The UFC’s biggest star might just be getting bigger. According to Variety, UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey has signed on to two feature films with Warner Bros. Impressed by her performance against Miesha Tate at UFC 168 and from positive word of mouth on the sets of The Expendables 3 and Fast and Furious 7, studio execs believe she could be Hollywood’s emerging action star.
Slated to defend her title to Sara McMann Feb. 22 at UFC 170, Rousey will join the cast of Entourage, set to begin shooting in mid-March. The next project could dramatically reshape Rousey’s career, set to play the lead role in the film adaptation of The Athena Project. In a film Warner Bros. believes has franchise potential, Rousey would play the leader of a small, all-female squad of Delta Force operators specializing in counter terrorism. Author Brad Thor has apparently hit it off with Rousey, who indicated her interest in the project when asked by the studio about other possible roles. Now in final negotiations with Thor, Warner Bros. reportedly put in a bid for the novel the next day.
While we’ve seen other combat sports athletes make the move to film with varied success, none have done it as quickly or successfully as Rousey. Not exactly looking to remain in the public eye as an athletic career winds down, Rousey sits at the pinnacle of her sport. Whether or not Rousey can stay there, given her increasingly hectic schedule, is the real question. Either way, UFC president Dana White is all smiles.
Congrats Ronda!!! Couldn’t happen to a better person http://t.co/0iaTFCAxUd
— Dana White (@danawhite) February 7, 2014
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Silva arrested. UFC light heavyweight Thiago Silva was arrested at his home Thursday night after a brief standoff with police.
Unhappy Shogun. Mauricio Rua says he’s still upset with the judges’ decision in his first bout with Dan Henderson. “I can’t do anything about it, but I think a draw would have been fairer.”
Title shot. Dana White says Lyoto Machida could be next to fight for the UFC middleweight title with a win over Gegard Mousasi.
Sour grapes? Josh Thomson has some harsh words for Benson Henderson. “Let me just tell you, he’s not strong. He doesn’t hit hard. He’s not strong. He doesn’t kick hard.”
Gunni. Renzo Gracie says Gunnar Nelson will take the UFC welterweight title and wipe out the division within two years.
MEDIA STEW
Full fight: Nordine Taleb vs. Tyler Manawaroa from TUF Nations.
Bellator Season 10 promo.
Herb Dean talks blown calls.
Dan Hardy on Beyond the Octagon.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley 2 press conference highlights.
News and other headlines.
Long watches.
Statisticion Paul Gift talks about trends in MMA judging/fights, Ronda Rousey stats & more
TWEETS
Remember the BJJ shirt?
@RdosAnjosMMA I will present you this shirt after the fight 😉
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) February 6, 2014
@rdosanjosmma time will give answer.
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) February 6, 2014
Back to back days with lingerie.
I don’t know where brianbowensmith found an old 50’s hair dryer in an alley but it looked cool 🙂 it… http://t.co/W6N4Q1QMXa
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) February 6, 2014
Not good.
You don’t wont none of The First 48 Silva ! #BoutThatAction “@TimKennedyMMA: I never called out Thiago Silva
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) February 7, 2014
Get well.
Cast off, time to begin phase 2…PT! One month of that then another checkup! Also ashy hands need a… http://t.co/Yarh0dfjCX
— Cole Miller (@colemillerATT) February 6, 2014
Google says it’s a Jaguar.
I have an obsession with the Leopard. The most versatile of all the cats. Cold, calm, calculated. pic.twitter.com/eXPYO9WesK
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) February 6, 2014
Yeesh.
Yo @Cruickshank155 found a pic of you before your last fight. Hahahahah pic.twitter.com/aT3Z2tXKZ6
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) February 6, 2014
Conspiracy.
Awesome they showed us having dinner with our guys and bringing them food after the weight cut. Oh they didn’t. #villians #TUFNations
— Kyle Noke (@KyleNoke) February 6, 2014
Would have liked to see a higher one rep max.
“I piss excellence! Look at me glisten!”A NEW @Ranger_Up video is up. http://t.co/FjTIC1W9iI @BrianStann ” out did ourselves lol
— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) February 6, 2014
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Feb. 6 2014)
Douglas de Andrade vs. Zubair Tuhugov at UFC Fight Night 36
Caio Magalhaes vs. Josh Samman at UFC on FOX 11
Thiago Alves vs. Seth Baczynski at UFC on FOX 11
Jordan Mein vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio slated for UFC on FOX 11
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via HerrDannyboy.
Why 2013 Kicked this MMA Fan’s @ss Part 5: May: Lionosaurus “Wrecks” and Clash of the Titans
Preamble
Some would argue that a normal human being would come out satiated from April 2013’s MMA bonanza. Others would say that they are suffering from MMA fatigue and even complain that Gosh darn-it there’s too much MMA.
Not me. Not at this pace. I wanted more.
I don’t follow team sports (except if the Habs make it to the playoffs) or individual sports that people play (those are called games and are all on par with Bingo and Tiddly Winks).
Plus, more often than not, I end up disappointed whenever I watch boxing (looking at you Bute vs Pascal), so I need my fight fix.
Hell, I even created a Facebook account and pay for 2 overpriced packages (which should be illegal- Bastards!) just to get Sportsnet and FX to watch the Goddamn UFC prelims fights!
…
Check out the rest of the post here.
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.