During the peak of her championship career, Ronda Rousey was the biggest thing to happen to MMA. Taking out her opponents in dominant fashion, ‘Rowdy’ began setting records with every win. All the trash talk and media antics was a promoter’s dream, and the UFC plugged Rousey’s aura at every opportunity. After her UFC 190
During the peak of her championship career, Ronda Rousey was the biggest thing to happen to MMA. Taking out her opponents in dominant fashion, ‘Rowdy’ began setting records with every win. All the trash talk and media antics was a promoter’s dream, and the UFC plugged Rousey’s aura at every opportunity. After her UFC 190 KO against Bethe Correia, UFC commentator Joe Rogan was choked up. Holding back the tears, Rogan proclaimed Rousey was a ‘once in a lifetime fighter.’
This only added to the invincible image that ‘Rowdy’ was building up. Approaching three years as UFC champion, with six title fight wins, Rousey was paired in an ill-fated showdown with Holly Holm. In her last four fights, the former Olympian had taken just two minutes to dispatch of her opponents. Everyone was calling this a squash match, and the odds makers made ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ a massive underdog.
Fallen
The dominant beating came from a different direction at UFC 193, as Holm was the one handing out the punishment. Smashing Rousey, stuffing her takedown attempts and scoring a second round KO, ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ flipped the script. No longer was Rousey the undefeated wrecking machine, and she would shy away from the limelight in the coming months. As the former champ sat by the sidelines, the belt was passed from Holm to Miesha Tate and then to Amanda Nunes.
The head kick heard around the world seemed a lifetime ago when Rousey’s return was announced. UFC 207 would play host to Amanda Nunes’ clash with Rousey, but all the focus seems to remain on ‘Rowdy.’ The posters proclaim ‘She’s Back!’ and the promo videos feature heavily in the ex-champs favour. One man who arguably assisted in building Rousey’s untouchable image, color commentator Joe Rogan, is confused by the UFC’s hype for this fight:
I find it extremely bizarre that all these @UFC 207 promos only focus on Ronda and very little about the champion @Amanda_Leoa
Sadly, but no doubt true, marketing Ronda Rousey is likely far simpler and worth a lot more dollars than pushing the current champion. Long gone is the battle between money and rankings, especially in terms of promotional content, as cash has taken over as the new king. Make no bones about it, Rogan knows this, as does everybody else. The real question is how long will this go on for before it becomes counter-productive?
With just under two months left until her return, Ronda Rousey was already talking about retirement this week. After a year of inactivity following the devastating KO loss to Holly Holm, ‘Rowdy’ revealed her UFC 207 comeback against Amanda Nunes would be one of her last fights. Perhaps indicative of her current mindset, or maybe
With just under two months left until her return, Ronda Rousey was already talking about retirement this week. After a year of inactivity following the devastating KO loss to Holly Holm, ‘Rowdy’ revealed her UFC 207 comeback against Amanda Nunes would be one of her last fights. Perhaps indicative of her current mindset, or maybe just a realistic foresight, the talk of Rousey’s retirement was still somewhat surprising. Standing in the way of a record-breaking second stint as champion is the fierce Brazilian ‘Lioness’ Nunes.
Having squashed Miesha Tate at UFC 200, many feel Nunes is coming to destroy at UFC 207. Another Brazilian rival of Rousey’s has been very vocal about the former champ’s return. Cris Cyborg has been spitting fire that Rousey is getting an immediate title shot, and also that she is still ‘avoiding’ their long-awaited grudge match. Campaigning almost non stop for years now, Cyborg finally debuted for the promotion at UFC 198. Unfortunately for her, the bout with Rousey remains just out of reach.
Cyborg Frustrated By Retirement Talk
With Ronda Rousey essentially revealing an end date not far down the line, Cris Cyborg has voiced her frustrations again. Taking to Twitter, Cyborg verbally bashed her rival for being an ‘online bully,’ and again pushes for a women’s 145-pound division in the UFC.
The talk of retirement and rumors of the fight happening are predictable.Time 2 bring n the FW division @ufc can make stars there with promo https://t.co/wuu5xHVY1Z
Cyborg Photo courtesy of Jason Silva for USA TODAY Sports
Catch 22
Fighting so far in two catchweight bouts due to the lack of a w-145 division, Cris Cyborg finds herself in limbo. UFC president Dana White recently said there ‘wasn’t enough talent’ to make a women’s featherweight class, but he also once said there would never be women fighting in the UFC.
Early prediction for 2017
Ronda Rousey, win or lose, will retire after UFC 207 and Cris Cyborg will finally get a women’s 145-pound weight class.
The heavily reported fight between women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes and former queen Ronda Rousey at UFC 207 is expected to be finalized this week. After nearly a year on the sidelines, ‘Rowdy’ appears to be getting the fast track to a title fight, but not to everyone’s pleasure. In particular, long time rival Cris
The heavily reported fight between women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes and former queen Ronda Rousey at UFC 207 is expected to be finalized this week. After nearly a year on the sidelines, ‘Rowdy’ appears to be getting the fast track to a title fight, but not to everyone’s pleasure. In particular, long time rival Cris Cyborg is very unhappy with this report. Following years of intense trash talk between the Brazilian Cyborg and Rousey, many expected a fight to finally come to fruition by 2017.
Ironically, Rousey losing the belt somewhat freed her to potentially move up in weight and face Cyborg. Even without a title, the fight with Justino would likely shatter all pay-per-view records. Cyborg vs. Rousey is becoming more and more like Mayweather vs. Pacquiao as the days go by. Sadly, much like the boxing equivalent, this mega rivalry may never lead to a fight while both are in their prime. Reactions to Amanda Nunes vs. Ronda Rousey have varied, but Cyborg’s furious response stands out above all the rest. As per her official Facebook page:
Why my fight with Ronda Rousey might never happen.
I just arrived to Thailand for my first International Pink Belt Fitness By Cris Cyborg being held Phuket Top Team MMA Training Camp and it appears the internet is announcing Ronda Rousey Vs. Amanda Nunes for the UFC belt Dec. 30th.
The ridiculousness of Ronda getting a Title Shot after a loss and a year layoff just goes to support the story that she was created by the Media. More than any fighter who has ever existed, Ronda has benefited by company branding. She has benefited from the best interviews, the best sponsors, and the best fight promos and spotlights, but even with all of that marketing budget behind her, everyone has seen that she is not the best.
The best don’t lose like she did in Australia, and they certainly don’t take a year off after such a performance.
There is a reason Ronda isn’t facing Holly Holm. That reason isn’t the fact that Holly has gone 0-2 since their fight. The reason is that even Ronda, knows Holly is the better fighter. Styles make fights, and that is the same reason Ronda is never going to accept a fight against me. She knows my punches, size, and aggression are too much. That’s why she will demand I try to kill myself to make 135. She doesn’t want Cyborg to be Cyborg.
Continue below…
I only went to 140lbs in an attempt to make the fight against Ronda Rousey.
For the past year I have put the entire 145lbs division of WMMA on Hold competing in Superfights. Unlike Conor Mcgregor my “superfights” have not been against big name opponents, and similar to Jose Aldo there are girls in my division like Megan Anderson, Cindy Dandois, Julia Budd, and Alexis Dufresene who are next in line for World Title shots.
I can not force someone to accept a fight against me. Ronda use to say it was about steroids, but I’ve proven myself a clean athletes and was the FIRST FIGHTER to test with USADA for MORE THAN 1 YEAR BEFORE fighting in the octagon.
Ronda never fought to win her UFC belt, she received it at a press conference and when she defended it she didn’t even face the number 1 contender. While she is the most popular fighter in the UFC according to some, numbers don’t lie, and her highest PPV was her loss against Holly Holm, and that isn’t even top 5 with the company.
I don’t need a fight with Ronda Rousey to make a million dollars. I don’t even need to make a million dollars to fight. Fans are going to watch me fight because they like my fighting style. Fans are going to watch me fight because what I bring to the cage is something they have never seen before. Over 1.3 million fans watched my last fight against an opponent making her debut. I can be as big of a star as any female fighter in this sport with the right marketing and promotional team behind me.
Not Surprised
I’m disappointed Ronda didn’t accept my offer to fight superbowl weekend, but I am not surprised. She already turned down the opportunity to fight me at UFC 205 which has continued to open the door for Conor Mcgregor to continue growing into the biggest star the UFC has ever promoted, because he is willing to walk the walk, and she is afraid to back up the years of media bullying she’s done towards me.
Ronda has a very tough fight against Amanda Nunes. She will be facing a big brazilian girl who knows how to defend an Armbar, and is training at a facility with many World Champions who will have her ready for a 5 round fight. Amanda punches hard and has trained her entire career with the idea of beating Ronda. Unlike Holly Holm, if Ronda Rousey goes 0-2 I am not sure she will continue to fight. She is fighting to win a popularity contest and win back an image, not to prove anything to herself. She never wanted to give the fans this fight against me.
I am going to enjoy my holiday, and stop thinking about a fight against Ronda Rousey for awhile.
The #UFC knows I want to fight Ronda, Ronda knows I want to fight her, and the UFC knows the fans want to see this fight. It would break every UFC PPV record and as a promoter they want to put on the biggest fights for the fans.
Not Even Going To Watch
If the fight against #RondaRousey never happens, the fans will know it is because the promotion was unable to make the fight, not because I was unwilling to lose the weight or because of some failed PED test half a decade ago. Ronda has chose the easy path her entire career, and that is not going to change.
People have shown Ronda is willing to fight others at 140 and has fought higher than 145. The weight is an excuse. I am from a team where legends like Wanderlia Silva, and Pele didn’t think twice about giving up weight to fight guys like Mark Hunt and Chuck Liddell.
Dec. 31st while everyone is watching Ronda fight for ‘Her belt’, despite not facing the girl who took it away, I am not even going to watch. I have plans to corner Gabi Garcia in the first ever OPEN WEIGHT RIZIN FF female challenge in Japan.
Ronda, if you really want to make the fight between us it is very simple, after the fight inside the cage all you have to do is say my name. Everyone knows that you are not going to do that because then I am going to be real. #Candyman
If you don’t want to make the fight, just keep doing what you are doing now, keep my name out your mouth and avoid the press. My next fight is not going to be decided on what ‘Ronda might’ want to do next.
Invicta FC featherweight champion and current UFC catchweight competitor Cristiane Justino is in a weird place right now. After finally debuting for the UFC in Brazil this past May, Cyborg has found a new opponent that’s far more dangerous than any woman alive. The Brazilian knockout artist is somewhat being backed in to a corner
Invicta FC featherweight champion and current UFC catchweight competitor Cristiane Justino is in a weird place right now. After finally debuting for the UFC in Brazil this past May, Cyborg has found a new opponent that’s far more dangerous than any woman alive. The Brazilian knockout artist is somewhat being backed in to a corner by issues with weight cutting. Her horrific cuts to 140 pounds are clearly very dangerous. The UFC is not interested in making a women’s featherweight division, so Cyborg is left with little choice.
Unable to make the bantamweight limit of 135 pounds means Justino has missed out on a career-making rivalry. When Ronda Rousey was the champion of the division, she and Cyborg shared a nasty feud. ‘Rowdy’ and even UFC president Dana White would share some rather spiteful jokes about Cyborg’s appearance, once even claiming the Brazilian looked like ‘Wanderlei Silva in a dress.’
UFC 198
Cyborg looked insanely good against Leslie Smith at UFC 198, but the same could not be said for her pre-fight weight cut. After winning by first round TKO, Justino once again blasted Ronda Rousey. According to Cyborg, Rousey was a scared little girl in a woman’s game. Speaking with TMZyesterday, it appears Cris Cyborg has somewhat lightened her tone on the ex-champion. She still believes Rousey is a bad role model, but at the same time sounds more encouraging when discussing a possible fight with her nemesis. “I don’t think it’s a good example to set for kids, that you should quit when you lose. Life is hard, bad things happen to everyone, you can’t just quit. You have to use it to make you stronger.”
The opportunity to fight against Rousey has been close at times. Following a massively rumoured UFC debut in 2015, negotiations seemed to fall apart due to weight related issues again. Rousey would go on to face Holly Holm at UFC 193, and the result in Melbourne would change everything. ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ beat the daylights out of ‘Rowdy,’ and two more champions would follow in Miesha Tate and Amanda Nunes.
With the division seemingly wide open, Dana White hinted this week that Rousey vs. Nunes is likely before this year is up. Will the long-fabled fight between Cris Cyborg and Ronda Rousey ever happen? Once again it depends on whether ‘Rowdy’ is willing to move up, because Cyborg can’t go down any further.
The UFC women’s bantamweight division has seen a massive change over the past year. Up until UFC 193 there had only been one champion. Ronda Rousey dominated the weight class with her ruthless Judo and record-breaking submissions. ‘Rowdy’ added a few knockouts to her credit towards the end of her unbeaten streak, but that new-found
The UFC women’s bantamweight division has seen a massive change over the past year. Up until UFC 193 there had only been one champion. Ronda Rousey dominated the weight class with her ruthless Judo and record-breaking submissions. ‘Rowdy’ added a few knockouts to her credit towards the end of her unbeaten streak, but that new-found love for striking would eventually be her undoing. When paired with the massive underdog Holly Holm on November 15, Rousey was seeing unprecedented levels of promotion.
Finally fight night rolled around, but it would not go as most had predicted. Holm was rampant, taking advantage of Rousey’s confidence in her stand up game. ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ also proved to have gold standard takedown defense. This led to a monstrous second round knockout for Holm in Australia, the ramifications of which are still felt to this day. Three champions on since Ronda Rousey’s reign, an we’re yet to receive a solid date for her comeback.
Bantam-Wait
Rousey’s big return has been hindered by minor surgeries and Hollywood movie roles. She also fell in to quite a dark period after Holm defeated her, understandably so in many respects. As 2016 begins to usher in the final quarter, an octagon comeback before year’s end is looking unlikely at best. For fans of the former champion there are some positive signs though. Rewind back to February/March time, and ‘Rowdy’ refused to even talk about fighting.
Speaking during the soon-to-be released documentary ‘The Hurt Business,’ Ronda Rousey made an interesting statement about MMA. Via The Washington Post, ‘Rowdy’ says the world would be a better place if people could take their anger out in the gym more often.
Can’t We All Just Get Along Fight?
“Ignorance is the only real barrier the sport has to overcome. I think a lot of people who are ignorant toward it say it promotes violence when it really is the most responsible outlet for it. It’s human instinct to fight. If you try to suppress it entirely, and put everyone in a bubble-wrapped society, that’s when people end up going nuts and shooting movie theaters. If any of those people that had all of that aggression built up in them had some sort of outlet, I think that we’d have a lot more societal health because of it.”
“It’s not violence for the sake of violence. I mean the word ‘art’ is in it for a reason. When I get in there, yeah, I’m fighting, but really what I’m trying to do is outsmart the other person. It’s a puzzle to be solved. I’m not just going in there and spazzing out and swinging my hands and lifting weights so that I can lift my hands even harder. It’s more mental and tactical than anything else and I think it’s the purest, most beautiful sport in the world.”
Hurt Business
The documentary film also features Jon Jones, Holly Holm, Georges St-Pierre and many other big names from the UFC and mixed martial arts. It should be a great view when released fully. Here’s another clip showing ‘Bones’ and ‘GSP’ talking about steroid use in MMA.
We haven’t heard much from former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey recently. Things went very quiet from ‘Rowdy’s’ camp after her devastating loss to Holly Holm in November of 2015. ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ blasted Rousey with a head kick knockout at UFC 193. Holm would later go on to lose the title against Miesha
We haven’t heard much from former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey recently. Things went very quiet from ‘Rowdy’s’ camp after her devastating loss to Holly Holm in November of 2015. ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ blasted Rousey with a head kick knockout at UFC 193. Holm would later go on to lose the title against Miesha Tate at UFC 195. Rousey fell in to a deep depression after her firs professional loss. The next we heard from ‘Rowdy’ she was considering having children.
That paired with Hollywood movie roles led to massive speculation about Rousey’s potential retirement. Following such a dominant career it really was shocking to see ‘Rowdy’ defeated in such fashion. Perhaps more unexpected is the massive contrast between her form back then, and the loss of contact between Rousey and the sport. Talk of a potential return did resurface earlier in the year, but minor surgeries put a halt on that.
The Brazilian Connection
Now that Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino has joined the UFC ranks, albeit at catchweight, there’s the possibility of a grudge match upon Rousey’s return. This of course would be a huge challenge and maybe one to climb after a few tune up fights. When speaking to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto recently, Rousey’s other half Travis Browne indicated the former champion is in good form for her awaited comeback.
Spoke to Travis Browne. UFC 203 story next week. FWIW, on Rousey: "Physically and mentally doing great. I feel bad for whoever's next."
The exact details of Rousey’s next opponent still remain a mystery. One thing is becoming clearer though–it’s more when than if she returns. The current champ of the division is Amanda Nunes, the Brazilian dominated ‘Cupcake’ in the UFC 200 main event to capture the title. That makes three changes of champion in the past 10 months, after only having Ronda Rousey as queen since 2013. The woman who holds all the records in the UFC women’s bantamweight division would become the first two-time ruler if she came back to win the belt. That remains to be seen.
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