Booked to face Alexis Davis Jul. 5 at UFC 175, women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey can’t avoid talk of her nemesis, Cris Cyborg. The cold war between the two has heated up in past months, but the resolve to keep Cyborg on the outs seems stronger than ever. While UFC president Dana White reaffirmed his concerns over Cyborg making the 135 pound weight limit, Rousey is more worried about the life of her division.
“I’ve said before, I don’t care if she’s injecting horse semen into her eyeballs, I’ll fight her, but that’s just my personal decision,” Rousey told Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole. “But I can’t make a decision for the whole division. I can’t say it’s the right thing. This girl has been on steroids for so long and [has been] injecting herself for so long that she’s not even a woman anymore. She’s an ‘it.’ It’s not good for the women’s division. It’s not good at all.
“If she comes in the UFC and I beat the [expletive] out of her and then I retire and become an action movie star, then the UFC is still going to be stuck with her. The division could die. She could ruin the whole sport. Even though it’s a fight a lot of people want to see, even if I beat the living crap out of her, it won’t be good for the sport because then she’d still be in the UFC.”
Following a 16 second TKO destruction of Hiroko Yamanaka in December 2011, Cyborg tested positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol. With her final Strikeforce bout ruled a no contest, Cyborg was fined $2,500 and suspended one year by the California State Athletic Commission. In January 2012 White stripped Cyborg of the Strikeforce 145 pound women’s title, ‘killing the division,’ as he put it.
“I’d be honored to fight a competitor like Gina, who is an example of what real respect and honor is in the cage,” Rousey said. “I really think with Cyborg taking all of those steroids and hormones and then going into the cage, it’s like going in with a weapon. It’s certainly very negligent, but it’s also criminal. I believe, it really is. Promoting her would be promoting that act and I think it would be wrong in every way.
“I think it should be like the Olympics. If you [expletive] up once, you’re not going to the [expletive] Olympics. There should be a zero tolerance policy where if you’re caught doing anything, you should be done [expletive] forever.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Aftermath. Dave Doyle clues us in on how UFC on FOX 11 affects the promotion moving forward.
1.98 million. Despite an exciting card, UFC on FOX 11 pulled a series-low number of viewers.
Injuries for Browne. Travis Browne suffered a broken hand and possible broken rib in his loss to Fabricio Werdum.
A OK. Dana White gives Rich Franklin his blessing on taking a position with ONE FC. ‘There’s nothing wrong if you come and ask and say…hey listen, how can be upset with a guy for trying to better his life or taking a great opportunity somewhere?’
Wink on Reem. Mike Winkeljohn says Alistair Overeem will need to demonstrate a team first attitude, quick. ‘If not, he will be ostracized real quick and he’ll be gone.’
MEDIA STEW
UFC on FOX 11 post-fight presser highlights.
Dana talks Werdum and Tate.
Highlights from Donald Cerrone vs. Edson Barboza.
Rafael Cordeiro talks Fabricio Werdum’s win over Travis Browne.
Bobby Lashley wants to fight in WSOF, says he’s never had a training camp longer than two weeks.
Georges St-Pierre wants to be in Star Wars.
Long watches.
Dana White UFC on FOX 11 post-fight scrum video
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Countdown to UFC 172: Jones vs. Teixeira
TWEETS
As always, make sure to check out our Pros React piece for an instant reaction from UFC on FOX 11.
Victory lap.
Primeiro queria agradecer a minha família e a minha grande equipe q me levou a vitoria!!!OS QUIERO MUCHO! Queria… http://t.co/LCVV8obYHk
— Fabricio Werdum (@FabricioWerdum) April 20, 2014
My hats off to @iamgirlrilla holy hell she’s tough. Im super happy 2 have my 1st @UFC victory come 2 my after party! pic.twitter.com/xGzpMxktQh
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) April 20, 2014
Having some fun at @SHAQ house. pic.twitter.com/AfkohcZboy
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) April 18, 2014
Me and @SHAQ! pic.twitter.com/6usXsc0iWB
— Yoel Romero (@YoelRomeroMMA) April 20, 2014
Thanks coach for everything “@akajav: Congrats @TeamKhabib proud of you!!! pic.twitter.com/LoJNzGxa9H“
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) April 20, 2014
I love all my team! @americantopteam http://t.co/jJwfVSIBhB
— Thiago Alves. (@ThiagoAlvesATT) April 20, 2014
@GamebredFighter appreciate it. You too.
— Patrick Healy (@BamBamHealy) April 20, 2014
I won 1st rd tko I would like to thank EVERYBODY that watched n supported me for this fight
— Alex Spartan White (@Alex_White_145) April 19, 2014
Obrigado professor, amigo e pai @_gsmnu @gloverteixeira e essa pic.twitter.com/F7jxIVRLL8
— Caio Magalhaes (@CaioHellboy) April 20, 2014
Was an honor @RickHawnMMA I wish you the best! #respect @BellatorMMA pic.twitter.com/aSO61fnLjs
— Douglas Lima (@PhenomLima) April 19, 2014
Better luck next time.
So… What did you think of that decision? @ufc @danawhite
— LIZ CARMOUCHE (@iamgirlrilla) April 20, 2014
I want you all to know that I truly respect @MieshaTate. She is a great competitor.
— LIZ CARMOUCHE (@iamgirlrilla) April 20, 2014
Thank you all my team, family, fans who support me I WILL BE BACK STRONGER THAN EVER.
— Edson Barboza (@EdsonBarbozaJR) April 20, 2014
Sorry guys, romero was the better man tonight. But I PROMISE you I’ll be back stronger!!! Thank you all, for all the kind words and support!
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) April 20, 2014
Thank you all for the support last night, I did my best and I want to thank all my coaches, Roberto Gordo, Rafael… http://t.co/3qnbyy13Iv
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) April 20, 2014
Thank you to all my family, friends, coaches & training partners, congrats to @TiagoAlves… Welcome back!
— Seth Baczynski (@Sethbmma) April 20, 2014
Thanks everyone for their support. It’s certainly a new low for me but I will not stop working hard and trying to get back to winning form.
— Patrick Healy (@BamBamHealy) April 19, 2014
We’ll thought I won but great things learned in this fight can’t wait to come back stronger @ufc @danawhite
— Ray Borg (@tazmex18) April 20, 2014
A huge shout out to my opponent @MirsadBekticMMA for a great fight! That’s what I needed and what I wanted! You are the man!
— Chas Skelly (@ChasSkelly) April 20, 2014
Thank u everybody for all the support and kind words! Wasn’t my best performance but I’ll b back soon and at 155. Congrats to @PhenomLima!
— Rick Hawn (@RickHawnMMA) April 20, 2014
Thanks every1 who supported me last week. Shame about the result but that’s the fight game. Really appreciate the support. Thank you all.
— michael (@bisping) April 21, 2014
Get well soon.
Update on @travisbrowneMMA : Here’s the hand break pic from when Browne dropped Werdum in Round 1 on #UFConFOX11 #ufc pic.twitter.com/ffqKHbVU8a
— Ricky Lundell (@Rickylundell) April 20, 2014
Off to Vegas to get the hand operated on I will be back quick thanks to the @ufc and when I do, I’ll be ready to make a run like no one else
— Kyle Noke (@KyleNoke) April 20, 2014
My ankle injury I can walk somewhat but in no condition for the fight this is the second of the same ankle in 4 weeks pic.twitter.com/fP7Dqjk5L4
— Bobby King Green (@BobbyKGreen) April 21, 2014
More from Chael.
Math ?: Substitute teacher w/ 6 nuts. A gangster asks teacher 2 show him his nuts. Substitute doesnt respond. Does Substitute have any nuts?
— chael sonnen (@sonnench) April 18, 2014
Sounds promising.
Bothered this guy so much he said I could finally have a fight July 5th! Can’t wait! pic.twitter.com/uIdUzc19LO
— Hector Lombard (@HectorLombard) April 18, 2014
Hungry.
5 months more,I need came back to fight,I fight to kill or die…5 meses mais,eu preciso voltar a lutar.
— Antonio Pezao Silva (@BigfootSilva) April 20, 2014
Meus Parabéns ao Werdum, mostrou evolução e superioridade total. My Congrats to Werdum he showed progress and overall superiority.
— Junior Dos Santos (@junior_cigano) April 20, 2014
Wow.
Americana will give $5k to the first fighter that knocks out Ronda Rousey.
— Americana (@americanamma) April 19, 2014
I think the @ufc should suspend Ronda Rousey for her remarks about Cyborg. Don’t you have a code of conduct for your fighters?
— Americana (@americanamma) April 19, 2014
Lookin’ good.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced this weekend (Apr. 18-20 2014)
Rickey Rainey vs. Michael Page at Bellator 120
Bobby Green out, Yancy Meideiros vs. Jim Miller at UFC 172
Joe Ellenberger vs. Vagner Rocha at UFC 172
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via Graham Douglas.
I’ll keep my own views on Carano out of this. From an observation perspective, the loyal long time UFC and MMA fans are not going to be sold on how the immediate title match makes sense. Further, the UFC fighters themselves may have some pretty strong feelings of disagreement, but those feelings will never be made public.
Dana White is selling us that the fight makes sense and he would put an immediate title match on between Carano vs. Rousey. The fight makes complete sense from a mainstream and business perspective. People with a lighter knowledge will see champion vs. champion and will be swept up into it.
I’m suggesting the long time MMA fans will see this fight for what it is. I have a hard time believing that all the negative comments all over the MMA websites is going to switch over at some point. If the marketing machine starts, I don’t believe that the hardcore fans will change over. I don’t believe the fighters on the UFC roster will be thrilled with it either. If anything, it will be educational for the current fighters to see how to make a payday in MMA. If you have star power, things happen. Fairness and what’s right doesn’t always synch with the best business decisions. Heck, title shots before have been granted when they didn’t stand up to the fairness meter.
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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