Return

7. The Ring Rust Will Be Really Noticable

There is one inescapable fact for every fighter not named Dominick Cruz when it comes to time away from the cage: ring rust (or maybe we should say cage rust) is very, very real.

Ring rust, in short, is what happens when a fighter hasn't had a live fight in a good long while. Train all you want, spar all you want, chances are your sparring partner isn't trying to take your head off. The experience gained from a real fight is unparalleled; what's lost from lacking that experience is considerable.

Even the best fighters will find it hard to shake off ring rust after over a year away, which is what Rousey is facing, having been out of action since November 2015. When she returns to face Amanda Nunes, we may find her a step slower, her reactions a little dulled, her Fight IQ down a notch or two.

That doesn't spell certain loss, mind you. If she can shake off that ring rust quickly, or simply play to her strengths and avoid a drawn out fight, she can be successful.