Tag: miesha tate

Cris Cyborg Offers to Help Miesha Tate Ahead of Ronda Rousey Rematch at UFC 168

Former Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate may have an ace in the hole during the home stretch leading up to her rematch with UFC women’s champ Ronda Rousey at UFC 168 later this month. 
Another ex-Strikeforce titleholder, curren…

Former Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate may have an ace in the hole during the home stretch leading up to her rematch with UFC women’s champ Ronda Rousey at UFC 168 later this month. 

Another ex-Strikeforce titleholder, current Invicta FC women’s featherweight top dog Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino reached out to Tate via Twitter to offer her services as a training partner before the Dec. 28 title bout. 

The heavy-handed Brazilian fighter couldn’t resist ending the interaction without taking a shot at the “Rowdy” one. 

Despite a failed drug test controversy swirling around her last fight with Strikeforce, she remained under contract with Zuffa LLC, the UFC’s parent company, and it didn’t take long for negotiations for a Rousey vs. Cyborg superfight to get underway. 

However, after months of Rousey and Justino being unable to find a middle ground, Cyborg requested and was granted a release from her contract in February 2013. 

Since then, the 28-year-old has scored back-to-back TKO’s under the Invicta banner, winning the 145-pound title with her stoppage over Marloes Coenen in July. 

Meanwhile, Rousey and Tate’s rivalry has been going strong since early 2012, with Rousey‘s gruesome armbar finish over Tate in March of that year only intensifying the hatred. 

Rousey is currently 7-0 as a professional mixed martial artist, finishing all of her fights with a first-round armbar. 

On the other hand, Tate is 13-4 overall in her career, though she is just 1-2 in her past three matchups inside the cage. 

Their bitter feud was recently exacerbated as they coached opposite one another on season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter, with many pundits believing the reality series tarnished Rousey‘s reputation, casting Tate in a more favorable light at the same time. 

Would “Cupcake” be wise in accepting Cyborg’s offer quickly ahead of her pivotal title rematch with Rousey later this month?

 

John Heinis is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA Editor for eDraft.com.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Ronda Rousey: I Haven’t Watched an Episode of TUF 18

UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey may have been one of the head coaches on season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter, but that doesn’t mean she felt the need to watch any of the episodes when they aired. 
In an interview with Ariel Helwa…

UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey may have been one of the head coaches on season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter, but that doesn’t mean she felt the need to watch any of the episodes when they aired. 

In an interview with Ariel Helwani during the TUF 18 Finale on Saturday, “Rowdy” gave an unexpected answer when asked what she thought of the way she was portrayed on the reality series. 

“I still haven’t watched any of the episodes,” Rousey responded. “Not even one?” Helwani replied with a surprised tone. 

“No, my achievements and my goals are my business and everyone’s feedback is not one of them,” Rousey stated. “If you really want to get to know the real person, ya know, via a reality TV show … I mean that’s like saying we all know who the real Kim Kardashian is. For all I know, she’s a rocket scientist.”

In fairness, the former Olympic-level Judoka also noted that she is happy the female competitors on the show got exposure and then some got an opportunity to compete inside the Octagon. 

Rousey has been heavily criticized for the way she conducted herself on the show, with TUF 18 winner Julianna Pena, who was coached by Rousey rival Miesha Tate, being one of her biggest detractors. 

The 26-year-old, who has won all seven of her professional fights with an armbar in the first round, rematches Tate at UFC 168 later this month.

During their first encounter for the Strikeforce bantamweight title in March of last year, “Cupcake” controlled the action early, taking Rousey‘s back for a brief period of time before succumbing to a particularly gruesome armbar at the tail end of the round.

Both well-known female fighters have stated they expect a definitive win this time around, citing vast improvements in their respective games since their first matchup.

Is it strange that Rousey has never taken to the time to watch a show she spent months filming, or is it really not a big deal one way or the other?

 

John Heinis is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA Editor for eDraft.com.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate Join Forces to Create an Awkward Interview [VIDEO]

If you thought an interview putting hated rivals Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate shoulder-to-shoulder would have Chael Sonnen levels of excitement, you’d be wrong.

Despite the ferocity and abject hatred between the two fighters, Jon Anik‘s interview of the first-ever female Ultimate Fighter coaches didn’t produce anything memorable save for uncomfortable levels of awkwardness.

First of all, Rousey clearly didn’t want to be that close to Tate. She was also understandably upset about the fact that her two teammates Jessamyn Duke and Peggy Morgan just fought one another.

It only went downhill from there.

Once Anik asked Tate about Julianna Pena, Rousey essentially no-sold everything Tate said and stared vacantly into the distance. When Anik brought the mic back to the Olympian and asked her about Tate’s improvements as a fighter as well as her own improvements, Rousey answered with her usual candor but without her usual passion. She was honest but apathetic.

“The first time we fought it was less than a year since I’ve gone pro, and now I’m three years,” she said with a half-scowl on her face. It wasn’t Heidi Androl-death stare level but it was close. “I’m a more improved fighter since, I don’t think I’ve seen as good a performance from her since I won the title and she’s fought a few times since then.”

Read the conclusion of the interview featuring Jon Anik’s abysmal attempt at selling the UFC 168 PPV after the jump.


(Props to MSN via MMAFighting for the video)

If you thought an interview putting hated rivals Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate shoulder-to-shoulder would have Chael Sonnen levels of excitement, you’d be wrong.

Despite the ferocity and abject hatred between the two fighters, Jon Anik‘s interview of the first-ever female Ultimate Fighter coaches didn’t produce anything memorable save for uncomfortable levels of awkwardness.

First of all, Rousey clearly didn’t want to be that close to Tate. She was also understandably upset about the fact that her two teammates Jessamyn Duke and Peggy Morgan just fought one another.

It only went downhill from there.

Once Anik asked Tate about Julianna Pena, Rousey essentially no-sold everything Tate said and stared vacantly into the distance. When Anik brought the mic back to the Olympian and asked her about Tate’s improvements as a fighter as well as her own improvements, Rousey answered with her usual candor but without her usual passion. She was honest but apathetic.

“The first time we fought it was less than a year since I’ve gone pro, and now I’m three years,” she said with a half-scowl on her face. It wasn’t Heidi Androl-death stare level but it was close. “I’m a more improved fighter since, I don’t think I’ve seen as good a performance from her since I won the title and she’s fought a few times since then.”

Rousey used a question about having advantages in the mind games department as a launching point to knock Tate. “I feel like I have so many advantages that it’s hard to say which one’s the biggest,” she said. When Anik turned around and asked Tate about the same topic, Rousey yawned.

To conclude the interview, Anik gave Rousey a chance to promote UFC 168. Her words, while true, had zero pep or enthusiasm to them; she was disinterested and it showed.

“Because women’s fighting is, I think, the most exciting in the UFC. This is the highest level of women’s fighting. And if you’re a fight fan you should see this.”

Anik wrapped up the interview by, strangely, promoting the rivalry as a friendship we weren’t going to see or look forward to (we were confused too).

“Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate…we look forward to not your friendship but getting in that Octagon…Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate, ladies and gentleman! Not friends right now and certainly will be adversaries on December 28th.”

Overall the whole interview was the most awkward we’ve seen in a while. But that wasn’t the only inelegant interview of the night. Rousey attended another that took place on the FOX Sports 1 post-event show. She admitted that she never watched a TUF 18 episode and was visibly perturbed. You can tell that she’s fed up with press and just wants to break arms already. But that’s fine, because we’d like to get to brass tacks too.

Julianna Pena Goes off on Ronda Rousey After TUF 18 Finale

The euphoria from winning Season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter didn’t deter Julianna Pena from continuing to needle women’s bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey on Saturday night. 
Following her one-sided beating of Jessica Rakoczy, which made …

The euphoria from winning Season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter didn‘t deter Julianna Pena from continuing to needle women’s bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey on Saturday night. 

Following her one-sided beating of Jessica Rakoczy, which made her the first ever female TUF winner, an elated Pena reaffirmed her distaste for Rousey during a post-fight interview with FOX Sports 1.

Whether Ronda has one penny or $10 million, the point that I was trying to draw there is she has her nose in the air, and she acts like she’s better than everyone else. She went on the show like, ‘I’m team real mean versus fake nice.’ Well, if she was so real, why didn’t she tell me that I didn’t deserve to breathe the same air as Shayna Baszler? Why didn’t she tell me that to my face instead of saying it on camera behind my back?

A longtime training partner of Rousey‘s nemesis, Miesha Tate, the 24-year-old Pena then offered her best interpretation of “Rowdy’s” personality. 

“It’s her arrogance. It’s the way she holds herself—like her s**t don’t stink. And that was the point I was trying to make. It doesn’t have anything to do with money; it’s the way that she acts.”

Rakoczy got back to her feet briefly following a Pena trip takedown in the first round. But a relentless Pena scored another trip takedown later in the round, and this time, Rakoczy failed to get back to her feet.

Pena eventually advanced to a mount position, where she uncorked more than enough punches and elbows to put the Canadian professional boxer away. Referee Mario Yamasaki called the bout and ripped Pena off a lumped-up Rakoczy with one second left in the first round.

“The Venezuelan Vixen” beat Gina Mazany via decision to gain entry into the TUF 18 house. In the quarterfinals, the first overall female pick submitted Shayna Baszler, a 10-year pro and the tournament’s early front-runner. Pena then submitted grappling wizard Sarah Moras in the semifinals to punch her ticket to the finals.

Pena started her verbal quarrel with Rousey on Wednesday when she said the following about the company’s first female champ on an episode of FOX Sports Live.

“I think what bugs me the most would be just her all-around pretentious attitude, and I feel like she’s just a spoiled rich brat, and uh, that’s what I think.”

Pena has plenty to say regarding Rousey; although, the Washington native remains cognizant that a fight with the champ won’t happen anytime soon, saying “I’m probably like two or three fights away.”

While Pena’s not quite ready for Rousey, she’s certainly capable of locking horns with a top-10 bantamweight. Jessica Andrade (No. 10), Germaine de Randamie (No. 9) or Amanda Nunes (No. 8) would each make suitable opponents for the surging Pena. 

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Ronda Rousey Flips off Miesha Tate on ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’ Draws Fans’ Ire

Athlete rivalries are the spice of life in sports, but sometimes competitors can take things too far.
Case in point: Ronda Rousey repeatedly flipping off MMA rival Miesha Tate on Wednesday night’s episode of The Ultimate Fighter. 
Rouse…

Athlete rivalries are the spice of life in sports, but sometimes competitors can take things too far.

Case in point: Ronda Rousey repeatedly flipping off MMA rival Miesha Tate on Wednesday night’s episode of The Ultimate Fighter. 

Rousey’s middle-finger festival was spotted by Simon Samano of For The Win, and it left MMA fans stewing over the UFC Bantamweight champion’s over-the-top gamesmanship. 

The incident began when Rousey and Tate—coaches on this year’s TUF— were tasked with a head-to-head rock-wall climbing challenge. The first one to ring the bell at the top of the rock wall would earn their team $15,000. 

The competition was close, but Rousey managed to reach the bell first. After ringing the bell, Rousey screamed “F*** you, b****!” and unleashed a barrage of middle fingers Tate’s way.

Tate ignored Rousey, who continued to flip the bird as the two coaches were lowered to the ground. 

Some viewers were turned off by Rousey’s antics and took to Twitter to express their disappointment.

Rousey and Tate have never gotten along, that much was established by their 2012 StrikeForce showdown.

The trash talking and pre-fight hype saw both fighters chomping at the bit to destroy one another, and the fight ended in an arm-bending Rousey victory.

The two are set to meet in the ring this December at UFC 168, so it could be believed that Rousey’s antics on TUF are just viral marketing for the bout.

Or Rousey still really hates Tate, and the world is in for another amazing fight next month.

 

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‘TUF 18? Episode 12 Quick Recap: Anthony Gutierrez Blows Weight, David Grant Earns Bye to Finals

(Wow, Miller Lite *and* NOS Energy drinks? Am I in heaven?? / Video via TheUltimateFighterFX)

When was the last time we’ve seen an episode of The Ultimate Fighter that didn’t feature a fight? Has this not happened since Season 3 episode 6, when Noah Inhofer left the house over a letter from his jealous girlfriend? (TUF armchair-historians, please feel free to correct me in the comments section.)

The mood was light in the beginning of last night’s episode of TUF 18, with Team Rousey enjoying a backyard BBQ and male strippers. And then, the moment that maybe a few of you have been waiting for: The Coaches’ Challenge. The game is rock climbing, with a $10,000 cash-stack awarded to the winning coach and an additional $1,500 for every member of her team. Ronda out-hustles Miesha at the top of the wall and yells “FUCK YOU BITCH!” (“I just like Miesha being in the habit of always getting beaten by me,” she says later.)

But the good times could only last so long. Team Rousey teammates Anthony Gutierrez and David Grant start cutting weight for their semi-final showdown, and Gutierrez’s casual approach to his diet is coming back to haunt him. On fight day, he wakes up at 145 pounds, a full weight class over where he’s supposed to be. Four hours later, he hits the scales at 140.


(Wow, Miller Lite *and* NOS Energy drinks? Am I in heaven?? / Video via TheUltimateFighterFX)

When was the last time we’ve seen an episode of The Ultimate Fighter that didn’t feature a fight? Has this not happened since Season 3 episode 6, when Noah Inhofer left the house over a letter from his jealous girlfriend? (TUF armchair-historians, please feel free to correct me in the comments section.)

The mood was light in the beginning of last night’s episode of TUF 18, with Team Rousey enjoying a backyard BBQ and male strippers. And then, the moment that maybe a few of you have been waiting for: The Coaches’ Challenge. The game is rock climbing, with a $10,000 cash-stack awarded to the winning coach and an additional $1,500 for every member of her team. Ronda out-hustles Miesha at the top of the wall and yells “FUCK YOU BITCH!” (“I just like Miesha being in the habit of always getting beaten by me,” she says later.)

But the good times could only last so long. Team Rousey teammates Anthony Gutierrez and David Grant start cutting weight for their semi-final showdown, and Gutierrez’s casual approach to his diet is coming back to haunt him. On fight day, he wakes up at 145 pounds, a full weight class over where he’s supposed to be. Four hours later, he hits the scales at 140.

Gutierrez is given one more hour to shed four pounds, and he gets back in the sauna. It ain’t happening. Though Ronda urges him not to quit, Gutierrez says he can’t cut any more weight, and that’s that. Keep in mind that Gutierrez earned a free pass to the semi-finals because Cody Bollinger missed weight in the quarterfinals, meaning that Gutierrez is the first fighter in TUF history to be eliminated from the semi-final round without ever fighting in the house. Quite an achievement.

After the botched weight-cut, Manny Gamburyan gives Anthony an earful. And then Dana White kicks him out. And then David Grant cries.

Later, a shaken Ronda Rousey decides she’s going to cut to 135 pounds herself, as a weird, self-flagellating show of support/inspiration for her team. Dana explains that the Gutierrez situation is not her fault and he simply lacked that thing that makes her a fighter. “This competition weeds out the fuckin’ weak,” Dana says.

Ronda reportedly made the cut anyway. On next week’s episode, the last semi-final match goes down with Team Tate’s Raquel Pennington facing Team Rousey’s Jessica Rakoczy; the winner of that fight will face Julianna Pena for all the marbles at the TUF 18 Finale.

See also: Gutierrez speaks out after TUF weight-cut disaster