Ronda Rousey is dominant. Six professional fights, nine overall, and all have been stopped via first-round armbar. And her last four victims were no slouches: Sarah D’Alelio, Julia Budd, Miesha Tate and Sarah Kaufman.
Looking at the Strikeforce calendar it does not seem likely that we will see the impressive champion back in the cage in 2012. So, what’s 2013 looking like for the Rousey?
The biggest opposition that jumps off the page is Cris Cyborg. Her suspension ends in December.
It is the fight that most fans have been wanting to see, and the fight that Rousey called for in the cage after her victory on Saturday night. The catch is that she wants Cyborg to meet her at 135 pounds. That is unlikely.
If the fight were to happen it would be the biggest fight in women’s MMA history to date without question.
The other logical opponent is none other than Miesha Tate.
Tate defeated Julie Kedzie on Saturday in one of the best fights of 2012. It was a dramatic comeback victory that saw her get the submission win with an armbar of her own. She was brutalized in the first round and was dropped by a nasty headkick in the third, but Tate’s composure and heart weathered the storm.
It is no secret Tate and Rousey do not like one another. Even though Rousey easily took the strap off of Tate back in March, the rematch would sell. Fans love when fighters despise one another.
And let’s not forget Rousey’s incredible ability to sell a fight. She is becoming a star much in the same light that other dominant champions have been—fans simply want to watch their brilliance.
Whoever stands across the cage from her in 2013 is irrelevant. Fans want to see if she can keep her streak alive. Can she make it seven wins in a row? Can she make it seven armbars in a row? Can she make it seven armbars in the first round in a row?
That is what fans are anticipating. Cyborg are Tate are merely small bonuses. Rousey is beginning to transcend to the point where fans will watch her fight anyone.
In 2013 Rousey will continue to devastate her competition and be revered by the MMA community. Her star power will continue to rise. She will most likely appear on more shows, make more appearances and become one of the most recognizable fighters—man or woman—in MMA.
2013 has in store what 2012 did: hype, media and victims.
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