There are reasons to be excited about Ronda Rousey’s bout against Liz Carmouche, but in the end, what takes place in the octagon between these two women will pale in comparison to what happens right before they fight.
The main event between Rousey and Carmouche is a groundbreaking and historic event for the sport. There is no doubting this.
Women’s mixed martial arts has a superstar in Rousey, and Dana White is making the right move by having her defend her bantamweight title in the first ever UFC fight between two women.
But there’s a problem with this bout: Rousey is too good. The 26-year-old is powerful and explosive, and if this fight goes to the ground, it will be over quickly.
Rousey’s armbar has become the most feared weapon among all female fighters, and few fans would be surprised to see the fight end with her signature move in Round 1.
While a first-round knockout or win by submission is often an exciting result, the fact that everyone watching will be expecting it to happen will take away from the accomplishment if Rousey does end the fight early.
In the end, this bout is a massive mismatch, with Bleacher Report’s Jeremy Botter calling a Rousey win “the biggest lock on this fight card.”
But the fight set to take place right before the main event is an even and exciting matchup.
Lyoto Machida and Dan Henderson are both fighters worthy of a main event, and in all likelihood, it will not be long until one of their names appears at the top of a fight card.
As ESPN UK notes, UFC president Dana White has tapped the winner of this bout to take on the victor between Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen—who are set to fight in UFC 159 on April 27.
Machida is 34 years old and Henderson is 42. While time is quickly running out for Henderson, Machida is not getting any younger either, and such a clear path to a title fight is an opportunity that may not present itself again for either fighter.
Both men will be extremely motivated, and the stylistic differences between the two will make the bout even more thrilling.
Machida is quick and accurate with his strikes, while Henderson brings frightening knockout power with his punches.
If the bout goes to the ground, Machida’s black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu will test Henderson’s credentials as an Olympic wrestler.
This fight will be a chess match, but of course, it will feature two gigantic men beating on each other. It has all the components to be a fantastic bout.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the main event.
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