An asterisk lies next to Ronda Rousey’s record.
No, that asterisk doesn’t suggest that she’s on the juice or cheated in any manner. Rousey is simply a different animal than her 4-0 record gives her credit for.
She isn’t just undefeated. Rousey has won by submission in each of her professional bouts. Not only that, not a single one of her opponents lasted not just into Round 2, but even 50 seconds into Round 1 against her.
A key reason behind Rousey’s dominance is her unparalleled preparation. According to Heavy’s Duane Finley, she said going into Saturday night’s match that:
Fights are crazy and chaotic. People can expect all they want, but I expect the worst-case scenario all the time. I expect it to be a five-round war where I could be behind every single second of the fight and I’ll have to fight back at the end to win it. That’s what I’ve prepared for. I would rather have what I don’t need than need what I don’t have. Of course, I’m always going to aim for a first-round finish. I’m always going to take the first opening I see and then the second, third and fourth. I will constantly keep trying to take advantage of the openings for myself – but I’m always prepared for the worst.
Rousey won’t need five rounds to take out Miesha Tate, though. Tate currently holds the championship belt, but never once has she defeated an opponent as quickly as Rousey has in every single fight.
Tate is talented, but again, Rousey is just a different animal.
David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.
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