UFC 184 came to Los Angeles on Saturday evening, and Ronda Rousey delivered again.
The women’s bantamweight champion finished via armbar, and this time it only took 14 seconds. That’s right, 14 seconds.
UFC newcomer Holly Holm put in a workmanlike perf…
UFC 184 came to Los Angeles on Saturday evening, and Ronda Rousey delivered again.
The women’s bantamweight champion finished via armbar, and this time it only took 14 seconds. That’s right, 14 seconds.
UFC newcomer Holly Holm put in a workmanlike performance against the ever-tough Raquel Pennington to get her first win. Jake Ellenberger submitted Josh Koscheck to put himself back in the win column. All-in-all it was a solid night of fights for the UFC’s final February fight card.
We know who won and lost the fights, but who are the real winners and losers from UFC 184?
This is your chance to find out. Here is the real winners and losers coming out of Los Angeles.
Cat Zingano came charging out of the corner, launching herself at UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey with a fierce determination, murder in her eyes and weeks of muscle memory twitching in every fiber.
That didn’t end up being the best decis…
Cat Zingano came charging out of the corner, launching herself at UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey with a fierce determination, murder in her eyes and weeks of muscle memory twitching in every fiber.
That didn’t end up being the best decision she’s ever made.
Fourteen seconds after the bell rang to signal the commencement of the fight, Zingano was tapping desperately, her arm contorted at a horrible angle, her title dreams dashed. She had no hope of beating Ronda Rousey.
Perhaps no woman in the UFC does.
Last week, Jeremy Botter and I discussed Rousey’s place among the most dominant female athletes of all time. But no matter who you pick out of a crowded field of greats, all of them have met defeat. Martina Navratilova, for example, crushed the competition for more than a decade—but she also lost 13 of every 100 games.
When you watch Rousey fight, you’re not watching a typical athletic competition. Her record stands at 11-0. Only one has lasted more than a single round.
The idea of losing never seems to cross her mind. Rousey is an outlier, a fighter without compare. Even the most dominant teams and individuals face the possibility of losing, whether or not it ever comes.
Rousey’s unquestioned excellence makes it hard to compare her, even to someone like the famously undefeated Floyd Mayweather. Floyd has won 47 consecutive fights. A handful of them, however, were close calls. Not Ronda Rousey. Even the most active imagination would be hard-pressed to concoct a case for any of her opponents winning a single round, let alone a whole fight.
Twice an Olympian in her first 21 years, Rousey has improved with age to the point no one seems to remotely be competitive. Within a year, she was fighting the best 135-pounders in the world. Now, nearly four years into an already-legendary career, she’s better than she’s ever been before. Her ferocity, athleticism and single-minded obsession with winning is almost frightening.
The very idea of matching her with any of the UFC’s top contenders seems vaguely ludicrous. Bethe Correia? Come on. Holly Holm? She doesn’t seem close to being ready. A third fight with Miesha Tate? Why bother?
No, there is only one fight that makes sense for Ronda Rousey. Just a single contest worthy of her and capable of making fans’ hearts race. There is one woman on the planet on Rousey’s level—and her name is Cris “Cyborg” Justino.
Like Rousey, Cyborg makes opponents look hapless in the cage. Like Rousey, she appears to be a force of nature. No one has managed to go the distance with her since 2008. And like Rousey she ran through the competition this weekend, dispatching poor Charmaine Tweet in just 46 seconds at Invicta FC 11, blasting her with a right hand before swarming with punch after punch for the finish.
At 145 pounds no one can touch her. Since running through Gina Carano in the first major MMA event headlined by women back in 2009, she’s finished six consecutive opponents by TKO, although a positive test for the steroid stanozolol clouds those accomplishments in the eyes of some.
Performance-enhancing drugs or no performance-enhancing drugs, her path of destruction is impressive on paper. But it’s chill-inducing to actually sit down and watch. Cyborg, true to her nickname, barely seems human.
Watching some poor unfortunates take the long walk down that aisle, certain destruction the inevitable result, is almost sad. They know they have no hope. We know it too. The question isn’t how—it’s when.
Rousey and Cyborg have seemingly been on a collision course for years. One is a grappler, the other a striker. One an American, the other Brazilian. One is a bantamweight and the other a featherweight.
It’s these differences that make them such a compelling potential matchup. This is why mixed martial arts was created. This is a battle of styles and a battle of wills. It’s art versus art and athlete versus athlete, all in a single bout.
It is, in a word, epic.
Of course, it’s also a fight that has been in discussion for years. Rousey dropped to 135 pounds to avoid Cyborg early in her career and has had a hard time forgetting her since. Now the bigger star, Rousey wants the fight on her terms—and at 135 pounds.
Whether Cyborg can make that weight is an open question. She will make an attempt at Invicta’s July 10 card in Las Vegas. After that, in a perfect world, it’s on to Rousey.
“I can’t really say that it will happen this year,” Invicta promoter Shannon Knapp told MMAFighting.com. “But what I can tell you is the fans should not give up, because this fight is closer than it has ever been—ever. If it’s gonna happen, I think we’re gonna see it happen possibly by the end of this year or first quarter of next.”
That’s good news, both for fans and for Rousey. Her goal is to be the greatest fighter ever. You don’t earn that accolade by fighting overmatched opponents like Alexis Davis.
Ultimately others will decide Rousey’s legacy—but her decisions now will decide how she’s perceived in the future. If Rousey really wants to be the best, she’ll prove it against her only peer inside the cage. That’s Cris Cyborg. And the clock is ticking.
UFC 184 proved to be a successful debut for highly touted former boxing champion Holly Holm.
Holm defeated Raquel “Rocky” Pennington in Saturday night’s co-main event.
Holm started the fight by being methodical with her striking. She did no…
UFC 184 proved to be a successful debut for highly touted former boxing champion Holly Holm.
Holm defeated Raquel “Rocky” Pennington in Saturday night’s co-main event.
Holm started the fight by being methodical with her striking. She did not put a lot of power in her strikes. She focused on finding her range and touching up Pennington. She also kept her weight low to defend the takedowns from her opponent.
The talented striker continued to pile up strikes against Pennington throughout the fight. Rocky could not get a takedown, and Holm was too technical on the feet. Pennington landed a single shot here and there but nothing too significant. Only a couple of shots in the final round really managed to connect flush. Holm would reset and establish herself as the better striker.
It was an easy decision win for Holm, even though one judge scored it for Pennington. But we will all agree to ignore that nonsense.
What We’ll Remember About This Fight
This feels terrible to say about two quality fighters who stepped inside the cage to entertain us all, but there was nothing memorable about this fight.
Pennington didn’t get too aggressive to open herself up to a fight-ending counter, and Holm was content to add up points on the scorecards. There was one brief exchange where Holm went to the mat after a punch from Pennington, but it was more of a slip from Holm.
It wasn’t a terrible fight, but nothing occurred that you will remember by the next UFC fight card.
What We Learned About Raquel Pennington
Nothing. And that’s not a shot at Pennington, but this is who she is.
She is a tough, gritty fighter with middle-of-the-road skills. She has some raw tools that can be honed, but they are not up to snuff yet. Her toughness allows her the chance to stay in fights, and she can capitalize on mistakes.
Holm did not offer up those mistakes. Pennington was the right choice for Holm’s first opponent, but the UFC either needs to send Rocky to Invicta or give her low-level opposition to allow her to develop.
What We Learned About Holly Holm
We learned right away that Holm has some solid takedown defense. Pennington tested it early, and Holm defended easily. She is a good athlete, and in the infancy of women’s MMA that plays a big role.
There are way better wrestlers than Pennington, but this was the first test to show that Holm has some quality defensive grappling skills.
Other than that, we didn’t learn much because we already knew she was a fantastic striker.
What’s Next for Pennington
Pennington’s 5-6 record is misleading, but after the defeat at UFC 184, the promotion has to give her lesser competition or cut her so she can sign with Invicta. She can still sharpen her raw tools against lesser opponents.
The loser of the upcoming Valerie Letourneau vs. Jessica Rakoczy fight makes a lot of sense if she remains in the UFC.
Neither of those two fighters is elite, and should Rakoczy win, it would lead to a rematch from their time on The Ultimate Fighter, where she won a decision. Both Rakoczy and Pennington have improved since that time, and it would be an official three-round contest.
The UFC is still fleshing out the division, but Pennington versus the loser of that fight would fit on an upcoming Fox Sports 1 undercard. They both need more work and development, and by pitting them against each other, the UFC would gauge how much they have improved.
What’s Next for Holm
Some people may want to see Holm jump immediately into a title tilt, but that would be premature. UFC 184 was her first foray into the deep end of the talent pool.
Her background makes her a more marketable contender than most, and that is why she only needs one more fight before a title shot. Who makes sense in a title eliminator? Jessica Eye.
Eye was at UFC 184 doing a lot of press for the event, and she was a logical choice for Holm’s debut. The UFC went with Pennington instead, and Eye might be next up. She has a complementary fighting style for Holm and also brings in a Top 10 ranking.
Some of the other top-tier bantamweights are wrestlers like Sara McMann. That is not a route the UFC wants to go with Holm.
Holm vs. Eye could co-main event any show. The winner would make a lot of sense as the next title contender.
“Rowdy” Ronda Rousey will face the stiffest test of her mixed-martial-arts career on Saturday night at UFC 184. Cat Zingano is the strongest, most diverse challenger in the women’s bantamweight division.
Rousey has run through every opponent en route t…
“Rowdy” Ronda Rousey will face the stiffest test of her mixed-martial-arts career on Saturday night at UFC 184. Cat Zingano is the strongest, most diverse challenger in the women’s bantamweight division.
Rousey has run through every opponent en route to a 10-0 record and her current standing as the UFC women’s bantamweight champion. While each of Rousey‘s opponents has brought her own weapons into the Octagon, none have been as formidable as Zingano figures to be.
The challenger is 9-0 and seemingly ready to take the fight to Rousey. In an interview with Fox Sports, Rousey admits that Zingano is the toughest opponent she’s faced:
Zingano is strong, skilled and mentally tough. She won’t be intimidated by the status of the champion—but she still must beware of the skills that have taken down Rousey‘s previous opponents.
Rousey‘s Biggest Weapon
While her striking has come a long way, Rousey‘s bread and butter is still her ground game. Some of her opponents, like Sara McMann, have perhaps been stronger, but Rousey has been able to land just enough in stand-up exchanges to set up her efficient and devastating submission attack.
While Zingano has an advanced ground game, she is not as skilled as Rousey on the mat. If the challenger hopes to pull off the upset, she’d be smart to avoid engaging Rousey in a grappling match.
Zingano‘s Biggest Weapon
It’s one thing to have a bomb—and another for the weapon find to its target.
McMann was strong, but Zingano‘s strength is augmented by her dexterity. Her ability to move her feet fluidly makes Zingano a more effective striker—and a more imposing opponent overall.
Rousey simply can’t afford to be caught square by a shot from the challenger.
Rousey‘s Biggest Weakness
It may be tough to locate one, but Rousey isn’t without flaws. She’s still not too difficult to hit. Opponents such as McMann and Miesha Tate have been able to connect with Rousey‘s face, but none have been able to buzz her.
Usually, Rousey doesn’t like to engage in any prolonged exchanges. She goes straight for the takedown if things get too dangerous. It’s a smart strategy, considering how strong she is on the ground. Zingano has to do her damage before the clinch.
Zingano‘s Biggest Weakness
Cat has gotten off to fast starts in many of her professional fights. She had to shake off a rough first round to beat Amanda Nunes. Zingano also had some issues with Tate before stopping her in the third round of their 2013 bout.
Zingano can ill afford to start slow against Rousey. The champion will be aggressive from the beginning of the bout.
If it takes Zingano half of a round to meet Rousey‘s aggression, the champ will retain her title.
Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter. I dig boxing and MMA.
UFC 184 has a different feel to it.
Not only do the co-main events feature women’s bouts in the wake of Chris Weidman’s injury, but they promise to be two of the more hotly contested—if not important—fights of the year, both for the p…
Not only do the co-main events feature women’s bouts in the wake of Chris Weidman’s injury, but they promise to be two of the more hotly contested—if not important—fights of the year, both for the promotion and the women involved.
Holly Holm vs. Raquel Pennington is about the future of the division, while the seemingly immortal Ronda Rousey faces her stiffest competition to date against the very mortal Cat Zingano, whose ability to come back from any sort of deficit makes her the perfect contrast to Rousey‘s dominance.
Saturday’s historic occasion is superb in the most basic principle of an event—the fights are pivotal, and more importantly, they’ll be even.
UFC 184 PPV Schedule
Date: Saturday, Feb. 28
Fight Times (ET): Fight Pass at 7 p.m.; Fox Sports 1 prelims 8 p.m.; pay-per-view at 10 p.m.
Location: Staples Center in Los Angeles, California
The two fighters in the co-main event complement each other perfectly in the Octagon, much as Rousey and Zingano do from a philosophical standpoint.
Pennington, 26, is one of the promotion’s most dangerous up-and-coming talents who prefers fights go to the mat and stay there—until the bell rings and her hand is raised.
At 33 years old, Holm counters with a professional boxing background and strikes that can make the best of the best black out before hitting the mat.
Pennington is a tough first task for Holm, as the Colorado native leans heavily on toughness and a strong chin to will her way into things and eventually take her opponents to the mat.
Of course, this sort of tactic is quite dangerous against Holm, who’s 32-2-3 as a boxer over the course of 13 years and a New Mexico Boxing Hall of Fame member. These are the reasons Holm has frequently been mentioned as the one to take down Rousey since her arrival, regardless of whether she likes them or not.
“I’ve never said no to a fight or picked an opponent so if they said that had to be my next fight, I would just have to change my whole chain of thought and just say ‘OK, let’s do it.’ But if it were up to me, I’d like to have more experience,” said Holm, via Fox Sports’ Damon Martin.
Call Saturday a nice warm-up for Holm. Her ability to keep Pennington at bay and eventually win things while remaining upright make for a rather predictable affair, no matter how much of an underdog with nothing to lose Pennington truly is at this point.
Next up for Holm is Rousey—provided both win Saturday night, of course.
Prediction: Holm by decision.
Ronda Rousey vs. Cat Zingano
For the first time in a long time, a Rousey fight will keep fans on the edge of their seats throughout.
Zingano is not in the main event in a fluky manner. She’s not cannon fodder to give Rousey something to do. She’s someone who stacks up quite well in most areas:
Offensively speaking, Zingano may be able to match Rousey in a blow-for-blow manner considering she lands 74 percent of her strikes and rests at 100 percent in grappling success, according to UFC.com.
It’s easy to dismiss all names who enter the Octagon with Rousey. She’s won nine fights in the first round. Rarely do her fights last longer than four minutes. She submitted Olympic medalist Sara McMann in all of a minute and change.
Dismissing Zingano is a mistake she can’t afford, though, something the challenger wants to make sure the globe is fully aware of going into Saturday night.
“I don’t feel like she’s been challenged the way she will with me,” Zingano told Michael Martinez of UFC.com. “I feel like I’m a different, complete pedigree than anyone she’s ever been against, and I think she knows that as well.”
Saturday won’t be another case of McMann attempting to match her strength against that of Rousey‘s. It will be Zingano going in the opposite direction, using devastating kicks and knees to keep the champion at bay.
Even then, it is hard to imagine a reality in which Rousey goes down. Careful observers will notice one hole in the overarching narrative: Zingano is an outstanding comeback kid when it matters, but that requires she survives an initial onslaught.
If things drag on to the third round, conditioning is where Rousey will be tested, in a way she only has been once before.
Odds are the fight won’t last that long.
Prediction: Rousey by submission.
Stats and info courtesy of UFC.com unless otherwise specified.
If Cat Zingano upsets Rona Rousey on Saturday at UFC 184, the former will be one of the biggest breakout stars this year.
However, Rousey is my pick to win a tough main event matchup. Zingano won’t embarrass herself, but Rousey’s persistence, toughness…
If Cat Zingano upsets Rona Rousey on Saturday at UFC 184, the former will be one of the biggest breakout stars this year.
However, Rousey is my pick to win a tough main event matchup. Zingano won’t embarrass herself, but Rousey’s persistence, toughness and skill on the ground will ultimately get her another successful title defense.
If we’re looking for stars who’ll break out on Saturday, the list begins with a young lady making her UFC debut in the co-featured bout.
Holly Holm
The powerful striking and elite-level athleticism Holly Holm brings to mixed martial arts from boxing has made her one of the most-hyped newcomers in the UFC.
On Saturday, she’ll make her first appearance in the Octagon against Raquel Pennington.
Holm is of course an advanced striker from her days in boxing. She’s great with her hands, but since she’s taken up MMA, her feet and knees have become dangerous weapons as well.
She’s compiled a professional MMA record of 7-0 outside of the UFC, and she appears ready for the spotlight the UFC brings. Per Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports, Holm said:
“I haven’t even had my first fight in the UFC and I can feel the expectations. But I’d rather be in this position than the opposite, where they don’t feel like I can do anything.”
When the fight on Saturday is done, MMA fans will know Holm can do plenty. Her takedown defense has grown leaps and bounds since she started the sport, and she’s become more accurate with her kicks.
Pennington is a battler, but she doesn’t have the striking prowess or cardio to hang with Holm. Get ready for a wildly successful UFC debut.
Tony “El Cucuy” Ferguson
It’s a travesty that Tony Ferguson isn’t ranked in the top 15 amongst UFC lightweights. There’s no question, the 155-pound division is filled with killers, but El Cucuy has won four straight fights. Three of the wins have come by stoppage, and each was seemingly more impressive than the last.
I know Nate Diaz is a legend, but Ferguson deserves to be ranked ahead of him.
On Saturday, Ferguson will have yet another chance to blast his way onto the UFC rankings makers’ radar. Gleison Tibau, one of the UFC’s winningest fighters in history provides the opposition.
The biggest thing that Ferguson has added to his game since losing to Ramsey Nijem at The Ultimate Fighter Season 13 Finale in 2011 is versatility. El Cucuy is just as comfortable on the ground, as he is on his feet where he has finished most of his fights.
He’s also learned how to use his length to his advantage while grappling.
Ferguson should be able to beat Tibau to the punch throughout the fight. Tibau is an advanced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, so Ferguson will enjoy more of an edge if the fight stays standing.
On the strength of more effective striking, Ferguson will take a relatively easy unanimous decision over Tibau.
Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter. I dig boxing and MMA.
