Morning Report: Joe Rogan says Ronda Rousey ‘might beat 50 percent’ of UFC’s male bantamweights

In October, UFC commentator Joe Rogan said he’d have ‘no problem’ with Rousey, or any woman for that matter, fighting a man of equal weight.

Speaking with ESPN’s Dan Lebatard prior to UFC 184, Rogan may have upped the ante just a bit.

Asked, essentially, how bad a professional male fighter would need to be for Rousey to beat him in a fight, Rogan says she’d be middle of the pack in the UFC’s bantamweight division.

“There’s a lot of guys her size she could beat,” said Rogan. “I mean, a lot. If you took the roster of the UFC’s bantamweights, 135 pounds, and you paired them up against Ronda Rousey, she might be able to beat 50 percent of them. That’s not a joke.”

Admitting he doesn’t believe we’ll ever see Rousey actually fight a man, Rogan brought up female Dutch boxer Lucia Rijker’s ill-fated exhibition bout against a male fighter.

In 1994, Rijker faced 21 year-old New Zealander Somchai Jaidee in a Muay Thai style exhibition match at Sporthalle Zuid in Amsterdam. In a fight that became less competitive with each passing minute, Rijker suffered a rather brutal KO early in round two.

“Lucia Rijker was the woman everyone was ducking,” said Rogan. “She was just a murderous puncher. Fantastic technique. She was beating everybody. She was originally a kickboxer from Holland and she fought a man once and got knocked dead.

“So you were looking at a woman who was beating the daylights out of all these women and she fought a guy who was a decent fighter, but there’s a difference. There’s a difference in the male structure. There’s a difference in the male frame. Testosterone plays a big difference.”

If not for her bone structure, Rogan believes Rousey could likely beat an even bigger share of the men’s division.

“The ability to take punches is a significant difference,” said Rogan. “The structure of the face, the muscles in the neck. Women just cannot take the same kind of punches that men can. That’s the only reason why I only give Ronda a chance at beating 50 percent of the men. If she could take the kind of punches that some of these guys might possibly land it might get up to like 60 percent. She’s a truly special talent.”

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5 MUST-READ STORIES

Post show. Ariel Helwani, Marc Raimondi, and Dave Meltzer break down the top storylines coming out of UFC 184.

Female Tyson. UFC president Dana White calls Ronda Rousey ‘the female version’ of former heavyweight champion boxer ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson.

‘We should do this again.’ Seconds after submitting her, Ronda Rousey told Cat Zingano that they’ll fight again in the future.

‘Ronda is from De Mars, women are from Venus.’ Chuck Mindenhall explains why appreciating Ronda Rousey requires only a few seconds of your time.

‘I’ll never look at Anderson as a cheater.’ UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones says he still looks up to former middleweight champion Anderson Silva and that he doesn’t believe Silva used PEDs his entire career.

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MEDIA STEW

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Octagon interviews with Ronda Rousey and Cat Zingano.

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Dana White talks Ronda, Holly Holm, Brock Lesnar and more.

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UFC 184 post-fight presser highlights. (full presser here)

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‘Welcome to the Show’ event highlights. (Full event video here)

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Cris Cyborg believe’s she’ll get her chance at Ronda Rousey.

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The Gracie Breakdown for Rousey’s armbar.

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Long watches.

ROLL: Jiu-Jitsu in SoCal

SFL 37 USA

Submission Radio – Rich Franklin: If he’ll Ever Fight again, feeling sorry for Anderson Silva, PEDs, ONE FC

Mentality of Combat Sports – Emotional Burnout, Building Confidence After Performances and More

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TWEETS

See how the pros reacted to all the action from UFC 184.

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Victory lap.

https://t.co/0G3oYVbKxi

— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) March 1, 2015

A photo posted by rondarousey (@rondarousey) on Mar 1, 2015 at 11:04am PST

Good seeing these monsters @SkylarAstin @ChrisWeidmanUFC @JonnyBones pic.twitter.com/PdkDl3HPN3

Jake Ellenberger (@EllenbergerMMA) March 1, 2015

You know what time it is! #victorybreakfast is always a must with the Fam Especially when… http://t.co/voyPV2D3bf pic.twitter.com/TD0JLcC8Kv

Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) March 1, 2015

@xtfergie Told ya…. “#Berightback” ;o) #OGElCucuy & #MrsCucuy #TeamFerguson #TeamElCucuyhttp://t.co/Pn9DEeLGGQ pic.twitter.com/IbD7u4fu6o

Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) March 1, 2015

Isn’t everyday thay you are at Staple Center Arena and Vin Diesel came to you and say congrats! Lol…. https://t.co/NwldFOM7Wk

— Roan Jucao (@jucao) March 1, 2015

Esta foto va dedicada para mi familia y amigos y oara todas las personas que hicieron esto posible… https://t.co/PnTiJoIQSF

— Masio fullen (@MasioFullenMMA) March 1, 2015

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Better luck next time.

A big thank you to my coaches Marc Fiore, Jason Kutz, and Jonathan Ray for all the time they dedicate into my… http://t.co/ZgqibyD4LT

Raquel Pennington (@RockyPMMA) March 1, 2015

Sportsmanship #ufc184 #richardwalshmma congrats to Alan https://t.co/5YTFwCNVYw

— Richy Walsh MMA (@RichyMMA) March 1, 2015

Let’s move on! Life is made of battles! https://t.co/Q1Xut1auMx

Gleison Tibau (@GleisonTibauMMA) March 1, 2015

Thank you for all your support! I will rest up, keep working, & see what’s next. I’m truly grateful for all that support me!

— Mark Muñoz (@mark_munoz) March 1, 2015

Not my night tonight was very prepared but a fight is a fight. Great job @MeansTim. Thank you @ufc for the opportunity. Onto the next!!

Dhiego Lima (@DhLimaMMA) March 1, 2015

I just watched my neighbors house burn to the ground less than 2 hours after being home. Suddenly my weekend wasn’t so bad.

James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) March 2, 2015

My neighbors house an hour ago. How do I complain about a fight when this happens? Poor guys. pic.twitter.com/lsWMps6dnp

— James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) March 2, 2015

Aca con el duro de @FastFurious #VinDiesel anoche en #UFC184 pic.twitter.com/nPmleaNJzT

— Alex Rolo Torres (@RoloTorres145) March 1, 2015

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BROCK has arrived at #UFC184 pic.twitter.com/ykbpJPSlll

— Dave Sholler (@Sholler_UFC) March 1, 2015

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Respect.

Congrats @RondaRousey quick fights are fun! #14seconds #12seconds @UFC #UFC184 http://t.co/6hzRYoTqAR pic.twitter.com/vqn2zMyroS

Johny Hendricks (@JohnyHendricks) March 1, 2015

Congrats on the fastest submission in the @ufc @RondaRousey Now it’s time to attempt to beat my fastest @ufc KO! 🙂 #MMA

Andrei Arlovski (@AndreiArlovski) March 1, 2015

Ive had a few quick wins in my day but 14sec is something to bow down to! Hard to just get to ur opponent in that time! #UFC184 @RondaRousey

— Mike Quick Swick (@officialswick) March 1, 2015

@kellanlutz: @ginacarano and I are SPEECHLESS @RondaRousey !!! Congrats Champ!!! Much Love! pic.twitter.com/QUaM6TfKID

Gina Carano (@ginacarano) March 1, 2015

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Cyborg.

Leaving @ufc with a smile because I know God will not allow any person to keep you from your destiny. They may be… http://t.co/Tl40Zbpn4m

— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) March 1, 2015

175lbs after my sunday breakfast Diet Coach @Lockloaded do I Really have to go Running monday?!?! pic.twitter.com/tYewn7umKS

— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) March 1, 2015

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Next?

Unbeaten! I’m the only one in the ranking with three straight wins and who never had the chance to… https://t.co/sL5gMNc3vS

— Bethe (@bethecorreia) March 2, 2015

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Please do.

The ref asked me if I thought Mark Munoz was out too long and this was my response. #occularfixation https://t.co/pqFk2iF3pu

— Rener Gracie (@RenerGracie) March 1, 2015

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Always Sunny.

It’s alway sunny in LA @RMcElhenney @kaitlin_olson Great drinking with you’ll! Good people pic.twitter.com/zwF9dF6C4Z

— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) March 1, 2015

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Whoa.

Return to #octagon in t-35 days #HWPO #FightNight63 #FairfaxVirginia #April4 http://t.co/hYtJl5Sdep pic.twitter.com/jd0Slb3RP6

— Julianna Peña (@VenezuelanVixen) March 2, 2015

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Watch out.

Slipping hats and cashing cheques with Uncle Frank. pic.twitter.com/nEv3oLO2dW

Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 1, 2015

@TheNotoriousMMA Ha! That is incredible! https://t.co/MkQ6iArKXB

Cathal Pendred (@PendredMMA) March 1, 2015

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Poor guys.

Not again… @JonnyBones vs. @Anthony_Rumble on May 23!!!! pic.twitter.com/RPaIKGeyra

— Dave Sholler (@Sholler_UFC) February 28, 2015

@danawhite: I was thinking “HOLY SHIT this is not happening” @jonnybones @Anthony_Rumble @ufc #UFC187 pic.twitter.com/cbfWtnNViF” hahahahaha!!

— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) March 2, 2015

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (Feb. 27- March 3 2015)

NA

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FANPOST OF THE DAY

Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via mathias1.

Ronda Rousey is now the undisputed #1 pound-for-pound fighter in MMA

I almost cringe calling Ronda Rousey an “MMA fighter,” because for me that carries certain implications:

Watered down martial arts, wall and stall, lay and pray, leg kicks for days, point fighting, etc.

She is very intelligent in the cage. She doesn’t “point fight.” She looks to end the fight quickly, sparing herself unnecessary damage, by using the Judo she’s spent years perfecting. In point of fact, by doing this, she has mostly spared her opponents from incurring unnecessary damage over the course of a potential 25 minute match.

It’s one of the reasons I’ve always personally felt that grappling is far superior to striking. She won that fight without throwing a single strike.

The armbar she used to stop Cat Zingano at UFC 184 was brilliant, and it was applied calmly and smoothly. It had the feel of improvisation to it. Just awesome stuff.

She’s undefeated, and to state what should now be completely obvious…unchallenged. No one comes close.

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.

In October, UFC commentator Joe Rogan said he’d have ‘no problem’ with Rousey, or any woman for that matter, fighting a man of equal weight.

Speaking with ESPN’s Dan Lebatard prior to UFC 184, Rogan may have upped the ante just a bit.

Asked, essentially, how bad a professional male fighter would need to be for Rousey to beat him in a fight, Rogan says she’d be middle of the pack in the UFC’s bantamweight division.

“There’s a lot of guys her size she could beat,” said Rogan. “I mean, a lot. If you took the roster of the UFC’s bantamweights, 135 pounds, and you paired them up against Ronda Rousey, she might be able to beat 50 percent of them. That’s not a joke.”

Admitting he doesn’t believe we’ll ever see Rousey actually fight a man, Rogan brought up female Dutch boxer Lucia Rijker’s ill-fated exhibition bout against a male fighter.

In 1994, Rijker faced 21 year-old New Zealander Somchai Jaidee in a Muay Thai style exhibition match at Sporthalle Zuid in Amsterdam. In a fight that became less competitive with each passing minute, Rijker suffered a rather brutal KO early in round two.

“Lucia Rijker was the woman everyone was ducking,” said Rogan. “She was just a murderous puncher. Fantastic technique. She was beating everybody. She was originally a kickboxer from Holland and she fought a man once and got knocked dead.

“So you were looking at a woman who was beating the daylights out of all these women and she fought a guy who was a decent fighter, but there’s a difference. There’s a difference in the male structure. There’s a difference in the male frame. Testosterone plays a big difference.”

If not for her bone structure, Rogan believes Rousey could likely beat an even bigger share of the men’s division.

“The ability to take punches is a significant difference,” said Rogan. “The structure of the face, the muscles in the neck. Women just cannot take the same kind of punches that men can. That’s the only reason why I only give Ronda a chance at beating 50 percent of the men. If she could take the kind of punches that some of these guys might possibly land it might get up to like 60 percent. She’s a truly special talent.”

Star-divide

5 MUST-READ STORIES

Post show. Ariel Helwani, Marc Raimondi, and Dave Meltzer break down the top storylines coming out of UFC 184.

Female Tyson. UFC president Dana White calls Ronda Rousey ‘the female version’ of former heavyweight champion boxer ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson.

‘We should do this again.’ Seconds after submitting her, Ronda Rousey told Cat Zingano that they’ll fight again in the future.

‘Ronda is from De Mars, women are from Venus.’ Chuck Mindenhall explains why appreciating Ronda Rousey requires only a few seconds of your time.

‘I’ll never look at Anderson as a cheater.’ UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones says he still looks up to former middleweight champion Anderson Silva and that he doesn’t believe Silva used PEDs his entire career.

Star-divide

MEDIA STEW

Star-divide

Octagon interviews with Ronda Rousey and Cat Zingano.

Star-divide

Dana White talks Ronda, Holly Holm, Brock Lesnar and more.

Star-divide

UFC 184 post-fight presser highlights. (full presser here)

Star-divide

‘Welcome to the Show’ event highlights. (Full event video here)

Star-divide

Cris Cyborg believe’s she’ll get her chance at Ronda Rousey.

Star-divide

The Gracie Breakdown for Rousey’s armbar.

Star-divide

Long watches.

ROLL: Jiu-Jitsu in SoCal

SFL 37 USA

Submission Radio – Rich Franklin: If he’ll Ever Fight again, feeling sorry for Anderson Silva, PEDs, ONE FC

Mentality of Combat Sports – Emotional Burnout, Building Confidence After Performances and More

Star-divide

TWEETS

See how the pros reacted to all the action from UFC 184.

Star-divide

Victory lap.

A photo posted by rondarousey (@rondarousey) on


Star-divide

Better luck next time.





Star-divide

Star-divide

Respect.

Star-divide

Cyborg.

Star-divide

Next?

Star-divide

Please do.

Star-divide

Always Sunny.

Star-divide

Whoa.

Star-divide

Watch out.

Star-divide

Poor guys.

Star-divide

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (Feb. 27- March 3 2015)

NA

Star-divide

FANPOST OF THE DAY

Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via mathias1.

Ronda Rousey is now the undisputed #1 pound-for-pound fighter in MMA

I almost cringe calling Ronda Rousey an “MMA fighter,” because for me that carries certain implications:

Watered down martial arts, wall and stall, lay and pray, leg kicks for days, point fighting, etc.

She is very intelligent in the cage. She doesn’t “point fight.” She looks to end the fight quickly, sparing herself unnecessary damage, by using the Judo she’s spent years perfecting. In point of fact, by doing this, she has mostly spared her opponents from incurring unnecessary damage over the course of a potential 25 minute match.

It’s one of the reasons I’ve always personally felt that grappling is far superior to striking. She won that fight without throwing a single strike.

The armbar she used to stop Cat Zingano at UFC 184 was brilliant, and it was applied calmly and smoothly. It had the feel of improvisation to it. Just awesome stuff.

She’s undefeated, and to state what should now be completely obvious…unchallenged. No one comes close.

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.