Jul 5, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; The referee stops the fight during the first round after Alexis Davis (blue gloves) gets knocked out by Ronda Rousey (red gloves) during a bantamweight fight at Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Jul 5, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; The referee stops the fight during the first round after Alexis Davis (blue gloves) gets knocked out by Ronda Rousey (red gloves) during a bantamweight fight at Mandalay Bay Events Center. REUTERS

Reigning UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is set to defend her title once again Feb. 28 at UFC 184 against formidable opponent Cat Zingano. The 27-year-old judo artist revealed her respect for the number two contender and her choice of opponent if ever she succeeds against Zingano.

Rousey disclosed that she has her eyes set at decorated boxer Holly Holm as a possible opponent if all goes according to plan. As reported by the Washington Post, Rowdy was on hand with AXS TV's Ron Kruck last Friday to deliver her thoughts on who among the current crop of women she is likely to face next. She was given the choice between Gina Carano, Holly Holm and Cris "Cyborg" Justino and this is what she had to say:

"Well, Gina is not in the UFC right now - she's off making a movie," Rousey replied. "Cyborg, I was looking forward to fighting her, but if by 'injured' you mean she took too many steroids and can't make weight, she's extremely injured right now and is unavailable. Holly Holm is a world champion boxer who is undefeated and has very many knockouts under her belt and I think is an extremely worthy opponent."

With the statement, Rousey essentially eliminates both Carano and Justino the two biggest names after Zingano and turns her attention to Holm instead, a multi-divisional boxing titlist and one who has successfully transitioned to mixed martial arts. Holm was supposed to make her UFC debut Dec. 6 but was pulled out of the fight against Raquel Pennington due a neck injury. The welterweight boxing champion has been open to the idea of facing Rousey if ever she is given the opportunity but due to the injury, she will need time to recuperate and possibly put a couple of fights under her belt before Dana White gives her the opportunity.

In the same interview given by Rousey, the reigning champion was also all praises for Zingano and relayed that she could not possibly intimidate her opponent due to their good working relationship and mutual respect. While Rowdy praised the heart and ability of Zingano, the movie actress said that she is more athletically prepared than all of the girls in the UFC which works to her advantage.

Zingano disagrees on that opinion as she thinks she has the advantage, both physical and mental, over the reigning queen of the UFC. The challenger is coming off an impressive showing against Amanda Nunes defeating her by TKO during the third round of UFC 178 and she thinks that she has fully recovered from the knee injury that sidelined her for over a year.

With the way Rousey has been disposing recent opponents both by submission and strikes resulting to TKOs in just the first few seconds of matches, it is unclear if Zingano really has the advantage. If the same result replicates itself during UFC 184, the Holm fight might just be a few months away for all UFC followers.