Amanda Nunes vs. Ronda Rousey | UFC Betting Sites

Anderson Silva Hopes 2017 Is Year Of ‘Many Wins’ For Ronda Rousey

If any fighter can relate to Ronda Rousey at this point in her career, it may be former longtime UFC middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva. Rousey, the once dominant 135-pound titleholder, has suffered back-to-back stoppage losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes. After being brutally knocked out by Holm in Nov. 2015, Rousey spent most of

The post Anderson Silva Hopes 2017 Is Year Of ‘Many Wins’ For Ronda Rousey appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

If any fighter can relate to Ronda Rousey at this point in her career, it may be former longtime UFC middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva.

Rousey, the once dominant 135-pound titleholder, has suffered back-to-back stoppage losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes. After being brutally knocked out by Holm in Nov. 2015, Rousey spent most of 2016 on the self before returning at Dec. 30, 2016’s UFC 207 only to be finished by Nunes in 48 seconds.

Silva was also a dominant champion at one point, reigning over the 185-pound division for nearly seven years. In 2013, however, he was brutally knocked out by Chris Weidman. Since then, Silva’s record stands at 0-3-1.

Being that he has been in Rousey’s shoes before, “The Spider” recently offered up some advice to the “Rowdy” one, and he said that he hopes 2017 is a year of ‘many wins’ for the ex-champion:

“After her first loss, I sent her a message,” Silva said (Via MMAJunkie). “Right then, I posted something on social media motivating her. I think regardless of what happened and what will happen in your life, you need to keep your head up because what you did will stay in history. Regardless of wins or losses, you need to care about what you see as the most important in your life.

“I hope 2017 is a year of many wins for you and new accomplishments, and that if you keep fighting, that you return well. The way I see it, personally and technically as a fighter, pick your opponents better when you return. Don’t fight someone who’s as active as the champ. I think it was the wrong strategy. I hope you come back. You’re a great athlete. God bless you.”

While it’s unclear whether or not Rousey will ever fight again, perhaps she should take Silva’s advice and ease her way back into competition. Either way, “The Spider” says that losing is part of the game, and that fans and critics need to understand that:

“But as for Ronda, it happens. These are things that happen. It’s not like, ‘Oh, she should have lost because she’s arrogant.’ No. It happens. You get up there, and you can either win or lose. It’s natural. People need to understand that.”

Do you agree with Silva’s assessment of the situation?

The post Anderson Silva Hopes 2017 Is Year Of ‘Many Wins’ For Ronda Rousey appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

White: Rousey Was Mentally & Physically Ready For Nunes

Appearing on yesterday’s (Jan. 13, 2017) edition of The Herd, UFC President Dana White made headlines when he offered both Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor $25 million each to make their often talked about, but thought to be unrealistic boxing match a reality. In addition to touching on the Mayweather-McGregor saga, White also spoke about

The post White: Rousey Was Mentally & Physically Ready For Nunes appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Appearing on yesterday’s (Jan. 13, 2017) edition of The Herd, UFC President Dana White made headlines when he offered both Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor $25 million each to make their often talked about, but thought to be unrealistic boxing match a reality.

In addition to touching on the Mayweather-McGregor saga, White also spoke about former women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey. After suffering a brutal knockout loss to Holly Holm in Nov. 2015, Rousey spent much of 2016 on the sidelines before returning at Dec. 30’s UFC 207 against champion Amanda Nunes, who only needed 48 seconds to stop the “Rowdy” one.

Despite the outcome, White said that Rousey was mentally and physically prepared for the fight:

“Listen, she trained hard for that fight,” White said. “She wanted that fight. She was mentally and physically ready for that fight. But she knows what happened, I don’t.”

The 29-year-old Rousey still appears to be in her athletic prime, but many have wondered if she’ll ever fight again given the fact that she’s suffered back-to-back disappointing losses. She certainly doesn’t need the money, but the competitor inside of her may lead her back to the cage.

White, however, isn’t sure at this point, as he admits that he hasn’t had much interaction with the “Rowdy” one since UFC 207:

“Ronda and I haven’t talked (about what’s next),” White said. “We texted yesterday. Yesterday was the first day that we started texting, and even if it was just a regular fighter … I don’t mess with the fighters for a while. I let them have some time off. Ronda and I will talk soon and we’ll see what she wants to do.”

Would you like to see Rousey fight again or should she look to hang up her gloves for good?

The post White: Rousey Was Mentally & Physically Ready For Nunes appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Ben Rothwell Rips Ronda Rousey: She Was ‘Never A Champion’

Former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey has been the hot topic in the media ever since she made her long awaited return at last weekend’s (Fri., Dec. 30, 2016) UFC 207 from Las Vegas, Nevada. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned for the ex-champion, as she was finished in just 48 seconds by Amanda Nunes.

The post Ben Rothwell Rips Ronda Rousey: She Was ‘Never A Champion’ appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

That makes it two straight losses for the once dominant Rousey, and many are voicing their opinions on what her next step should be.

Like many others, heavyweight Ben Rothwell has his opinion, and he feels as if Rousey’s next move could determine her legacy. If she doesn’t return after the losing skid, “Big Ben” says ‘she never was a champion’:

“What matters is now,” Rothwell told Sirius XM’s “Fight Club”. “What’s she going to do now? What matters is six months from now if she walks away from the sport and never fights again, she never has to have her name brought up again. If she can’t come back from everything she’s been through and being put on such a high pedestal and making waves, then she loses two fights and she doesn’t come back from that? Well, then she’s a loser and she never was a champion.”

In addition to Rousey, her coach Edmond Tarverydyan has also received a tremendous amount of criticism in the MMA community as many feel as if he isn’t the best coach for the “Rowdy” one. Rousey’s boyfriend and UFC heavyweight Travis Browne has also struggled since training under Tarverdyan, and Rothwell feels as if Browne made the move simply so Rousey could be his ‘sugar mama’:

“I have no problems talking (expletive) on him because he brings (expletive) on himself,” Rothwell said. “He’s one of the guys – I try to be nice to him and cool, and the more I learn about him, the more of his history, he’s one of those guys that’s just a man-whore. He’s a phony, and a lot of (expletive) pisses me off with him. Why did you suddenly leave a great camp that made him good and move to a (expletive) gym that’s got a lot of guys losing? For me, I think it was a financial thing. He went there and found a sugar mama in his girlfriend. He’s just looking to get himself taken care of.

“He’s got some brains in, like, ‘Why should I fight? I’ll just get her to pay for everything.’ It’s a good financial move on his part, but it hasn’t done his personal career any good and a lot of people think the guy has regressed and he’s not getting any better. He’s lost his footwork, he’s lost a lot of different things that made him good. We’re going to find out with Derrick Lewis. Is the guy going to get motivated? That’s one thing about our sport you can look like you’re just out of it and forgotten about then next thing you know you can resurge yourself.”

Rothwell certainly had some strong feelings on Rousey and Browne, but he also made headlines when he offered to take a two-on-one fight against middleweight champion Michael Bisping and welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, two fighters who recently discussed a super fight against each other:

Ok I’m deadly serious I’ll fight @TWooodley and @bisping at the same time 2on1 and take both your titles. Let’s all make money ???? #ridicules

— Big Ben Rothwell (@RothwellFighter) January 6, 2017

What do you make of Rothwell’s variety of outspoken comments?

The post Ben Rothwell Rips Ronda Rousey: She Was ‘Never A Champion’ appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Sonnen on Rousey: She Can’t Act, Nor Should She Be Able To

After spending the majority of 2016 on the sidelines after suffering a brutal stoppage loss to Holly Holm at UFC 193 in Nov. 2015, former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey returned at Dec. 30, 2016’s UFC 207 only to be finished by current titleholder Amanda Nunes in 48-seconds. Due to the fact that she’s suffered

The post Sonnen on Rousey: She Can’t Act, Nor Should She Be Able To appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Due to the fact that she’s suffered back-to-back defeats with both coming in devastating fashion, fans and pundits have argued that we may have seen the end of the “Rowdy” one inside the Octagon.

Rousey has had success outside of fighting, however, as a mainstream star and as an actress, which many had expected her to turn to after her fighting days, although former UFC title challenger and current Bellator fighter Chael Sonnen doesn’t see that happening.

“The American Gangster” recently told TMZ Sports that Rousey ‘can’t act, nor should she be able to’ act, especially if her fighting days are behind her:

“I want the best for Ronda, but we’re operating in a level of reality here. These things are all tied together. This girl can’t act, nor should she be able to, she’s not a trained actor,” said Sonnen. “She was in those opportunities because she was very famous. It’s a house of cards. If one goes, they all go.”

There is, of course, a chance Rousey continues to fight, but Sonnen feels as if her best days are behind her. He did, however, commend her for ‘drawing tickets’ and ‘giving the audience what they want’:

“I can tell you this right now about Ronda, she is in her prime right now. She is 29 years old, things are not going to get any better,” added “The American Gangster.”

“So, is she a title contender in the future or ever? No, those days are long gone. However, there is something to be said for being a top 10, going out there mixing it up and seeing where your skills are, drawing tickets, giving the audience what they want. There is something to be said of that.”

Sonnen has always been outspoken, but what do you make of “The American Gangster’s” comments here?

The post Sonnen on Rousey: She Can’t Act, Nor Should She Be Able To appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Firas Zahabi: Rousey’s Striking Issues Are Not Coach Edmond’s Fault

Ronda Rousey’s grappling skills have never been questioned. The former Olympic judoka has proven time and time again that she’s a wizard in the clinch, repeatedly throwing opponents to the canvas with ease once she gets her hands on them. On the mat, her submission skills have always been her bread and butter, as her

The post Firas Zahabi: Rousey’s Striking Issues Are Not Coach Edmond’s Fault appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Her striking, however, has seemed to certainly contribute to her sudden downfall. Rousey has lost two straight bouts, both by way of T/KO to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes. Nunes, the reigning champion, needed only 48 seconds at Dec. 30, 2016’s UFC 207 to light Rousey up on the feet and score a victory.

Much of Rousey’s striking issues have been put on her longtime head coach Edmond Tarverydyan, who has become one of the most criticized coaches in the sport.

Tristar Gym’s well-respected trainer Firas Zahabi, however, recently said that the problems with Rousey’s stand up game aren’t necessarily Tarverdyan’s fault:

“I think Ronda has got power,” he said (Via Bloody Elbow). “What Ronda doesn’t have, is fluidity, a technical speed. She doesn’t have a smooth coordination. She’s very jittery, she’s very mechanical when she punches, and she’s very wild and telegraphs very much.

“Her punching level is not at an expert level,” he said. “However, is that her coach’s fault? I would say no, it is not.”

Zahabi then went on to compare Rousey to Olympic wrestler turned mixed martial arts champion Ben Askren in order to take some of the blame away from Tarverdyan:

“I know a lot of guys are blowing your tops off now, but it’s not his fault,” Zahabi explained. “She is not the first athlete in MMA to fail at developing a striking game.”
“I know what you guys are going to tell me, ‘Ben Askren is a better striker than Ronda Rousey. Maia’s striking is better than Ronda Rousey’s. Why is Rousey’s striking is very stiff and mechanical?’ Is it because of his coach? I don’t think it is.

“Before you start burning your computers, hear me out. Take for instance, Ben Askren, great fighter. His coach, Duke Roufus, is an extremely competent striking coach. No one can debate that, and he has proven himself over and over again. Why isn’t Asrken’s striking like Anthony Pettis? Is it Duke Roufus’ fault? No it is not.

“The reason why a Ben Askren or a Ronda Rousey’s striking usually — not always — doesn’t hit that high level, is because they’ve spent so much time wiring their brain and their body and their nervous system to fight in one particular way. It’s opportunity cost. Every time you do one thing, you’re costing yourself in another.”

In addition to Tarverdyan being criticized, Rousey has also been advised to join one of the larger MMA teams in order to round out her game. While Zahabi may not put all of the blame on Tarverdyan, he did admit that the coaching Rousey received against Nunes was ‘as bad as it can be’ and that perhaps the ex-champion should look to switch it up:

“Is it Edmond’s fault? I don’t think it is. But I think there are coaches out there that can do a much better job than what Edmond did. That I will agree with,” he said. “I don’t want to be negative towards anybody, but the job that he did out there against Amanda Nunes was as bad as it can be. That’s the legitimate criticism that I cannot defend.

“I don’t believe he’s incompetent. I think he’s a legitimate striker. I’ve seen his fight videos, I’ve seen him standing up. He legitimately knows what he’s doing standing up. Is his stand up style good for Ronda? Is his approach to training stand up good for Ronda? I would say it’s not.”

What do you make of Zahabi’s comments?

The post Firas Zahabi: Rousey’s Striking Issues Are Not Coach Edmond’s Fault appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Ronda Rousey’s Five Best Fighting Moments

Ronda Rousey has experienced a sudden fall from grace over the last 14 months. The once-dominant UFC women’s bantamweight champion has lost her last two bouts by knockout and her fighting future is currently unclear. After being on the wrong end of a brutal Holly Holm head kick at Nov. 2015’s UFC 193, Rousey spent the majority

The post Ronda Rousey’s Five Best Fighting Moments appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

After being on the wrong end of a brutal Holly Holm head kick at Nov. 2015’s UFC 193, Rousey spent the majority of 2016 on the sidelines. With the belt no longer wrapped around her waist, the “Rowdy” one faded out of the limelight, but she made her long-awaited return at last Friday’s (Dec. 30, 2016) UFC 207 from Las Vegas. Unfortunately for Rousey, this loss was far more harrowing than the last, as she was finished by Amanda Nunes in just 48 seconds.

Due to her current losing streak and the fact that she has remained relatively quiet in the media – something unusual for a star of her stature – Rousey has received a tremendous amount of criticism. While some of that criticism may be warranted, it seems fight fans are suddenly downplaying Rousey’s previous accomplishments.

Perhaps fans are forgetting that the former Olympian has held titles in two different promotions? Perhaps fans are forgetting that we’re speaking of the female who brought women’s MMA to the UFC, and therefore the mainstream? Perhaps fans have forgotten that Rousey will always be known as the inaugural UFC 135-pound champion and that she defended her title six consecutive times?

With that being said, let’s flip the script, stop trashing Rousey for a moment and take a look at ‘Rowdy’s’ five best fighting moments:

Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey:

Ronda Rousey made her bantamweight debut in a title fight against fellow pioneer and then Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion Miesha “Cupcake” Tate at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey on March 3, 2012.

After scoring four straight first round armbar victories, Rousey was put in the headlining role against her bitter rival with a title on the line. To say that she made the most of the opportunity would be an understatement, as she ended up scoring yet another first round armbar victory over Tate to secure the title. In fact, Rousey even snapped Tate’s arm in gruesome fashion, which just added an exclamation point to the victory.

Establishing herself as a legitimate star and a legitimate force in this fight, Rousey would go on to defend her Strikeforce strap one time before making the jump to the UFC.

The post Ronda Rousey’s Five Best Fighting Moments appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.