Ronda Rousey hasn’t competed since she was brutally knocked out by Holly Holm in the main event of UFC 193 last November from Melbourne, Australia. Despite remaining relatively quiet within the media, it was expected that she’d eventually make her return and November 12’s UFC 205 from New York was tossed around as a possible […]
Ronda Rousey hasn’t competed since she was brutally knocked out by Holly Holm in the main event of UFC 193 last November from Melbourne, Australia. Despite remaining relatively quiet within the media, it was expected that she’d eventually make her return and November 12’s UFC 205 from New York was tossed around as a possible landing spot for the “Rowdy” one’s comeback. While Rousey herself has never commented on this possibility, longtime rival and Invicta FC featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Justino put the breaks on this idea when she tweeted out that she heard Rousey was pregnant.
This rumor appears to be untrue, however, at least according to UFC President Dana White who recently told TMZ that Rousey isn’t pregnant at this time. Rousey has touched on having children with her partner and UFC heavyweight Travis Browne, but she confirmed with White that it just isn’t the case right now.
Despite denying the rumors, Rousey hadn’t said much regarding when she’ll make her highly anticipated return.
Lots happened at UFC 200: A title changed hands and an interim one was minted, a pro wrestler smashed a kickboxing world champion in a wonderful PRIDE-like piece of matchmaking, the best fighter of all-time made more fans in a loss than he ever did dur…
Lots happened at UFC 200: A title changed hands and an interim one was minted, a pro wrestler smashed a kickboxing world champion in a wonderful PRIDE-like piece of matchmaking, the best fighter of all-time made more fans in a loss than he ever did during his 16-straight wins some years back, and the ex-baddest man on the planet reminded everyone that he still might be the baddest man on the planet.
Meet the new Cain Velasquez, same as the old Cain Velasquez.
In the opening bout on pay-per-view, the 33-year-old American Kickboxing Academy product strode to the octagon intent on doing harm to whatever poor sap had been locked in there with him. Travis Browne was that sap, and the harm came to him swiftly and enthusiastically.
It was a foregone conclusion that Velasquez was walking out of UFC 200 a winner by the end of the first exchange; it was only destined to go on as long as Browne’s considerable willpower would hold him up. Velasquez, looking rejuvenated in a way he hadn’t since his 2012 title reclamation over Junior dos Santos, sent him to the canvas with the newly-minted offense of a wheel kick after keeping him reeling with takedowns and combinations.
As it turned out, Browne had precisely 4:57 of willpower on reserve, and his night ended when he was splayed face down on the canvas eating the nastiest ground-and-pound in the business from Velasquez.
It was a reminder to the MMA world just how good the former champion is when he’s on. Not long ago he was often called Cardio Cain for his freakish work rate and seeming inability to get tired, an unheard-of trait for a heavyweight. After an embarrassing loss at UFC 188, where he was left wheezing and broken in the high altitude of Mexico City, Cardio Cain was mockingly overtaken by Sea Level Cain, and Velasquez slipped from the limelight.
The peaks and valleys of high level athletics are often more pronounced in MMA, where athletes work without a net and are only as good as their last performance in the eyes of most. For Velasquez, those peaks have come in the form of two world title runs and a number of performances that were outright scary for their carnage and efficiency. The valleys have come through injuries, seemingly dozens of them, and poor performances at times when no one saw those performances coming.
He’s only lost twice in his career, to dos Santos and Fabricio Werdum, but the losses were so jarring that it feels like he’s dropped at least four or five bouts in his decade in the sport.
The contrast is maybe even more stark because his UFC wins have been totally non-competitive, with Velasquez simply buzzsawing whatever victim the promotion found to fight him. You’d have to think such cannon fodder either doesn’t own a television or have internet access to be silly enough to take a fight with him, for they couldn’t in their right mind think they’d have a hope if they knew who Velasquez was or had seen what he’d done to others.
And now, unequivocally it appears, that nightmare fuel for UFC heavies is back. Claiming that he’s figured out body maintenance and limitation of injuries, and that he wants a title shot next, Velasquez is very much an animal in search of a very specific type of cage.
All battered brow and Brown Pride, Cain Velasquez reminded everyone watching UFC 200 just what type of work he’s capable of. It’s relentless and brutal, and no one in the sport will withstand it if he comes correct with it on fight night.
International Fight Week has finally come to an end, and it was capped off with last night’s (July 9, 2016) UFC 200 from the T-Mobile Arena, an event that was boasted as the ‘biggest, baddest card’ of all-time (as UFC President Dana White so emphatically put it). The card went through so much throughout the
International Fight Week has finally come to an end, and it was capped off with last night’s (July 9, 2016) UFC 200 from the T-Mobile Arena, an event that was boasted as the ‘biggest, baddest card’ of all-time (as UFC President Dana White so emphatically put it).
The card went through so much throughout the months and more significantly, the last week leading up to last night, with two massive main events falling through due to extraordinarily dramatic circumstances. Featherweight champion Conor McGregor was originally set to headline the card with brash rival Nate Diaz; however, the Irishman was yanked from the card after failing to honor media obligations.
A worthy – if not equal – replacement main event was then set between heated rivals Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier and was so close to happening until Jones unfortunately was flagged by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for a failed out-of-competition drug test and was thus removed from the card.
Cormier would be docked down two notches the card against legendary middleweight Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva on two days’ notice, while the new main event pitted Miesha Tate versus Amanda Nunes in a women’s bantamweight title bout to close out the night.
The biggest attraction on the card was of course the return of ultra-popular former heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar to the Octagon.
And what a wild night it could have been…
While UFC 200 may not have exactly been the historically unparalleled event that the pre-fight promotion wanted you to believe, it was still a monumental events certainly not without its sizable share of crucial ramifications.
Let’s take a look at the seven biggest takeaways from the rollercoaster of a ride that was UFC 200…
The massive event that was UFC 200 last night (July 9, 2016) was a spectacular event that crowned new champions, and emerged new contenders in their respective divisions. One such contender who emerged with a thunderous statement was former heavyweight kingpin Cain Velasquez. Velasquez went toe-to-toe with six-foot-seven skyscraper Travis Browne, and the Mexican juggernaut did
The massive event that was UFC 200 last night (July 9, 2016) was a spectacular event that crowned new champions, and emerged new contenders in their respective divisions. One such contender who emerged with a thunderous statement was former heavyweight kingpin Cain Velasquez.
Velasquez went toe-to-toe with six-foot-seven skyscraper Travis Browne, and the Mexican juggernaut did not let ‘Hapa’s’ massive size advantage play a factor in the heavyweight clash and out-struck Browne.
A flashy new spinning back kick was also featured a few times in the contest, showing Velasquez has expanded his already deadly striking arsenal since we last saw him take the center of the Octagon. Velasquez would go on to pound out a TKO finish over Browne late in the first round, you can watch the full fight video highlights of the heavyweight war here:
UFC 200 press conference live stream starts at 3 PM ET here on LowKick. UFC 200 fight week is upon us, and we MMA fans are beginning to get in to the festive swing of things. It’s been seven years since the first milestone event of UFC 100 went down, and how things have changed
UFC 200 press conference live stream starts at 3 PM ET here on LowKick.
UFC 200 fight week is upon us, and we MMA fans are beginning to get in to the festive swing of things. It’s been seven years since the first milestone event of UFC 100 went down, and how things have changed since then. What has stayed the same is the presence of Brock Lesnar, albeit on short notice and reportedly for one fight, as the WWE crossover looks to erase the memories of his brutal losses in 2010/11. He faces a stone cold knockout puncher in Mark Hunt and many feel this is going to be a rude welcoming back for the ex-UFC heavyweight champion.
That’s not even the headliner for the evening, as Lesnar vs. Hunt plays second fiddle to the rematch between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones. The light-heavyweight championship became vacant when Jones was temporarily banished by the UFC, and Cormier took the throne in his absence. After losing to ‘Bones’ at UFC 182 following a hateful rivalry, ‘DC’ is seeking redemption in the second defense of the belt.
Don’t sleep on the interim featherweight title fight between Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar, as the two former champions of 145 and 155 pounds respectively meet for the second time. After his devastating KO loss to Conor McGregor at UFC 194, ‘Scarface’ is looking to get back on track and take back the junior title, whole Edgar seeks revenge for his narrow loss to Aldo at UFC 156 in 2013.
Another division and another championship fight as Miesha Tate looks to make her first defense of the women’s 135-pound strap against Amanda Nunes. After choking Holly Holm out cold at UFC 195, ‘Cupcake’ is hoping to prove she’s here to stay, while Nunes wants to make it four straight and keep the title changing hands. Former heavyweight boss Cain Velasquez is also back in action, taking on Hawaiian heavy hitter Travis Browne to open the main card on July 9.
Stay tuned to LowKick as we celebrate the biggest fight week EVER!
When the loaded UFC 200 pay-per-view gets underway it will be two of the best heavyweights in the world kicking off the show.
No. 3-ranked Cain Velasquez (13-2), according to Bleacher Report’s June MMA rankings, steps back insi…
When the loaded UFC 200 pay-per-view gets underway it will be two of the best heavyweights in the world kicking off the show.
No. 3-ranked Cain Velasquez (13-2), according to Bleacher Report‘s June MMA rankings, steps back inside the Octagon for the first time since losing the UFC heavyweight championship against No. 7-ranked Travis Browne (18-3-1).
Velasquez was once the undisputed kingpin of the division, but injuries have kept him away from the cage. His return last June removed any luster that was left with a tiring performance against Fabricio Werdum. Browne has not been lighting up the scene either, and is coming off a victory mired in controversy.
In January, Browne squared off against Matt Mitrione. He got the TKO win in the third round, but only after several fouls without a single point deduction. The eye pokes altered the course of the fight and gave Browne a clear advantage.
Now Browne is meeting the former champion with the hopes to establish himself as a title contender. Will he be able to stop the former champion? Can Velasquez return to former glory with a vintage nonstop performance? There is only one way to know, and how they match up is paramount. Here is the head-to-toe breakdown for UFC 200’s main card kick-starter.
