UFC 207 is just hours away and the sixth episode of UFC 207 Embedded was released on the UFC’s YouTube channel. In the episode, the fighters rehydrate after weighing in, and former champion Ronda Rousey says hello to UFC President Dana White. The ceremonial weigh-in later that day hosts two memorable staredowns, as bantamweight champion
UFC 207 is just hours away and the sixth episode of UFC 207 Embedded was released on the UFC’s YouTube channel.
In the episode, the fighters rehydrate after weighing in, and former champion Ronda Rousey says hello to UFC President Dana White. The ceremonial weigh-in later that day hosts two memorable staredowns, as bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and challenger Cody Garbrandt have their most heated exchange yet, with security forced to separate the two on stage. Plus, Rousey makes her first public appearance of the week, while her opponent, women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes, walks to the scale in a mask paying homage to her nickname – “The Lioness.”
The weigh-ins are over, the main event is official, the only thing left to do is get Amanda Nunes and Ronda Rousey in the Octagon to fight for the bantamweight title Friday night.
Both Nunes and Rousey weighed in Thursday in Las Vegas at 135 pounds, wh…
The weigh-ins are over, the main event is official, the only thing left to do is get Amanda Nunes and Ronda Rousey in the Octagon to fight for the bantamweight title Friday night.
Both Nunes and Rousey weighed in Thursday in Las Vegas at 135 pounds, which was good news for the UFC since two fighters (Johny Hendricks and Ray Borg) had already missed weight for their respective fights. The last thing Dana White and the new company owners needed was a second straight main event with a fighter not making weight, as UFC 206 saw Anthony Pettis report to the scales overweight for his featherweight interim title fight against Max Holloway.
But speaking of Rousey and Nunes, both fighters looked to be in tremendous shape, especially the former champion who, after a 13-month hiatus from the sport, looks to be in the best physical shape of her career.
Rousey gave the people what they wanted at the ceremonial weigh-in with her trademark scowl, as ESPN’s Brett Okamoto referred to in the tweet above, but perhaps the best part of the weigh-in came from her opponent as Nunes stayed true to her “Lioness” nickname.
One thing that many people overlooked was that Rousey was introduced first before Nunes as the challenger coming out of the blue corner, which is a strange sight to see, as she has been the most dominant champion that the division has ever seen.
MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani picked up on the rare occasion of seeing Rousey as a challenger, which, amazingly, hasn’t occurred in almost five years.
Because of the media blackout that Rousey and Nunes have been in for fight week, it’s difficult to gauge how either fighter will perform Friday night. Nunes looks looser than ever and has been smiling, playful and seems excited to be in the position she is in today.
As for Rousey? She wouldn’t even pose for a picture while standing on the scale during her official weigh-in.
She seems focused on the fight and nothing else, but it’s possible that by shutting out the world in her return to the Octagon and then all of the sudden being under the spotlight as millions of people watch to see if she triumphs or fails, she could end up feeling more pressure.
Whether she shows it or not, there’s no doubt that Rousey is nervous about this fight. Going up against a fierce striker in Nunes in a fight that will define her legacy as a fighter can’t be easy, but if anyone can silence the critics, it’s Rousey.
It’s a must-win fight for Rousey. Nunes will still be a top contender in the bantamweight division and will surely have another title shot coming in the next year or two if she loses, but what happens if Rousey loses?
That’s the million-dollar question. Rousey said that she only has a handful of fights left in her, but after hitting rock bottom in her loss to Holly Holm last year, would another loss be too much for her to deal with and try to fight again?
Nunes thinks so, but then again, she doesn’t envision Rousey beating her and taking her belt back. It would be shocking if this fight went past three rounds, as both fighters are always looking for a quick finish.
Whether it be a first-round knockout or submission, both fighters are capable of fighting on their feet or on the ground. Expect fireworks to go off at UFC 207.
Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey hasn’t competed since surrendering her title in brutal fashion to Holly Holm at Nov. 2015’s UFC 193, but she will finally return to action in the main event of tomorrow night’s (Dec. 30, 2016) UFC 207 as she takes on reigning champion Amanda Nunes. While all of the
Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey hasn’t competed since surrendering her title in brutal fashion to Holly Holm at Nov. 2015’s UFC 193, but she will finally return to action in the main event of tomorrow night’s (Dec. 30, 2016) UFC 207 as she takes on reigning champion Amanda Nunes.
While all of the attention has been placed on her return, many have also speculated on the future of the “Rowdy” one, as she has said that she likely won’t fight too many more times. In fact, UFC President Dana White doesn’t know if the ex-champion will fight again after UFC 207 if things don’t go her way:
“I think if Ronda wins, we will see her again,” White said on ESPN earlier today. “If she loses, I don’t know.”
White also touched on Rousey’s legacy, saying that her past accomplishments speak for themselves, although he did admit that she has a massive opportunity waiting in front of her:
“She’s very competitive, so if she loses I’ll have to see how this thing plays out, but her legacy?” White said. “I mean, she held the title, she was the most dominant female ever. And if you look at since she lost, every time there’s been a fight the belt has been handed over. So, on Friday night she has the opportunity to come back, get her belt back and cement her legacy.”
Do you expect Rousey to get by Nunes? And if not, do you expect to ever see her in the Octagon again?
UFC 207 on Friday night will undoubtedly be the most important night in the MMA career of Ronda Rousey.
On November 15th 2015 in Melbourne, Australia, Bruce Buffer introduced Ronda Rousey to a packed out Etihad Arena as the women’s bantamweight champion of the world. The UFC superstar and cultural phenomenon had never been beaten in MMA, and was one of the most recognisable faces in the world of sport. It took just two rounds into her title defence against ex-boxing world champion Holly Holm for that to end. Since that spectacular dethroning, the name most female MMA fighters once feared to speak no longer holds the currency it once did. So what happened?
Quite simply, Ronda was dominated at UFC193 and could not bounce back. The loss affected the former Strikeforce champion severely, and this coming Friday will see her return after a long hiatus. Another question which hangs over the partner of UFC heavyweight Travis Browne, is the quality of the team which she has around her. Rowsey’s sole defeat is attributable to a fight plan which was embarrassingly one dimensional, and highly simplistic. Edmond Tarverdyan’s baffling tactics were effectively to pressure, and hunt down an accomplished long-range striker [in Holm] to beat her on the inside. It was clear by the end of the first round that not only would this game plan not work, but it was being completely exploited by the former WBC champion of the world.
Tarverdyan had no plan B or deviation from what was not working (he even bizarrely commended his fighter’s efforts). The gapingly obvious failure here was that Rousey was not squaring up against a run of the mill, flat-footed slugger; Holm was (and is) a proven, technical striker with great footwork. “The Preacher’s Daughter” employed powerful straight lefts from the outside and slick lateral movement; such simple boxing fundamentals appeared far more impressive given the opponent’s inability to find a way inside. “Rowdy” could only move forward, and in a straight line, and was ill-prepared for a challenger with a southpaw stance. With no concept of space management, or timing strikes, a fighter will eat solid punches trying to reach their target. In Rousey’s case she was picked apart, worn out and eventually opened up giving Holm the window to connect with a perfectly timed head kick which knocked her out. The stunning knockout not only exposed arrogance in the Glendale camp’s preparations for the match-up, but was detrimental to their fighter’s health. If the first defeat of the Queen of MMA painfully highlighted limitations in her striking abilities, it certainly confirmed one thing: Holm is a boxer; Rousey is not.
Prior to her loss in Australia, “Rowdy” displayed a peerless aura of invincibility. Many called for her instating as the pound for pound #1 in UFC, while others suggested that she possessed the skills that could beat male fighters. Before Conor McGregor, Rousey was the muted cross-over opponent to fight Floyd Mayweather. While the accolades, superlatives and hyperbole which surrounded the iconic fighter had never been seen before, the magnitude of her fall from grace will possibly never be seen again.Having reached peak popularity, and with a string of acting roles, advertisements and product endorsements, the 135lb champion watched her stock collapse dramatically. Speculation mounted of exterior commitments acting as a distraction from her fight game, and ultimately affecting her preparation and her dedication to the craft which had made her famous. A retreat from public life led to speculation of retirement: would she ever step foot inside the octagon again? Further talk of depression and suicidal tendencies (concerning, given that both her father and grandfather’s took their own lives) added weight to the argument that we had seen the last of the bantamweight in the UFC.
No one has yet to establish themselves in the absence of the Beijing 2008 medallist. Since UFC193, the women’s bantamweight division has seen the belt change hands three times in as many fights. Miesha Tate, the now retired (one time) nemesis of “the arm collector”, earned the strap via rear-naked choke from Holm at UFC 196. “Cupcake” would subsequently fall victim in her first title defence against Rousey’s next opponent Amanda Nunes at UFC 200, suffering the same fate she had dealt Holm the previous March (rear-naked choke). What is curious in the case of all three fighters to sit atop the division following Rousey’s defeat, is that none are yet to successfully defend the strap. Some may say that this demonstrates the depth of quality within the 135lb ranks, while others have argued that it is testament to the strength of the ex-Olympian’s dominance – the old adage “form is temporary, class is permanent” may be pertinent given the fact that there is only one loss on her record.
If we are to see the challenger emerge victorious this Friday night, it will more than likely come down to the greatest tool in her weaponry, and the foundation of her success: the armbar. The American’s MMA debut victory came in March 2011 against Ediane Gomes at KOTC: Turning Point (submitting her opponent in 25 seconds). A further six victories would come via armbar, and all in the first round. At UFC 170, almost three years and eight fights later, Sarah McMann collapsed following a knee to the body – the first fight Rousey won via strikes. A fluent left knee gradually softened the body, until McMann hit the canvas after the first minute of the first round. At UFC 175 the following July, Alexis Davis was the next victim of the female superstar, and lasted only 16 seconds in spectacularly brutal fashion. Rousey, looking more the stand-up fighter, landed a couple of jabs and straight-rights, before hip tossing her opponent and demolishing her with several blows on the ground. Despite this, Cat Zingano would fall victim to the signature armbar at UFC184, but a return to a strike oriented game plan at UFC190 was enough to flatten Bethe Correia via a right-hook.
Rousey’s departure from what had been so effective (barring the Zingano bout) was evidently missing against Holm in UFC193, but it is likely that Rousey will revert to this tactic against the powerful Nunes, and rightly so – it works. Providing her gameplan is more robust against the dangerous Brazilian, she will be favoured to recapture a belt many see as hers. It really is quite simple for the ex-bantamweight champion: boom or bust. Defeat cannot be an option worth considering.
UFC 207 on Friday night will undoubtedly be the most important night in the MMA career of Ronda Rousey.
On November 15th 2015 in Melbourne, Australia, Bruce Buffer introduced Ronda Rousey to a packed out Etihad Arena as the women’s bantamweight champion of the world. The UFC superstar and cultural phenomenon had never been beaten in MMA, and was one of the most recognisable faces in the world of sport. It took just two rounds into her title defence against ex-boxing world champion Holly Holm for that to end. Since that spectacular dethroning, the name most female MMA fighters once feared to speak no longer holds the currency it once did. So what happened?
Quite simply, Ronda was dominated at UFC193 and could not bounce back. The loss affected the former Strikeforce champion severely, and this coming Friday will see her return after a long hiatus. Another question which hangs over the partner of UFC heavyweight Travis Browne, is the quality of the team which she has around her. Rowsey’s sole defeat is attributable to a fight plan which was embarrassingly one dimensional, and highly simplistic. Edmond Tarverdyan’s baffling tactics were effectively to pressure, and hunt down an accomplished long-range striker [in Holm] to beat her on the inside. It was clear by the end of the first round that not only would this game plan not work, but it was being completely exploited by the former WBC champion of the world.
Tarverdyan had no plan B or deviation from what was not working (he even bizarrely commended his fighter’s efforts). The gapingly obvious failure here was that Rousey was not squaring up against a run of the mill, flat-footed slugger; Holm was (and is) a proven, technical striker with great footwork. “The Preacher’s Daughter” employed powerful straight lefts from the outside and slick lateral movement; such simple boxing fundamentals appeared far more impressive given the opponent’s inability to find a way inside. “Rowdy” could only move forward, and in a straight line, and was ill-prepared for a challenger with a southpaw stance. With no concept of space management, or timing strikes, a fighter will eat solid punches trying to reach their target. In Rousey’s case she was picked apart, worn out and eventually opened up giving Holm the window to connect with a perfectly timed head kick which knocked her out. The stunning knockout not only exposed arrogance in the Glendale camp’s preparations for the match-up, but was detrimental to their fighter’s health. If the first defeat of the Queen of MMA painfully highlighted limitations in her striking abilities, it certainly confirmed one thing: Holm is a boxer; Rousey is not.
Prior to her loss in Australia, “Rowdy” displayed a peerless aura of invincibility. Many called for her instating as the pound for pound #1 in UFC, while others suggested that she possessed the skills that could beat male fighters. Before Conor McGregor, Rousey was the muted cross-over opponent to fight Floyd Mayweather. While the accolades, superlatives and hyperbole which surrounded the iconic fighter had never been seen before, the magnitude of her fall from grace will possibly never be seen again.Having reached peak popularity, and with a string of acting roles, advertisements and product endorsements, the 135lb champion watched her stock collapse dramatically. Speculation mounted of exterior commitments acting as a distraction from her fight game, and ultimately affecting her preparation and her dedication to the craft which had made her famous. A retreat from public life led to speculation of retirement: would she ever step foot inside the octagon again? Further talk of depression and suicidal tendencies (concerning, given that both her father and grandfather’s took their own lives) added weight to the argument that we had seen the last of the bantamweight in the UFC.
No one has yet to establish themselves in the absence of the Beijing 2008 medallist. Since UFC193, the women’s bantamweight division has seen the belt change hands three times in as many fights. Miesha Tate, the now retired (one time) nemesis of “the arm collector”, earned the strap via rear-naked choke from Holm at UFC 196. “Cupcake” would subsequently fall victim in her first title defence against Rousey’s next opponent Amanda Nunes at UFC 200, suffering the same fate she had dealt Holm the previous March (rear-naked choke). What is curious in the case of all three fighters to sit atop the division following Rousey’s defeat, is that none are yet to successfully defend the strap. Some may say that this demonstrates the depth of quality within the 135lb ranks, while others have argued that it is testament to the strength of the ex-Olympian’s dominance – the old adage “form is temporary, class is permanent” may be pertinent given the fact that there is only one loss on her record.
If we are to see the challenger emerge victorious this Friday night, it will more than likely come down to the greatest tool in her weaponry, and the foundation of her success: the armbar. The American’s MMA debut victory came in March 2011 against Ediane Gomes at KOTC: Turning Point (submitting her opponent in 25 seconds). A further six victories would come via armbar, and all in the first round. At UFC 170, almost three years and eight fights later, Sarah McMann collapsed following a knee to the body – the first fight Rousey won via strikes. A fluent left knee gradually softened the body, until McMann hit the canvas after the first minute of the first round. At UFC 175 the following July, Alexis Davis was the next victim of the female superstar, and lasted only 16 seconds in spectacularly brutal fashion. Rousey, looking more the stand-up fighter, landed a couple of jabs and straight-rights, before hip tossing her opponent and demolishing her with several blows on the ground. Despite this, Cat Zingano would fall victim to the signature armbar at UFC184, but a return to a strike oriented game plan at UFC190 was enough to flatten Bethe Correia via a right-hook.
Rousey’s departure from what had been so effective (barring the Zingano bout) was evidently missing against Holm in UFC193, but it is likely that Rousey will revert to this tactic against the powerful Nunes, and rightly so – it works. Providing her gameplan is more robust against the dangerous Brazilian, she will be favoured to recapture a belt many see as hers. It really is quite simple for the ex-bantamweight champion: boom or bust. Defeat cannot be an option worth considering.
On Christmas Eve, the UFC 207 card was dealt a big blow when Cain Velasquez was pulled from his bout with Fabricio Werdum. The fight was set to be featured on the main card of the pay-per-view (PPV). Werdum was pulled from the card as well.
There has been some controversy in regards to what led to the former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight title holder’s removal from the card. In an interview with ESPN days prior to the bout cancellation, Velasquez revealed he would need back surgery after the fight and was using Cannabidiol (CBD) to ease the pain in training.
This drew a red flag from the UFC and they required Velasquez to undergo further medical clearance. The American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) fighter denied rumors that his bout was canceled and claimed his was ready to go. The next day, he was pulled from the card.
Velasquez released a statement expressing his disappointment in the bout cancellation. He said he didn’t regret “editing” himself in the interview because he felt he was ready to fight. UFC President Dana White had a different take on that during his UFC 207 media scrum:
“Read the interview. [He] doesn’t sound like he wants to fight to me. When you’re a fighter and you do an interview days before a fight and say you can’t stand for 10 minutes, that’s insanity. First of all, this is the best organization in the world for fighting. He’s fighting one of the best fighters on earth and that fight lasts 15 minutes. If you can’t even stand for 10 minutes, what are you gonna do in a fight against one of the [best fighters in the world].”
White said the risk of putting Velasquez inside the Octagon with his back issues was too great for the UFC and the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).
“[Do] you know how irresponsible it would be not only for the UFC, but for any athletic commission to allow that fight to happen? It absolutely makes no sense. I love Cain. Cain is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet, but if you read that article it does not sound like he wants to fight.”
On Christmas Eve, the UFC 207 card was dealt a big blow when Cain Velasquez was pulled from his bout with Fabricio Werdum. The fight was set to be featured on the main card of the pay-per-view (PPV). Werdum was pulled from the card as well.
There has been some controversy in regards to what led to the former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight title holder’s removal from the card. In an interview with ESPN days prior to the bout cancellation, Velasquez revealed he would need back surgery after the fight and was using Cannabidiol (CBD) to ease the pain in training.
This drew a red flag from the UFC and they required Velasquez to undergo further medical clearance. The American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) fighter denied rumors that his bout was canceled and claimed his was ready to go. The next day, he was pulled from the card.
Velasquez released a statement expressing his disappointment in the bout cancellation. He said he didn’t regret “editing” himself in the interview because he felt he was ready to fight. UFC President Dana White had a different take on that during his UFC 207 media scrum:
“Read the interview. [He] doesn’t sound like he wants to fight to me. When you’re a fighter and you do an interview days before a fight and say you can’t stand for 10 minutes, that’s insanity. First of all, this is the best organization in the world for fighting. He’s fighting one of the best fighters on earth and that fight lasts 15 minutes. If you can’t even stand for 10 minutes, what are you gonna do in a fight against one of the [best fighters in the world].”
White said the risk of putting Velasquez inside the Octagon with his back issues was too great for the UFC and the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).
“[Do] you know how irresponsible it would be not only for the UFC, but for any athletic commission to allow that fight to happen? It absolutely makes no sense. I love Cain. Cain is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet, but if you read that article it does not sound like he wants to fight.”
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight kingpin Fabricio Werdum was set to meet Cain Velasquez in a rematch this Friday night (Dec. 30) at UFC 207. Velasquez was forced off the card after the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) deemed him “unfit” to compete. “Vai Cavalo” was also removed from the card.
Werdum’s manager called for a title rematch with Stipe Miocic in April. Apparently, Werdum was offered two fights and he turned down both of them.
UFC President Dana White told mixed martial arts (MMA) media during today’s scrum that two heavyweights stepped up and offered to fight Werdum. Neither fight was accepted (via MMAFighting):
“Werdum has turned down two fights. JDS. Yes. Werdum turned that fight down. Then we offered him a fight with I think Alistair Overeem in Brooklyn [UFC 208], and he turned that down too.”
White said Werdum wanted a significant amount of money to fight Junior dos Santos or “The Reem.”
“There’s different ways to turn fights down. I’d call him and say ‘hey, do you want this fight?’, ‘no, I don’t want this fight’, or you can say ‘yeah, for 800 thousand dollars and a piece of pay-per-view.’ That’s turning down the fight.”
“Vai Cavalo” took to his Instagram account to post some texts he claims to have sent White on Christmas Eve.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOk9Sf4gvZu/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-7ZAvWGcCM
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight kingpin Fabricio Werdum was set to meet Cain Velasquez in a rematch this Friday night (Dec. 30) at UFC 207. Velasquez was forced off the card after the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) deemed him “unfit” to compete. “Vai Cavalo” was also removed from the card.
Werdum’s manager called for a title rematch with Stipe Miocic in April. Apparently, Werdum was offered two fights and he turned down both of them.
UFC President Dana White told mixed martial arts (MMA) media during today’s scrum that two heavyweights stepped up and offered to fight Werdum. Neither fight was accepted (via MMAFighting):
“Werdum has turned down two fights. JDS. Yes. Werdum turned that fight down. Then we offered him a fight with I think Alistair Overeem in Brooklyn [UFC 208], and he turned that down too.”
White said Werdum wanted a significant amount of money to fight Junior dos Santos or “The Reem.”
“There’s different ways to turn fights down. I’d call him and say ‘hey, do you want this fight?’, ‘no, I don’t want this fight’, or you can say ‘yeah, for 800 thousand dollars and a piece of pay-per-view.’ That’s turning down the fight.”
“Vai Cavalo” took to his Instagram account to post some texts he claims to have sent White on Christmas Eve.
The weigh-ins are over, the main event is official, the only thing left to do is get Amanda Nunes and Ronda Rousey in the Octagon to fight for the bantamweight title Friday night.
