As you may have read, UFC commentator Joe Rogan recently had some very lofty praise for women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.
Prior to her Feb. 28 title defense to Cat Zingano at UFC 184, Rogan said he believed Rousey ‘might beat 50 percent’ of the men that make up the UFC’s male bantamweight division.
Well, as you might imagine, not everyone was thrilled with that take.
Count UFC flyweight contender Ian McCall among them.
Speaking with Rick Lee on Monday, McCall says he needs to have a chat with his buddy Joe.
“They say all these comparisons to her fighting men,” said McCall. “Even like Joe [Rogan]. I need to have a conversation with Joe about it because she’s not beating up a man. I’m sorry, it’s not going to happen.”
Despite Rousey actually competing one weight class higher, McCall doesn’t think she could so much as throw him.
“A good man will not lose to Ronda Rousey,” said McCall. “I could put a judo gi on, [she’s] an Olympian. You’re not throwing me. It’s not going to happen. I will throw you on your head. Pretty simple. And you weigh more than me.
“I can’t compartmentalize it. It doesn’t make sense to me. I know it’s all talk. They compare her to [former heavyweight boxer Mike] Tyson. She’s dangerous, she’s good. I get it, but it’s just silly.”
Rousey is currently ranked the No. 7 pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC, but that’s a bit high if you ask McCall.
“Ronda’s definitely not the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world,” said McCall. “She’s the best woman on the planet. That’s cute. Cool. Well, we’re doing men things. Different. I get it, you’re really good and all but to compare her to
Jon Jones, Jose Aldo, Demetrious Johnson or Cain Velasquez … come on. Any of the champions. It’s a different world. It just frustrates me.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Monday Morning Analyst. Luke Thomas breaks down the techniques from UFC 184, Bellator 134, Invicta 11 and more.
Here today. Ronda Rousey will star alongside Iko Uwais in the action film ‘Mile 22.’
Trouble. Bellator MMA has filed a court injunction to stop Quinton Jackson from competing at UFC 186.
UFC 184 salaries. Ronda Rousey pockets $12,857 per second in her submission win over Cat Zingano.
The prank. Anthony Johnson explains how he and Jon Jones conspired to give UFC president Dana White a heart attack with their brawl staredown.
Watch The MMA Hour with Roy Jones Jr., Ken Shamrock, Brian Stann, Rener Gracie, Marion Reneau, Tamdan McCrory and Robert Sargent.
MEDIA STEW
Free Fight: Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon.
Great profile on Rafael dos Anjos.
Rousey’s SI swimsuit shoot. Probably NSFW.
Two champs in a car.
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon talk Rousey, call MMA ‘savagery.’
UFC Fight Night: Adelaide open workouts with Mark Hunt and Stipe Miocic.
TTTHS.
Long watches.
Knuckle Up #376: UFC 184, the Art of Digging Down Deep, Being Too Smart by Half
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UFC 184: Ronda Rousey’s Outstanding Turn Out to Armbar Inside the Guard with T.P. Grant
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John Wayne Parr Blessed with Venom documentary
TWEETS
Cyborg.
Hey @RondaRousey let me know if you need Lorenzo’s phone number #championVSchampion Hei Ronda se quiser te… http://t.co/QoPyb9u2n0
— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) March 2, 2015
@criscyborg @MMARoasted @RondaRousey I’ll give you a number – 135
— DrAnnMaria (@DrAnnMaria) March 2, 2015
Hmm.
Funny how bellator is promoting they have an injunction is against me. I never received any paperwork. There is no injunction! Just jokes!
— Quinton Jackson (@Rampage4real) March 2, 2015
Burt Burt.
Just so every1 knows I have utmost respect 4 @BurtWatson4real! He’s a gr8 man & gr8 at what he does! Not sure what every1 is talking about.
— Mark Muñoz (@mark_munoz) March 2, 2015
Hope everything is good with @BurtWatson4real the @ufc wouldn’t be the same without him @danawhite @arielhelwani
— Steven Siler (@Stevesiler) March 3, 2015
It wasn’t the same without Burt Watson’s “We Rollin'” last night…he’s one of my fav people on the planet!
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) March 2, 2015
Agree?
“@MMAFighting: @joerogan says Rousey ‘might beat 50 percent’ of UFC’s male 135ers http://t.co/XpZ292ciWG pic.twitter.com/QiuTTESunh” I agree!
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) March 2, 2015
What @joerogan said about @RondaRousey is ridiculous. It’s at least 60% of @ufc male bantamweights.
— Cole Miller (@colemillerATT) March 2, 2015
Beefin’.
Quinton….ida been a coward if I didnt take the fight. Lets see u fight at hwt. U wouldn’t even spar wit Kongo cuz he fucks u up.
— King Mo (@KingMoFH) March 2, 2015
Quinton….call out Todd Duffee…u the only coward i see. U about 250+ suckin down to 205 and duckin hwt. Like a bitch…i kno u wont do it
— King Mo (@KingMoFH) March 2, 2015
Very cool.
Home just in time to watch my sons placing matches of State.When it was over,he told me he did it all…for me. pic.twitter.com/rR79OlgXhK
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) March 2, 2015
Dang.
Muscle Man vs CupCaKe LOL my friend and former strength & conditioning coach, Mike swore he would… https://t.co/pBkUHUQOvE
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) March 2, 2015
She got the bed.
Chuck can still party.
No caption needed! @chuckliddell #UFC184 #AfterParty https://t.co/2VzIdR8bVb
— heatherjoclark (@heatherjoclark) March 1, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (March 2 2015)
Gegard Mousasi vs. Costas Philippou at UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber
Hyun Gyu Lim vs. Neil Magny at UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber
Josh Burkman vs. Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 187
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via NickRiznerMMA.
Will Ronda Rousey Ever Be Considered The Greatest Fighter Of All Time?
Ronda Rousey is the greatest female mixed martial artist of all time.
Certainly, no one could disagree with that. She is the only Women’s Bantamweight Champion that the UFC has ever known. She is 11-0 and has only gone past the first round in one of her professional bouts. During her five fights inside the Octagon, she has claimed five post-fight bonuses – one Fight of the Night, one Submission of the Night, and three Performance of the Nights – in addition to earning Knockout of the Year honors for her 16 second starch of Alexis Davis. Her 14 second straight armbar of Cat Zingano is sure to be a front-runner for 2015 Submission of the Year.
One could make the argument that she is the best female fighter of all time. Prior to her dominance in MMA, Rousey was a highly accomplished judoka. She’s taken home numerous gold medals in a variety of different Judo Championships from 2001 to 2008. As a member of the 2008 U.S. Summer Olympic team, she earned bronze in judo; the first American to ever medal in the sport. Her outstanding execution of judo techniques in her MMA game has proven that she is still one of the world’s finest practitioners of the discipline.
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