After a long and rigorous battle that has spanned many unnecessary years, mixed martial arts has finally been legalized in the state of New York. Assembly Majority Leader Joseph D. Morelle announced yesterday (March 22, 2016) the passing of the bill to legalize the sport in the Empire State, an announcement beneficial to all major MMA
After a long and rigorous battle that has spanned many unnecessary years, mixed martial arts has finally been legalized in the state of New York.
Assembly Majority Leader Joseph D. Morelle announced yesterday (March 22, 2016) the passing of the bill to legalize the sport in the Empire State, an announcement beneficial to all major MMA promotions, but specifically the UFC, which has heavily pushed for the passing of the bill since 2007.
UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta has already confirmed that the promotion is looking to bring an event to New York before the close of 2016.
While he couldn’t confirm that the first appearance would be at New York’s infamous Madison Square Garden, he did say that when the UFC does indeed come to MSG, it will be massive.
With that being said, let’s take a look at some possible headliners for the UFC’s MSG Debut:
Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey suffered a harrowing knockout loss against Holly Holm at UFC 193, one that sent her in to a tailspin of depression and negative media for the months following. Having lived the life of the most dominant champion in the division’s history, overnight ‘Rowdy’ fell in to a pit
Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey suffered a harrowing knockout loss against Holly Holm at UFC 193, one that sent her in to a tailspin of depression and negative media for the months following. Having lived the life of the most dominant champion in the division’s history, overnight ‘Rowdy’ fell in to a pit of despair that she would not emerge from until last month. It’s important amidst all the criticism over Rousey’s attitude to remember she is human, just like the rest of us.
The persona we see in UFC promo cuts and media sessions is not necessarily an accurate depiction of the real Ronda Rousey, and I feel the circumstances surrounding UFC 193 go much deeper than it appears. The common MMA fan might tell you that she was simply a hype train that got derailed, beating ‘lesser’ competition in a division devoid of real talent. In reality, the women’s 135 pound division needs a boost, that’s true, but this isn’t a tool to take away a champ’s achievements. The loss to Holm leaves one clear message to consider; Ronda Rousey needs to change camps.
Here’s why:
Improvement, or the illusion of
Rousey came in to the UFC 193 main event intent on destroying Holly Holm in the stand up department, but for some reason was overlooking the former boxing great’s own striking skills. For a fighter like Rousey, only really focusing on boxing for three years, to take on a thorough bred pugilist like ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ head on like that, there’s really something wrong there. Completely abandoning the bread and butter grappling style that got her to the belt in the first place, Rousey was like a lamb to the slaughter, and it was certainly a rough night down under.
Her stand up was always going to look amateur against a great boxer and kickboxer like Holm, but it wasn’t just down to her opponents skill advantage. Everything about Rousey’s stand up was wrong, her footwork, lack of head movement, inability to cut angles or close off her opponent’s movement, her hand position, her range, her lack of head movement. In reality, she had absolutely zero fundamentals, not even the basics, to show Holly Holm that night in Melbourne, Australia. At some point, you have to look at who is training her to use these techniques, who is telling her that this is how you fight.
UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm reacts to Ronda Rousey’s recent declaration that she’s still undefeated… It wasn’t that long ago that a different undefeated women’s bantamweight champion reigned above the division. Ronda Rousey, credited with being a pioneer of women’s MMA, was described as the most dominant athlete in modern sports. The hype and
UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm reacts to Ronda Rousey’s recent declaration that she’s still undefeated…
It wasn’t that long ago that a different undefeated women’s bantamweight champion reigned above the division. Ronda Rousey, credited with being a pioneer of women’s MMA, was described as the most dominant athlete in modern sports. The hype and media storm that constantly surrounded ‘Rowdy’ soon came to a crashing halt though, as her crown was toppled by a thudding head kick at UFC 193. The source of the now infamous left boot to Rousey’s nugget was Holly Holm.
The Jackson’s MMA prospect came in to the fight as a sleeper, but left with the most glorious and dominant victory possible. Out striking Rousey throughout, defending the takedowns and throw attempts, and landing one of the greatest highlight reel finishes ever, ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ had arrived.
So much has happened since that time, Rousey has gone in to hiding and come back out, and then most recently she gave a highly emotional and revealing interview to Ellen DeGeneres. Among the hot topics discussed were the feelings of suicide that ‘Rowdy’ experienced after her November 2013 loss in Melbourne, Australia, and also that she still considered herself undefeated. The comments on her status and not counting the loss to Holm seemed to tickle the new champion, not surprisingly.
Skip to page 2 for Holly Holm’s reaction to the comments made by Ronda Rousey…
Skip to page 2 for Holly Holm’s reaction to the comments made by Ronda Rousey…