After watching Ronda Rousey dismantle Bethe Correia at UFC 190, not many analysts are offering up ideas on how to solve the UFC women’s bantamweight champion.
Well, UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier has some thoughts.
Despite having beaten her twice, Rousey will fight Miesha Tate a third time later this year.
“If I’m coaching against Ronda Rousey, I don’t know what to say to Tate or anyone going into that fight,” Cormier told Steve Austin on his podcast.
“Piss her off. Piss her off like Bethe did and hope that she abandons the grappling. Then she’ll just stand with you which means you’ll have a better chance, even though it might not be the greatest chance, you have a better chance in the standup than you would grappling with her. That’s my approach as a coach.”
Just don’t go overboard, says Cormier.
“Don’t go family. Piss her off in another way. Don’t make it personal to the level that Bethe did. That was bad. But [Correia] did a good job, though. She sold the fight. Bethe Correia made people care. 18-1, it was one of the biggest mismatches in UFC history, but we tuned in because we wanted to see what Ronda was going to do and how she’d make this woman pay.”
Rousey stated she intended to punish Correia for what she interpreted as a low blow in the lead-up. Having previously said she’s ‘at her most merciful’ when she ends fights quickly, Rousey claimed she intended to go a bit longer with Correia.
“She wanted to prolong the beating on Bethe Correia, but they can’t stay with her,” Cormier said of Rousey’s division. “Even when she’s trying to drag it on. She wanted to make Bethe pay and she face-planted her with a right hand. ‘How is Ronda going to make this girl pay?’ Unfortunately her idea of making her pay was to stand with her and look what happens.
“You could see immediately that Bethe understood that she was in over her head. She was like, ‘Wow, she’s beating me where I’m supposed to hold the advantage.”
Interpreted as either high praise for Rousey or a critique of her crop of contenders, Cormier says the champ is decades ahead of her division.
“20 years,” said Cormier. “She came 20 years too early. In 20 years you will have girls that have competed a lifetime in Judo in the Olympics and they will be fighting at the level she’s probably at today. She’s 20 years ahead of her time.”
6 MUST-READ STORIES
The MMA Beat. The panel discusses Rousey-mania, what’s next for her, the Cyborg fight, the latest Rousimar Palhares controversy and much more.
Reminder. Floyd Mayweather responds to Ronda Rousey’s ESPY’s dig. ‘Call me when you can make over $300 million in 36 minutes.’
Abandon ship. Myles Jury and Michael Chandler are among five fighters departing Alliance in San Diego for Power MMA in Gilbert, Ariz.
Not done yet? Despite Dana White’s front office job offer, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira says he hasn’t made a final decision on retirement.
Taking his time. Khabib Nurmagomedov is pushing his return from his knee injury back to December.
Bread and Roses. Two national unions, UNITE and Teamsters, announced Thursday they are going to try and organize the UFC’s roster of fighters.
MEDIA STEW
Behind the scenes at UFC 190.
Open workouts from UFC Fight Night: Nashville and GLORY 23.
Floyd Mayweather faces off with Andre Berto.
Conor McGregor’s coach talks fight with Chad Mendes and Cowboys Stadium.
Georges St-Pierre doesn’t think UFC fighters would fare well in GLORY.
Mayweather being asked about fighting Rousey.
TWEETS
Buying one?
Ronda has teamed up with Didi Hirsch Foundation to support Women’s Body Image Issues. #DNB http://t.co/049fCs8mph pic.twitter.com/5TSAzFGLsy
— Dana White (@danawhite) August 6, 2015
New home.
Another grimey #wrestling session w/ @aaronsimpson, looking forward to wrecking a Featherweight soon! @Onnit #OnNit pic.twitter.com/dfWCEOAJKI
— Myles Jury (@FuryJury) August 7, 2015
ICYMI.
Spending my evening watching Donald Trump fire away
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) August 7, 2015
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Trump with the flawless victory tonight. #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/mzy2bdHd1m
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Congrats.
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— TheOnceAndFutureKing (@BensonHenderson) August 6, 2015
Get well soon.
Was gonna take a shower after getting from the plane and noticed my left foot was slightly bigger… https://t.co/JEy49PHCtq
— Stefan Struve (@StefanStruve) August 6, 2015
TMI.
Random drug test for the fight #UFC191 he had to wait for my urine cuz I had already took a morning poop before he rang my door bell
— John Dodson III (@JohnDodsonMMA) August 6, 2015
Big business.
“That he wins on the night, and that the cheque is big.” I am a simple man. https://t.co/zdyuKp781D
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) August 6, 2015
This Week in Struggle.
Airline Rep 1: Glasses off please sir Me: (remove glasses) Airline Rep 2: Are you sure you can fly w/ yr face looking like that? Me:
— Patrick Cummins (@OfficialDurkin) August 6, 2015
Who knew that at 36 I’d still be wrestling. Sucks to get taken down and slammed over and over but… https://t.co/FM5fhQHgBT
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) August 6, 2015
Apparently Im too ambitious cuz I’ve publicly tried to fight: @BigfootSilva @travisbrowneMMA @AndreiArlovski but to no avail @danawhite @ufc
— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) August 7, 2015
Respect to all of the Irish fans sending me classy messages! I’m putting in the work and coming to Dublin to show you something special.
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) August 2, 2015
At the store, just came from jits. I smell terrible and everyone else knows it. Lol I’m sorry!
— Paige VanZant (@PaigeVanzantUFC) August 5, 2015
Man privates with @renato_laranja are freakn expensive!!!!!! And he was late! https://t.co/Wg9dTjCb01 pic.twitter.com/RbV2LnuagJ
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) August 6, 2015
Hey what’s the full set of Ufc season one trading cards worth and the full set of Ufc season one ok cards worth
— Chris Leben (@cripplerufc) August 2, 2015
Not getting good deal on car insurance cause of my job?? fuckers, pure discrimination!!! I’m a
— Joanne Calderwood (@DRkneevil) August 5, 2015
Trained with Gabi Garcia today! pic.twitter.com/PUwm61h3jE
— Raquel Pa’aluhi (@RaquelPaaluhi) August 6, 2015
WOW! Some GREAT journalism by Conservative Tribune!! *SARCASM* What crappy reporter didn’t even fact check & used MY pic…
Posted by Ashlee Evans-Smith on Wednesday, August 5, 2015
When drunk fans get to touchy pic.twitter.com/7nJZihRisV
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) August 2, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Aug. 6 2015)
Phoenix Jones vs. Roberto Yong at WSOF 23
Gilbert Burns vs. Rashid Magomedov at UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via cyborg73.
As you may have heard by now, Carlos “Natural Born Killer’ Condit has been granted the next Welterweight title shot against Champion Robbie Lawler at UFC 193, November 14th in Australia. As you can imagine, this news cannot make either Johny Hendriks nor Tyron Woodley happy. After all, both welterweights have a win in the record books over Condit. They both believe that they deserve the shot before the Natural Born Killer. Their opinions may or may not reflect what the casual MMA/UFC fan believes regarding that decision. Some may not be interested in seeing a THIRD meeting between Lawler and Hendriks. Some may feel that Woodley needs to work his way back up the ladder after losing so badly to Rory McDonald, the most recent title challenger, who had a potential Fight of the Year with Lawler just last month.
…
Check out the rest of the post here.
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