Morning Report: Ronda Rousey talks ‘dream’ matchup with Jon Jones and WrestleMania 32 mind games

UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey faces Bethe Correia Aug. 1 at UFC 190 in Brazil, but some of her fans seem a bit more interested in the hypothetical.

Doing a live Q&A hosted by The Wall Street Journal in Los Angeles, Rousey was asked who she’d most like to fight in the UFC given no restrictions, such as reality.

“Dream world like skills-wise or annoying me-wise?” Rousey asked the fan.

“Does size count? Could we just go from anybody’s skills? Like dream match. Skills-wise, I would love to see where I would go with [former light heavyweight champion] Jon Jones because he’s the one most able to improvise within a match, which is something I really pride myself on. I think we’d do some crazy ninja stuff.

“And then Bryan Caraway’s really annoying. It would be fun to beat him up, but plenty of other people have gotten that pleasure before me, apparently.”

Keeping on the subject of fantasy, Rousey was asked by another fan if she’d confirm she wouldn’t be making any future appearances with the WWE.

Rousey took part in WrestleMania 31 this past March, but UFC president Dana White has since vowed it was a one-time deal.

“Look, the thing is, would you really want to know?” Rousey asked. “Here’s the thing. With the last WrestleMania, what was the coolest part? It’s the surprise. So do you really want to know? Maybe this is all part of some plot, to put Dana out there and be like, ‘Nope, no way it’ll ever happen.’ Then make everyone forget about it so later I can just pop up like, ‘What? Dana said no.’

For the sake of the poor fan, Rousey says she wouldn’t dare reveal anything more.

“I don’t know,” said Rousey. “That’s the cool thing about WWE. You don’t know which factors are being put out there because they’re real and which ones are being put out there to put you guys off what’s really going to happen.

“As an avid wrestling fan, myself, I would rather not know. [Spoiler alert?] If you knew that Seth Rollins was going to turn on The Shield would you have wanted to know? No. It would have ruined that moment. As a fan and respecting your fandom, I can’t tell you anything.”

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5 MUST-READ STORIES

Monday Morning Analyst. Luke Thomas breaks down the techniques from UFC 187, Andre Dirrell vs. James DeGale and more.

‘It’s complicated.’ Chuck Mindenhall asks if Chris Weidman is given the credit he’s due.

‘So for those ‘experts’, go search real facts.’ Anderson Silva says he’s ‘tired of listening to lies and false accusations.’

Fortunes changed for six. Dave Meltzer explains how Daniel Cormier, Chris Weidman, Donald Cerrone, Andrei Arlovski, Joseph Benavidez and John Dodson move forward following UFC 187.

‘Very emotional.’ John Makdessi undergoes successful jaw surgery following UFC 187 and questions his fighting future.

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MEDIA STEW

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Highlights from ONE Championship 27.

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Dana White surprises Bas Rutten with HOF invite.

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Greg Jackson wanted Donald Cerrone to pull out of UFC 187.

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Tons of body advertising at KSW 31.

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‘Dirtiest’ fighters in MMA.

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You knew this thug life was coming.

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The best verbal bloopers.

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Long watches.

Knuckle Up #364: UFC 187 + the Unbearable Joy of Being Wrong for the Right Reasons

Woman Triangle Chokes Sexual Predator (Gracie Breakdown)

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TWEETS

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Congrats.

On this day, we are truly honored to announce our new partnership with the #AmericanForcesNetwork Details: http://t.co/juPCzdIA7t

Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) May 25, 2015

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Oh boy.

https://t.co/KRIBrSsIGb ChiLlin wit @breal @cypresshill at @calrootsfest #slightlystoopid #chillin #smokeweed #100 #war #og #hotbox

— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) May 25, 2015

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Booked.

It’s on!!! July 18th classic striker Vs grappler match up lets do this #UFCGlasgow https://t.co/r2bPE9K34z

Ross Pearson (@RossTheRealDeal) May 25, 2015

Looking forward to fighting Ross Pearson on UFC Fight Night 72 in Glasgow, Scotland (7-18-15). I will be ready to scrap

Evan Dunham (@evandunham155) May 25, 2015

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Oh well.

As @Max_Kellerman says after each round ask yourself who you would have rather been and I honestly would pick myself in every round…

— Zachary Makovsky (@ZachFunSize) May 25, 2015

Anyway I could have done better but am happy with the growth and improvement in my game… Onward and upward ….@ufc

— Zachary Makovsky (@ZachFunSize) May 25, 2015

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Beef.

I ain’t scared homie… but are you? #UFCGlasgow #closeyoureyesandgotosleep #illbringyourpillow #IllEatHerSoul pic.twitter.com/UirtYzLJob

— ‘Rowdy’ Bec Rawlings (@RowdyBec) May 24, 2015

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Nice.

Thanx man. It was a honor to fight you. I have nothing but respect for you. You’re an awesome fighter & a better man https://t.co/LW1AsLuc6M

John Dodson III (@JohnDodsonMMA) May 25, 2015

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Who’s flying?

When I grow up @TruckMMA_UFC and I open airport with no security check, fly ur own risk

Al Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) May 24, 2015

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PVZ likes things.

I love chips

Paige VanZant (@PaigeVanzantUFC) May 26, 2015

Love @ninjawarrior !!!! I feel like I could tear the course up!!!!

— Paige VanZant (@PaigeVanzantUFC) May 26, 2015

I ❤️ pounding faces pic.twitter.com/8lO0FToVjt

— Paige VanZant (@PaigeVanzantUFC) May 26, 2015

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (May 25 2015)

Rafael Cavalcante vs. Patrick Cummins at UFC 190

Michael Bisping vs. Thales Leites at UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Leites

Evan Dunham vs. Ross Pearson at UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Leites

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FANPOST OF THE DAY

Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via Dave From Newfoundland

Chris Weidman is a great champion

I have to preface this fan post with disclosing that Anderson Silva is not just my favorite fighter of all time,but my hero, I acknowledge I may have a bias when it comes to anything to do with him. For example, I’m not convinced of Weidman with his victories over the Spider. In short, I think Anderson gave him the first fight and that the outcome of the second fight was a freak accident, and that although Weidman dropped him in the rematch, that doesn’t mean that he would of won that fight. However, I do credit him for doing what he did in both bouts. Silva would have never been KO’ed if Chris didn’t have the belief in himself and the mental toughness to come forward and throw strikes despite the fact that the Spider was landing everything he threw at the challenger and taunting him in the process. In the second fight, Anderson never would of snapped his shin in half if Weidman never checked that kick (though I do not believe that he had the intention to break his leg by doing so). But nevertheless, I give credit to Weidman for these wins, and even though he hurt my feelings badly twice (In the first fight especially considering I traveled all the way from NL, Canada to Las Vegas to witness it) I actually became a big fan of his.

Check out the rest of the post here.

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Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.

UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey faces Bethe Correia Aug. 1 at UFC 190 in Brazil, but some of her fans seem a bit more interested in the hypothetical.

Doing a live Q&A hosted by The Wall Street Journal in Los Angeles, Rousey was asked who she’d most like to fight in the UFC given no restrictions, such as reality.

“Dream world like skills-wise or annoying me-wise?” Rousey asked the fan.

“Does size count? Could we just go from anybody’s skills? Like dream match. Skills-wise, I would love to see where I would go with [former light heavyweight champion] Jon Jones because he’s the one most able to improvise within a match, which is something I really pride myself on. I think we’d do some crazy ninja stuff.

“And then Bryan Caraway’s really annoying. It would be fun to beat him up, but plenty of other people have gotten that pleasure before me, apparently.”

Keeping on the subject of fantasy, Rousey was asked by another fan if she’d confirm she wouldn’t be making any future appearances with the WWE.

Rousey took part in WrestleMania 31 this past March, but UFC president Dana White has since vowed it was a one-time deal.

“Look, the thing is, would you really want to know?” Rousey asked. “Here’s the thing. With the last WrestleMania, what was the coolest part? It’s the surprise. So do you really want to know? Maybe this is all part of some plot, to put Dana out there and be like, ‘Nope, no way it’ll ever happen.’ Then make everyone forget about it so later I can just pop up like, ‘What? Dana said no.’

For the sake of the poor fan, Rousey says she wouldn’t dare reveal anything more.

“I don’t know,” said Rousey. “That’s the cool thing about WWE. You don’t know which factors are being put out there because they’re real and which ones are being put out there to put you guys off what’s really going to happen.

“As an avid wrestling fan, myself, I would rather not know. [Spoiler alert?] If you knew that Seth Rollins was going to turn on The Shield would you have wanted to know? No. It would have ruined that moment. As a fan and respecting your fandom, I can’t tell you anything.”

Star-divide

5 MUST-READ STORIES

Monday Morning Analyst. Luke Thomas breaks down the techniques from UFC 187, Andre Dirrell vs. James DeGale and more.

‘It’s complicated.’ Chuck Mindenhall asks if Chris Weidman is given the credit he’s due.

‘So for those ‘experts’, go search real facts.’ Anderson Silva says he’s ‘tired of listening to lies and false accusations.’

Fortunes changed for six. Dave Meltzer explains how Daniel Cormier, Chris Weidman, Donald Cerrone, Andrei Arlovski, Joseph Benavidez and John Dodson move forward following UFC 187.

‘Very emotional.’ John Makdessi undergoes successful jaw surgery following UFC 187 and questions his fighting future.

Star-divide

MEDIA STEW

Star-divide

Highlights from ONE Championship 27.

Star-divide

Dana White surprises Bas Rutten with HOF invite.

Star-divide

Greg Jackson wanted Donald Cerrone to pull out of UFC 187.

Star-divide

Tons of body advertising at KSW 31.

Star-divide

‘Dirtiest’ fighters in MMA.

Star-divide

You knew this thug life was coming.

Star-divide

The best verbal bloopers.

Star-divide

Long watches.

Knuckle Up #364: UFC 187 + the Unbearable Joy of Being Wrong for the Right Reasons

Woman Triangle Chokes Sexual Predator (Gracie Breakdown)

Star-divide

TWEETS

Star-divide

Congrats.

Star-divide

Oh boy.

Star-divide

Booked.

Star-divide

Oh well.

Star-divide

Beef.

Star-divide

Nice.

Star-divide

Who’s flying?

Star-divide

PVZ likes things.

Star-divide

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (May 25 2015)

Rafael Cavalcante vs. Patrick Cummins at UFC 190

Michael Bisping vs. Thales Leites at UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Leites

Evan Dunham vs. Ross Pearson at UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Leites

Star-divide

FANPOST OF THE DAY

Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via Dave From Newfoundland

Chris Weidman is a great champion

I have to preface this fan post with disclosing that Anderson Silva is not just my favorite fighter of all time,but my hero, I acknowledge I may have a bias when it comes to anything to do with him. For example, I’m not convinced of Weidman with his victories over the Spider. In short, I think Anderson gave him the first fight and that the outcome of the second fight was a freak accident, and that although Weidman dropped him in the rematch, that doesn’t mean that he would of won that fight. However, I do credit him for doing what he did in both bouts. Silva would have never been KO’ed if Chris didn’t have the belief in himself and the mental toughness to come forward and throw strikes despite the fact that the Spider was landing everything he threw at the challenger and taunting him in the process. In the second fight, Anderson never would of snapped his shin in half if Weidman never checked that kick (though I do not believe that he had the intention to break his leg by doing so). But nevertheless, I give credit to Weidman for these wins, and even though he hurt my feelings badly twice (In the first fight especially considering I traveled all the way from NL, Canada to Las Vegas to witness it) I actually became a big fan of his.

Check out the rest of the post here.

Star-divide

Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.