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.
The story that continues to sweep the combat sports world by storm is the possibility of a boxing match between UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor and boxing legend Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather. Both men continue to trash one another through social media, and the hype surrounding the possible boxing bout doesn’t seem to be dying down
The story that continues to sweep the combat sports world by storm is the possibility of a boxing match between UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor and boxing legend Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather.
Both men continue to trash one another through social media, and the hype surrounding the possible boxing bout doesn’t seem to be dying down anytime soon. TMZ recently caught up with UFC President Dana White to discuss the issue, courtesy of FOX Sports, specifically Mayweather’s recent comments stating he’d “slap the (expletive) out of Conor McGregor when I see him”:
“Floyd’s about this tall (points towards the ground), his hands are like peanut brittle, he has to wrap them a million times so he doesn’t break his hands. Floyd better hope he don’t run into Conor on the street. Let me tell you what, not only will Conor kick his ass, he’ll kick the (expletive) out of every one of his security guards, too,” White said.
“I would love to be there when Floyd tries to slap Conor McGregor. I promise you, Floyd, you will never try to walk up and slap Conor McGregor and you know it, too.”
When asked about the possibility of a boxing bout between his lightweight champion and ‘Money’, White just doesn’t see it ever happening:
“It will never happen,” White said said. “Let me tell you what, that fight will happen before Floyd walks up and tries to slap Conor, I promise you that, too.
“He’ll kick his head to another planet and then he’ll murder every one of his security guards.”
White, who is an admittedly huge fan of boxing, isn’t sure if Mayweather will ever return to the sport in attempt to earn his 50th straight victory, but thinks ‘Money’ is way in over his head when he says he can slap McGregor:
“I don’t know if he’s done. He can probably come back and he’ll have a boxing match,” White said. “I don’t take away from what Floyd’s accomplished in boxing, but he’s stepping way over thinking he’s going to slap Conor.
“It’s hilarious.”
You can check out White’s full interview with TMZ here:
Conor McGregor won [Irish national broadcaster] RTÉ’s Sportsperson of the Year last night, and states that he is “still two weight world champion” in short interview.
“The Notorious” spoke to Claire McNamara in Ireland about everything from children, to a potential superfight with Floyd “Money” Mayweather. McGregor corrected the interviewer when she failed to introduce him as a dual-weight champion:
“I am the two-way world champion, and that’s that. It’s good to be a two-weight world champion.”
“It was my fault. I took the loss like a man, the way a champion does, I went, I regrouped, I came back better prepared and I got that win back.”
The Dubliner also refused to rule out a potential fight with Floyd Mayweather in 2017:
“That’s a very serious thought and it’s a very serious conversation that’s happening. I’ve got the boxing licence. (Floyd’s) last two fights have been duds. I don’t need him, I could pick some local schmuck and still do big numbers. Of course it’s the fight we all want to see, but these things take time.”
After his big win at UFC 205, Conor McGregor is now taking time off and does not have any fights scheduled for 2017. His significant other Dee Devlin is pregnant with their first child and is due in May 2017.
You can watch the full interview here:
https://youtu.be/rvvvrFFczY8
Conor McGregor won [Irish national broadcaster] RTÉ’s Sportsperson of the Year last night, and states that he is “still two weight world champion” in short interview.
“The Notorious” spoke to Claire McNamara in Ireland about everything from children, to a potential superfight with Floyd “Money” Mayweather. McGregor corrected the interviewer when she failed to introduce him as a dual-weight champion:
“I am the two-way world champion, and that’s that. It’s good to be a two-weight world champion.”
“It was my fault. I took the loss like a man, the way a champion does, I went, I regrouped, I came back better prepared and I got that win back.”
The Dubliner also refused to rule out a potential fight with Floyd Mayweather in 2017:
“That’s a very serious thought and it’s a very serious conversation that’s happening. I’ve got the boxing licence. (Floyd’s) last two fights have been duds. I don’t need him, I could pick some local schmuck and still do big numbers. Of course it’s the fight we all want to see, but these things take time.”
After his big win at UFC 205, Conor McGregor is now taking time off and does not have any fights scheduled for 2017. His significant other Dee Devlin is pregnant with their first child and is due in May 2017.
With Conor McGregor now having made UFC history by with his UFC 205 lightweight title victory over Eddie Alvarez, becoming the first fighter in promotion history to hold two titles at once, a potential big-money boxing match between the heavy-handed Irishman and boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. has never been bigger. The rumors of the
With Conor McGregor now having made UFC history by with his UFC 205 lightweight title victory over Eddie Alvarez, becoming the first fighter in promotion history to hold two titles at once, a potential big-money boxing match between the heavy-handed Irishman and boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. has never been bigger.
The rumors of the potential super-fight between the two brash stars first caught wind when McGregor abruptly announced his ‘retirement’ from mixed martial arts (MMA) competition after being removed from the massive UFC 200 card this past Summer. Mayweather would then announce that he was interested in a boxing match with the UFC star, and admitted he was trying to make the fight happen.
Mayweather has been retired from in-ring competition after racking up a legendary undefeated record of 49-0, after a unanimous decision win over Andre Berto in September of last year. ‘Money’ has since stated that he would only consider coming out of retirement for a boxing fight with McGregor to reach 50-0.
Now with McGregor having obtained a boxing license in the state of California earlier this week, the rumor mill is once again beginning to pick up heat with talk of a boxing match between the two combat sports stars. Popular sportsbook Bovada has released their betting odds for the potential bout, with Mayweather leading as a massive favorite over ‘The Notorious One’:
Floyd Mayweather -2250
Conor McGregor +950
If the colossal boxing bout does in fact come to fruition, who are you putting your money on between the two mega-stars?
The circus that took the combat sports world by storm months ago has finally come to a close. After subsequently ‘retiring’ from the Octagon and being removed from his UFC 200 main event bout against Nate Diaz for bumping heads with UFC brass over media obligations, UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor appeared to have a
The circus that took the combat sports world by storm months ago has finally come to a close.
After subsequently ‘retiring’ from the Octagon and being removed from his UFC 200 main event bout against Nate Diaz for bumping heads with UFC brass over media obligations, UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor appeared to have a date in the boxing ring with boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the near future.
The news took the MMA and Boxing worlds by storm, but the bout was temporarily put on ice as UFC President Dana White said no fight against Mayweather would take place unless it was made through him.
McGregor would go on to defeat Diaz in a five round war at UFC 202 this past August, and is now rumored to be stepping into the Octagon with UFC lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez for the 155-pound crown; attempting to become the first dual-weight champion in UFC history.
During a recent interview with Fight Hype, courtesy of Bloody Elbow, ‘Money’ revealed that after vigorous attempts to make the big money fight happen, he was unfortunately unsuccessful in luring the Irish MMA star into the boxing ring against himself:
“I tried to make the fight happen between me and Conor McGregor,” Mayweather said. “We wasn’t able to make the fight happen, so we must move on.”
So there you have it fight fans, the bout is off and leaves the lingering question if the boxing match even had a serious shot at happening in the first place.
You can check out Mayweather’s comments to Fight Hype here:
Nate Diaz didn’t pull any punches in his recent interview on The MMA Hour with MMAFighting‘s Ariel Helwani, as he boldly claimed he could defeat both Conor McGregor and Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather in the same night. The Stockton native stated that he and UFC President Dana White had a falling out in terms of negotiation
Nate Diaz didn’t pull any punches in his recent interview on The MMA Hour with MMAFighting‘s Ariel Helwani, as he boldly claimed he could defeat both Conor McGregor and Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather in the same night.
The Stockton native stated that he and UFC President Dana White had a falling out in terms of negotiation when it came to the financials of a McGregor rematch:
“They weren’t happiest about that, but they’re not talking to me about that. But I think were gonna get things figured out.”
Diaz also spoke on rumors that White had reportedly stormed out of their meeting angrily after his request for more money:
“No that was exaggerated, we finished talking and then we all walked out. It wasn’t the worst meeting, it wasn’t the best meeting, but it wasn’t the worst either.”
“They were cool, I was cool, it was just business talk. We didn’t end on the happiest note but I think we’re moving forward.”
Helwani asked Diaz if he believed the UFC was using the Mayweather rumors as a ploy to pressure Diaz into taking the McGregor rematch before it’s too late:
“I do think that, we’re on the same page here.”, Diaz joked. “Thats exactly what I think. Every time I hear about it I get a call.
Fight that mutherf*****, I’ll be right here. I’m the only one that can say I can whoop both their asses in one night.”
Diaz then commented on how he believed he would fare inside the ring against Mayweather:
“Mayweather is the best boxer that there is on winning fights. I’ve never been in high-level boxing matches like that. But I bet I’ll do better that McGregor would.”
While it is very well known that McGregor is obsessed with a rematch against the man who handed him his first loss under the promotion’s banner, Diaz claims he won’t lose any sleep if the bout never comes to fruition:
“I don’t even give a fu**. If I got my ass wooped I’d be begging for the fight. If you don’t want to rematch somebody who beat you, then I don’t know what the f*** your in this for. So I’m not begging for this fight.”
While a rematch between McGregor and Diaz is the obvious angle the UFC is hoping for, it appears we will have to wait until negotiations between Diaz and the UFC improve before seeing the two men throw down inside the Octagon again.
Helwani asked Diaz if he believed the UFC was using the Mayweather rumors as a ploy to pressure Diaz into taking the McGregor rematch before it’s too late:
While it is very well known that McGregor is obsessed with a rematch against the man who handed him his first loss under the promotion’s banner, Diaz claims he won’t lose any sleep if the bout never comes to fruition: