UFC President Dana White stated Thursday that scheduling the high-profile rematch between new women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm and former champ Ronda Rousey is clearly a top priority.
Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com passed along comments White…
UFC President Dana White stated Thursday that scheduling the high-profile rematch between new women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm and former champ Ronda Rousey is clearly a top priority.
Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com passed along comments White made during an appearance on the network. The 46-year-old understands the importance of getting something set up after Holm’s shocking victory in November.
“If we didn’t make the Holm/Rousey rematch, me and [UFC chairman] Lorenzo [Fertitta] would have to lose our promoter’s license,” White said. “That’s next.”
Holm stunned Rousey, and most of the viewing public, with a perfectly placed kick to the head during the championship bout in Australia. She capitalized by delivering some final punches to earn the second-round knockout, handing one of the sport’s biggest draws her first loss.
Obviously, the rematch is going to generate a significant amount of hype. The question will be whether Holm caught Rousey on a bad day or whether she’s truly the new top dog in the division.
It’s unclear when the rematch will take place, though.
Mike Bohn of Rolling Stone noted prior to the first meeting that Rousey said she was planning to take some time away from the octagon: “But after this fight, I’m definitely going to let some people miss me, for sure. Believe me, there’s nothing I would like to do more than disappear for a while. I would like to wait until UFC 200 to fight again. I’m going to be filming [movies] in the meantime, so I’m still going to be keeping busy.”
Her packed to-do list outside of the world of MMA is likely going to make the scheduling of a rematch more difficult. That said, getting a date out there as quickly as possible while the upset is still fresh in everybody’s mind is an important factor.
That said, White clearly believes it’s going to happen eventually. When it does, Rousey and Holm will both have a lot to prove.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. stated Monday he’s willing to help Ronda Rousey with her boxing after she suffered her first career MMA loss in shocking fashion against Holly Holm on Saturday.
Ben Thompson of Fight Hype passed along comments from the undef…
Floyd Mayweather Jr. stated Monday he’s willing to help Ronda Rousey with her boxing after she suffered her first career MMA loss in shocking fashion against Holly Holm on Saturday.
Ben Thompson of Fight Hype passed along comments from the undefeated, five-division world champion boxer about the shocking result. He praised the former UFC women’s bantamweight champion, but he offered his services to improve her all-around skill set: “I want Ronda Rousey to hold her head up high and don’t let this discourage you. If you need help as far as with boxing, I’m here to help you. It’s all about timing and inches. Her ground game is unbelievable. She’ll be okay.”
It’s interesting to see Mayweather be so supportive of Rousey. The two combat superstars have exchanged verbal jabs in the past, but the boxer believes those issues were overblown and told Fight Hype he’s “proud” of her.
The 28-year-old UFC sensation certainly looked out of her element against Holm. She failed to take control of the bout inside the first 30 seconds, as she has done so often in the past, and that opened the door for the challenger to pull off the stunning upset early in the second round.
Rousey will definitely need to improve her boxing ability, particularly defensively, before a potential rematch with Holm. While it’s unlikely she would reach out to Mayweather based on their history of back-and-forth comments, he seemed ready to leave that in the past to help her improve.
She’s also talked about possibly trying to become a boxing champion in the future. Few people would be able to help her make that transition better than Money. He’s 49-0 for a reason, and after stating he was retiring after beating Andre Berto, he seemingly has plenty of time on his hands.
As unlikely a pairing as Rousey and Mayweather would be, it could make her more dominant than ever if she took him up on his offer.
Ronda Rousey has established herself as one of the most dominant athletes in sports. Now the question is, When she will actually get challenged? The answer will be at UFC 193 in Melbourne, Australia, if Holly Holm has her way.
The former boxer is the l…
Ronda Rousey has established herself as one of the most dominant athletes in sports. Now the question is, When she will actually get challenged? The answer will be at UFC 193 in Melbourne, Australia, if Holly Holm has her way.
The former boxer is the latest opponent who is hoping to come up with a game plan to trouble the UFC women’s bantamweight champion. Simply surviving the first round, which has only happened once in Rousey‘s 12 career fights, is an accomplishment. Winning would be a true shocker.
With that in mind, let’s check out all of the important viewing information for the event, which will occur Sunday in Australia and Saturday night in the U.S. That’s followed by a closer look at the biggest key to victory for each fighter.
The biggest mistake Rousey can make is going too far out of her element to prove a point. In this case, that would mean getting caught up in a boxing match in order to prove her striking ability against somebody with a deeper background in that facet of combat.
While there’s no doubt the 28-year-old MMA superstar has improved in that area, it doesn’t represent her best path to victory. That type of match would make Holm far too comfortable, something Rousey‘s opponents can rarely, if ever, say.
Her coach is still confident she would win under those circumstances, though. Edmond Tarverdyan discussed preparing for that possibility, as noted by Michael Martinez of UFC.com.
“We’re ready for everything, but if the question is, does Ronda need to prove that she’s a boxer? I hope (Holm) does box with us because Ronda can box,” Tarverdyan said. “Ronda has knockout punching power in both hands. It doesn’t matter which hand she touches you with, it’s dangerous.”
It’s hard to dispute those comments given Rousey‘s improvement, as highlighted by the fact she’s won three of her past four fights by knockout rather than her patented armbar submission. She’s become a more well-rounded fighter to increase her advantage over everybody else.
That said, the bottom line remains the same. Rousey is the overwhelming favorite regardless of how the fight ends up playing out. But Holm‘s chances, however small, are greater if the bout turns into a pure striking encounter rather than a grappling contest.
Holm: Defend Early and Slow the Pace
Quite simply, most of the important keys for Rousey‘s recent opponents have been rendered immediately null and void. She has won her last three bouts in a combined 64 seconds by taking control from the opening bell and quickly ending things.
Holm must be prepared for that initial aggression. Everything else is secondary to surviving those first 30 seconds. She needs to exert a strong defensive showing to prevent the champion from getting in prime position to lock in the armbar or deliver the fight-ending punches.
If Holm can accomplish that, then the focus can shift toward the other elements of her game plan. One of them is trying to slow down the pace of the fight by maintaining distance and utilizing her power effectively when Rousey tries to move in.
That would allow her to potentially push the fight into the second or third round. Miesha Tate fought Rousey tough until the 58-second mark of the third round in their second matchup. Nobody else has survived the first, but that’s not what the challenger is really focused on, per Martin Rogers of USA Today.
“I am not coming to try to last longer than Ronda’s other opponents,” Holm said. “I am coming to win. (People) think I am not going to do it—I am going to try to prove you (all) wrong.”
Ultimately, she doesn’t feature nearly as many weapons as Rousey does, which means everything would need to go perfect for Holm to back up those words with a massive upset. But if she survives the initial barrage and can fight at her desired pace, she’ll at least test the champion like few others have.
Ronda Rousey is back in action at UFC 193 as she puts the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship on the line against Holly Holm. Her typically dominant performances have become must-see viewing for MMA diehards and mainstream sports fans alike.
The bout…
Ronda Rousey is back in action at UFC 193 as she puts the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship on the line against Holly Holm. Her typically dominant performances have become must-see viewing for MMAdiehards and mainstream sports fans alike.
The bout headlines a card that also features a second title fight as women’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk takes on Valerie Letourneau. Other notable fights include a rematch between Mark Hunt and Antonio Silva as well as Uriah Hall battling Robert Whittaker.
Let’s check out the complete set of matchups for the latest UFC showcase. That’s followed by predictions for which fighters will take home added bonuses and a preview of the main event.
UFC 193 Fight Card
Fight Night Bonus Predictions
Main Event Preview
As always, the most pressing question ahead of any Rousey fight is whether the opponent can actually present a serious challenge. In most cases, the answer was a resounding no. Only Miesha Tate was able to push the undefeated champ beyond the first round.
Furthermore, her most recent bouts have been among the most lopsided. Victories over Alexis Davis, Cat Zingano and Bethe Correia lasted a combined 64 seconds. It’s raised legitimate questions about whether there’s anyone in the division who can force her to struggle even a little bit.
Holm is the latest competitor to take her chances. The former boxer and kickboxer is unbeaten since making the transition to MMA. Of course, Rousey represents a massive difference from the fighters she’s squared off with previously.
Sherdog.com provided the tale of the tape:
Holm, who’s won six of her nine fights by knockout, has the striking ability to make an impact. The problem is Rousey has been simply overwhelming opponents in the opening seconds of a fight, immediately destroying any game plan.
The champion expects the versatile veteran may have something special prepared in this case, as noted by Michael Martinez of UFC’s official site.
“Everybody tries to come at me in different ways, but their approach is going to be the most strategic and well thought-out,” Rousey said. “But no amount of thought and strategy can beat me, and I’m going to show them that.”
One thing’s for sure: Holm better have a rock-solid approach ready to survive the first 30 seconds. If that happens, then she can start getting into some of the other tactics.
The New Mexico native isn’t concerned about her underdog status, though. She understands that doesn’t mean anything once the opening bell rings, per Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports.
“I don’t mind you saying I’m a huge underdog, because I am a huge underdog,” Holm said. “But the odds have nothing to do with how I’ll perform. I wouldn’t have taken the fight if I didn’t think I was ready or didn’t believe I could win.”
Ultimately, while Holm‘s power potential does add a dash of intrigue to the bout, it would still qualify as a monster upset if she won the title. She’s never faced an opponent with anywhere near the all-around skill set of Rousey, and it’s virtually impossible to fully prepare for what to expect.
The challenger has shown enough defensive ability to believe she could survive a little longer than Rousey‘s last three opponents. That said, the result will likely read much the same: another title defense inside the first round for Rowdy.
Ronda Rousey gets another chance to showcase her dominance in front of an international audience as she puts the women’s bantamweight title on the line against Holly Holm at UFC 193 in Melbourne, Australia. Her last victory came in August over Bethe Co…
Ronda Rousey gets another chance to showcase her dominance in front of an international audience as she puts the women’s bantamweight title on the line against Holly Holm at UFC 193 in Melbourne, Australia. Her last victory came in August over Bethe Correia in Brazil.
While Rousey brings plenty of star power to any card, this one also has some nice depth. There’s a second title fight between strawweight champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Valerie Letourneau as well as a couple of toss-up bouts as part of the main card.
With that in mind, let’s check out the complete slate of matchups for the pay-per-view portion of UFC 193 along with odds and predictions for each. That’s followed by a breakdown of the main event.
Predictions for UFC 193 Main Card
Rousey vs. Holm Preview
Rousey is a rare talent in the Octagon. That became obvious early in her UFC career. One thing she’s really improved at during this meteoric rise, however, is the ability to sell fights. It’s something not everybody is comfortable doing, but she’s made strides to master the art.
The 28-year-old California native has done it by finding the middle ground between expressing extreme confidence in her ability while still leaving the door slightly open for an upset. She understands the latter is necessary because after awhile even 15-second knockouts lose a bit of their luster.
She made comments to Monique Schafter of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation during the buildup to the fight that really showcased that balance.
“I mean, I’m full of fear, but without any doubt,” Rousey said. “You know, I’m so afraid of failure that I work harder than any of these girls possibly could. There is a lot of meaning to the word fight. It doesn’t just mean, you know, two people trying to hit each other. It can be applied to anything.”
In other words, she does have fear, but it just makes her stronger in the end.
Creating that little bit of doubt without sacrificing her self-belief is a great tactic. It’s why her last three victories, which lasted a combined 64 seconds, were still hyped to the max. Rousey was the heavy favorite, but there was still a slight bit of that “what if this is where she loses” feel to it.
The same thing can be said about the Holm bout. The 34-year-old challenger is being built into a unique, dangerous opponent because of her boxing background. She’s even talked about possibly being able to take control of the fight late, as noted by Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times.
“There’s a different feel in late rounds,” Holm said. “It’s physically and mentally exhausting. In the fourth and fifth, you lose focus. That’s the thing we’ve seen in this sport.”
It’s a perfectly fine plan. Of course, only once in her MMA career has Rousey been pushed beyond the first round, let alone the fourth or fifth. The question is whether Holm truly represents the toughest challenge she’s faced, or if it’s just another fight being sold well.
Here’s the tale of the tape from ESPN Stats and Info:
While Holm is unbeaten, she’s never faced an opponent anywhere near the same level as Rousey. She’ll have far less time and space to utilize her power, especially if the champion comes out with an immediate flurry as she typically does.
All told, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Holm is able to at least make things a little more competitive. She must be prepared to fend off that early attack, and, if she does, then she might be able to generate enough offense to make things interesting for a while.
Rousey is still the far more complete fighter and should secure another victory by the latter stages of the opening round.
UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey stated this week that her future athletic goals extend beyond the octagon, including a potential foray into boxing. If that happens, former world champion Oscar De La Hoya wants to serve as her promoter.
R…
UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey stated this week that her future athletic goals extend beyond the octagon, including a potential foray into boxing. If that happens, former world champion Oscar De La Hoya wants to serve as her promoter.
Rousey won a bronze medal in Judo at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and has become one of the most dominant athletes in sports since transitioning to MMA. She’s got a 12-0 record with all but one of those victories coming in the first round.
Eventually, she may look to broaden her horizons again, as noted by Damon Martin of Fox Sports.
“What I would love to do: I got an Olympic medal, I would want to retire from MMA as one of the greatest of all time, I would love to have the chance to be the boxing world champion, and I would love to have the chance to be a jiu-jitsu world champion,” Rousey said. “I’d love to have the chance to be the Divas world champion and just be the best of everything at one point.”
She admitted time may be an issue in terms of trying to accomplish all of those goals while still at or near her athletic peak. As the Fox Sports report notes, she’s also became involved in Hollywood with more projects—including one with Mark Wahlberg—on tap.
That said, if there comes a time where she seriously wants to pursue her dream of becoming a boxing world champion, De La Hoya is ready to help. Mike Dyce of Fansided passed along comments the creator of Golden Boy Promotions made on Fight Hub TV.
“We’ve discussed it, and whenever she is ready to step into the ring as a boxer, then obviously Golden Boy Promotions will be right there with her,” De La Hoya said.
Surely there would be other promotions eager to sign Rousey. She’s developed into a marquee draw for UFC and the mainstream appeal would undoubtedly carry over to the boxing ring.
De La Hoya is clearly trying to get a jump on the recruitment process. It would be a good match on the surface. He’s also an Olympic medalist—earning gold in boxing at the 1992 Games—and has a long career in the sport to help Rousey with the switch.
At the very least, it’s intriguing to think about Rousey as a boxer. While there’s no doubting her athletic ability and tremendous power, boxing is more of a technical sport compared to the UFC brawls she’s accustomed to winning in mere seconds with a knockout or submission.
There’s no timetable on a potential switch—she’s slated to defend her UFC title against Holly Holm on Nov. 15—but De La Hoya and the boxing world are keeping tabs on the situation.
UFC President Dana White stated Thursday that scheduling the high-profile rematch between new women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm and former champ Ronda Rousey is clearly a top priority. 