UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey hasn’t completely cleared out her division, but don’t tell that to the sea of unofficial MMA matchmakers. In Macau Wednesday for this weekend’s Fight Night event, Rousey and UFC president Dana White couldn’t escape civilian pleas to book the champ against a shortlist mostly comprised of unsigned women that have never fought at 135 pounds.
Aside from pioneers Gina Carano and Cris Cyborg, recent UFC signee Holly Holm may get the first crack at Rousey.
“I’m so excited that Holly Holm got signed,” said Rousey. “She’s someone I’ve had my eye on for a while. She’s a really exciting fighter. You don’t see women that are world champion boxers knocking people out with headkicks very often. I think that she’s just not great for a title fight, she’s great for a whole division and giving the women some real legitimacy. I couldn’t be happier about her joining the company.”
“That’s what’s so unique about Ronda,” White continued. “Ronda is excited about new women that get signed. It’s not like there’s any jealousy or hatred or, ‘Oh, I’m not going to fight…’ She wants to fight everybody.”
As the sole option that could perhaps dethrone Miesha Tate as Rousey’s most bitter rival, Cyborg didn’t get so much as lip service from Rousey.
“I’d love that [fight], too, but I don’t make fights. I just show up and win them.”
“It’s a complicated question,” said White. “I know Ronda wants that fight. Cyborg is ‘going to fight at 135 pounds,’ apparently. She’s never fought at 135 pounds. She’s gonna make the weight. Do it in Invicta. We’ll see what happens and we’ll go from there. [Rousey] does want this fight. I know people talk a lot of s**t like she doesn’t but she does.”
As for the long shot of the trio, Carano’s ‘complicated’ negotiations with UFC brass haven’t deterred Rousey.
“This is the fight I’ve been looking forward to ever since I found out women’s MMA existed,” said Rousey. “You ever heard the saying, ‘Work until your idols become your rivals’? It would really be a dream come true to fight Gina. Not in a malicious sense. It’s the highest form of respect that I could show to her, is to come and fight her and give her every single thing that I have.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Hunting. Eddie Alvarez wants to fight for the UFC’s lightweight title after beating Donald Cerrone in September. ‘Don’t get me wrong, the UFC is the premier company, the best company in the world. But I’m not here just to be a measuring stick. I’m here for the world title.’
In the works. Lyoto Machida is in talks to face Luke Rockhold, possibly as the main event on the UFC on FOX card in Phoenix on Dec. 13 or the main card on Dec. 6 in Las Vegas underneath Weidman and Belfort.
Char Wrap. Luke Thomas previews this weekend’s UFC events, talks Eddie Alvarez’ departure from Bellator, answers your questions and more in this week’s live chat.
Home sick. Ferguson, MO native Tyron Woodley discusses the riot and turmoil plaguing his home town, and how he plans on keeping focused on his UFC fight this weekend.
‘My client is not a monster.’ Jonathan Koppenhaver’s attorney releases a statement.
MEDIA STEW
Inside the Octagon with Ariel Helwani.
Fight Night Macao: Media day highlights.
Nice profile trainer John Kavanagh.
Highlights from Metamoris 4.
Don’t bring your riffraff pets around King Mo.
Viewer submissions from ‘Inside MMA.’
Long watches.
‘Press Row’ with Jordan Breen and Luke Thomas.
…
TWEETS
Burn.
Saw Jones on @jimmykimmel clowning me for 4th in the OLYMPICS. This morning I can across this little nugget 🙂 #dummy pic.twitter.com/ukWigHeYLj
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) August 20, 2014
Get well soon.
3rd surgery in 1 year on my hand. Let’s hope this one works so I can go back to beating people with 2… http://t.co/oTHMi1yRxY
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) August 20, 2014
Balling.
The walk if fame! Never could have paid me to believe my prints would go down in history. Macau, China… http://t.co/iFyC4vCnjk
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) August 21, 2014
Wow! No Caption Needed! @ufc #UFC #ufcfightnight48 #ufcfightnight @ Macau China http://t.co/fx3kJsHy13
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) August 21, 2014
Want to know how famous @GunniNelson is in Iceland? Here’s a story about his hairdos on the gossip page of the paper. pic.twitter.com/kxHJANQYB9
— Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) August 21, 2014
Had all my ex’s in their prime
— 22 (@DJ_Lauzon) August 20, 2014
Had to get a pic with the @49ers cheerleaders. http://t.co/ZnNM3umirw pic.twitter.com/g2XJLcEG45
— Chris Holdsworth (@holdsworth135) August 21, 2014
Caption.
Congrats.
My new gym is coming along. Cant wait pic.twitter.com/eUNjESggQf
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) August 21, 2014
Me, too.
I miss Japan., hope to go back soon pic.twitter.com/ugwcHjwSjW
— Gary Goodridge (@GaryHGoodridge) August 20, 2014
We’re drawing to a close on these.
ALS just got a Gangster wet …@LukeBarnatt @IAmJericho @heylandsberg @TGILaura @THEmikeinindy @steveaustinBSR http://t.co/i1pwGwWhI6
— chael sonnen (@sonnench) August 21, 2014
#IceBucketChallenge Donating my money after watching Pete Frates story. @mattmitnick #PeteFrates #Donate http://t.co/pHdxFs75Ay
— Joshua Burkman (@JoshBurkman) August 21, 2014
Ok @NickJonas and everyone else on that nominated me. I accept your #ALSicebucketchallenge I fully… http://t.co/tXNG6Ky9P9
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) August 20, 2014
We see you @RicardoLamasMMA! The bar for the #ALSIceBucketChallenge has been set. Hashtag Awesome! https://t.co/7tpnVsLLso
— UFC (@ufc) August 20, 2014
#IceBucketChallenge#ALS#CureALS#UFC178 @ufc danawhiteufc @rondarousey @bryancaraway http://t.co/qUuWeYNKMj
— Manny Gamburyan (@MannyGamburyan) August 20, 2014
.#ALSIceBucketChallenge accepted via #PhilCoke http://t.co/1lIzjpplPo I nominate @theRealKiyosaki, @MayorMikeDuggan & @EricDelFierro 24hrs
— Myles Jury (@FuryJury) August 20, 2014
ALS Ice bucket challenge!! I call out @danawhite and @BQuickJiuJitsu #ufc #greatcause #donate #raiseawareness https://t.co/7rgXpQZizu
— BrutalJohnnyBedford (@BrutalBedford) August 21, 2014
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Aug. 20 2014)
Pedro Munhoz vs. Jerrod Sanders at UFC Fight Night: MacDonald vs. Saffiedine
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via SubmissionAus.
Diego Sanchez and Submission Radio play a little game of “who wore it better”
Deigo Sanchez took some time to hang with Submission Radio and play “Who Wore it Better” and “The Many Hair Styles of Diego Sanchez.”
Diego spoke about a wide range of things:
On Dan Hardy’s comments
“I’m not going to start slinging the dirt because enough dirt has been slanged already and I’m here, I fight. He’s doing his commentating and you know, there’s gonna be haters, there’s going to be people talking shit, and I’m just gonna keep dusting my shoulder off.”
On the big fight announcement
“All I can say is stay tuned to the UFC. There’s gonna be a big announcement coming up, a big press conference and in about a week or so you guys are gonna know the next fight and it’s a good one.”
On what’s going through his mind when his having one of his crazy exchanges
“It’s just never back down mentality. It’s come forward, never back down and really, when I’m in that moment I’m just going for the kill, and I’m just in it for the thrill, and I’m just using all my heart and soul and fighting like a warrior.”
…
Check out the rest of the post here.
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