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UFC Fight Card: Fighters with Most to Lose on Rousey vs. Zingano Fight Card

Every fight Ronda Rousey has is high-stakes. She comes into all of her fights with everything to lose, and her opponents only stand to gain if they can become the first to beat the most dominant female athlete in history.Yeah, I went there.On Saturday …

Yeah, I went there.

On Saturday at UFC 184 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Rowdy will make her latest defense of the UFC women’s bantamweight title.

Rousey is 10-0 as a professional, and the opposition has had very few moments of success against her. There has never been a female who has stood so head-and-shoulders above her peers. Serena Williams, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Florence Griffith-Joyner, Martina Navratilova, Cheryl Miller or any other great female athlete’s career can compare to Rousey’s run to this point.

The body of work might be shorter, but Rousey has been flawless.

That said, the pressure is on in a major way on Saturday. Cat Zingano is the stiffest test Rousey has faced in her now 10-fight professional career. Zingano is also undefeated. She’s skilled on the ground, solid in stand-up and physically strong.

Beyond the tangible attributes, Zingano is also determined and mentally tough. There will be no intimidation factor. The best woman will win. If Zingano pulls off the upset, she’ll reach a new level of fame and go down as the first to conquer the beast.

If she loses, she’ll fall in line with the other women who have tried and failed to give Rousey her first defeat. If Rousey loses, it’ll be one of the biggest sports stories of the day. Questions will abound about the amount of time she has spent cultivating her acting career and other aspects of the entertainment world.

While the spotlight is brightest on Rousey, she’s not the only lady with a lot on the line come Saturday.

Holly Holm

The time has come for the much-hyped Holly Holm to finally make her UFC debut. Holm will be facing the tough, but very beatable Raquel Pennington in Saturday night’s co-featured bout. Holm has been regarded as the finest female boxer in the world and has a 7-0 start to her MMA career.

She has star power. Holm is not just a great athlete; she’s also attractive and likable. A win would further thrust her into the mainstream and carve a path toward the winner of Rousey-Zingano. Perhaps only Bethe Correia or fellow newcomer Marion Reneau would be able to make a better case for being next in line for a title shot.

If Holm loses or even looks less than impressive, the critics won’t be kind. Holm knows the situation and, per MMA Junkie, she considers UFC 184 a “lose-lose” proposition:

Yeah, I feel like I’m in a bit of a lose-lose situation. The expectations are so high, how can you meet that?

You go to a movie that everyone talks about, and you go, and you’re like, “Well, it wasn’t that great.” But if you go to a movie that’s really not that talked about … you don’t have this already perceived perception of how it’s supposed to be. So, that’s probably the hardest thing I’m focusing on – just fighting my fight and not feeling like I have to do this thing that takes me out of my comfort zone.

Living up to the hype is perhaps the toughest thing to accomplish in sports. That’s why people like Rousey, LeBron James, and Tiger Woods are such incredible performers. We’ll see if Holm can notch her first victory in the UFC after such a highly publicized arrival.

Josh Koscheck and Jake Ellenberger

If you were to try to find the perfect example of the term “crossroads bout,” you’d be hard-pressed to find a better one than Josh Koscheck vs. Jake Ellenberger. Both men have lost three straight fights and face serious questions as to what the remainder of their careers will hold.

Ellenberger probably isn’t contemplating retirement, but a fourth consecutive loss would seemingly make him a potential casualty to the UFC’s dreaded cut line. Getting cut is only one of Koscheck’s concerns. At 37 years old, he’d have to wonder whether continuing to fight is the right thing to do.

His last two losses came via vicious knockouts, and there’s a good chance this one ends with someone lying on the mat. If Koscheck comes up on the short end of the stick again, he’ll have to make a decision that isn’t just in the best interest of his career, but his life.

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter. I dig boxing and MMA.

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UFC 184: Start Time, Prelim Live Stream Info and Full Fight Card Predictions

UFC 184 comes with some questions attached.
For instance, just how strong is the drawing power of Ronda Rousey? The women’s bantamweight champion—and one of the UFC’s most recognizable stars—will headline the event. But with the …

UFC 184 comes with some questions attached.

For instance, just how strong is the drawing power of Ronda Rousey? The women’s bantamweight champion—and one of the UFC’s most recognizable stars—will headline the event. But with the co-main event featuring a sub-.500 fighter (Raquel Pennington) and a woman making her UFC debut (Holly Holm), the organization is really depending on Rousey to bring in the buys on this one.

The booking not only has to do with UFC President Dana White‘s belief in Rousey as someone with drawing power, but the caliber of Cat Zingano as a challenger.

“She’s the headliner,” White told Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports regarding the expected celebrity-heavy crowd at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. “She’s the one who’s getting pushed. She’s the champion. She’s the star. She’s at such a high level that other celebrities recognize that, but it also has to do with the fight. It’s a tough, legit fight. Cat Zingano is probably the greatest threat to Ronda there is.“

But whether Zingano really has what it takes to push Rousey isn’t the only question on the card. There’s plenty of intrigue surrounding Saturday’s slate of fights. Here’s a look at all the information you’ll need to take in the fights along with predictions for the entire card.

When: Saturday, Feb. 28

Start Time: Fight Pass prelims at 7 p.m. ET; Fox Sports 1 prelims at 8 p.m. ET; main card pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET

Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles

Live Stream: UFC.tv

Top Storylines to Watch

Where Does Tony Ferguson Rank in Stacked Lightweight Division?

It isn’t easy to get noticed at 155 pounds these days. The division currently ruled by Anthony Pettis has no shortage of fighters who are deserving of title-shot consideration or just one win away from joining the upper echelon.

Rafael dos Anjos, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Donald Cerrone currently sit atop the UFC rankings, and names like Eddie Alvarez, Jim Miller and Al Iaquinta round out the Top 15.

Attempting to break into those rankings will be 31-year-old Tony Ferguson. El Cucuy has been on a four-fight win streak since suffering his only UFC loss to Michael Johnson in May 2012. However, none of the victims involved in that streak were as accomplished as Gleison Tibau.

Tibau has become the epitome of a gatekeeper for the lightweight division. Beat the American Top Team fighter and you’re likely on to bigger and better things (like Johnson, who handed Tibau his last loss). Lose to him, and it proves you aren’t ready for the big time.

A finish for Ferguson should set him up with a legitimate Top 15 opponent next time out.

Who Has More Left: Josh Koscheck or Jake Ellenberger?

There was a time when Josh Koscheck and Jake Ellenberger could have made for a decent pay-per-view main event, but that time is long gone.

Koscheck is no longer the fighter who beat Anthony Johnson. At 37 years old, just how many fights he has left in his body is a legitimate question.

Things don’t get much better on the other side of the cage, either. Ellenberger may only be 29 years old, but he doesn’t look like the guy who once put together a six-fight win streak and appeared destined for a title shot.

These two are a combined 0-6 in their last six fights and looking for redemption. While that record looks ugly, it did come against a high level of competition for both guys. They both lost to current champion Robbie Lawler, while Kos also lost to Johny Hendricks and Tyron Woodley. Ellenberger fell to Rory MacDonald and Kelvin Gastelum.

Who has the wherewithal to bounce back from his losing ways?

In some ways, this could mirror the Frank Mir vs. Antonio Silva fight that fans saw last week. Silva came into the bout as a heavy favorite due to Mir’s recent struggles, but the former champion was able to spring the upset in part because he took time off to heal.

With Koscheck making his return to the Octagon after more than a year away from fighting, he’s just dangerous enough as an underdog to get the job done.

Is Holly Holm the Real Deal?

Before Rousey and Zingano take center stage in the night’s main event, Holly Holm will finally get her chance to show what she can do in the UFC.

In a division bereft of many marketable contenders, the organization is setting the stage for Holm to immediately become a household name if she can rise to the occasion. The New Mexico-based fighter established a name for herself in boxing and has looked good thus far in her transition to the world of MMA.

The 33-year-old has struck her way to a 7-0 record in her new sport, but as Jonathan Snowden of Bleacher Report points out, her opposition has been questionable at best:

In actuality, the quality of competition isn’t getting much better in her co-main event bout. Pennington is just 5-4 in her MMA career with her two UFC wins coming against Roxanne Modafferi and Ashlee Evans-Smith. That’s not exactly a murderers’ row.

Still, Pennington has flashed some potential and is the best opponent that Holm has seen. The expectation is that the UFC brought in Holm as an eventual opponent for Rousey, but the newcomer still needs to take a few steps before that’s a viable main event.

Scoring an impressive finish as the lead-in to a Rousey title defense would be a big step in that direction.

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Rousey vs. Zingano: Viewing Info and Fight Preview for UFC 184 Main Event

Ronda Rousey seeks to continue her tremendous run of dominance as she puts the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship on the line against unbeaten challenger Cat Zingano. The fight will serve as the main event of the UFC 184 card on Saturday night.Rouse…

Rousey last defended the belt back in July. She probably broke more of a sweat warming up for the bout than she did once the bell rung as she finished Alexis Davis in just 16 seconds. Zingano figures to provide far more resistance.

The fight will cap a solid card that also includes Raquel Pennington taking on Holly Holm and Jake Ellenberger battling Josh Koscheck. So let’s check out all of the important details for the main card, followed by a closer look at the top attraction.

Main Card Details

Where: Staples Center in Los Angeles, California

When: Saturday, Feb. 28 at 10 p.m. ET

Watch: Pay-per-view

Rousey vs. Zingano Preview

Rousey has become a mainstream attraction for UFC. People want to see how quickly she can dismantle an opponent or, on the flip side, witness when she finally gets challenged. At the very least, Zingano represents her toughest test so far.

The challenger is coming off a pair of impressive knockout victories over Miesha Tate and Amanda Nunes to earn the title shot. Since nobody has really pushed Rousey, it’s hard to know exactly how much better she’ll need to fight to have a chance on Saturday.

The champion has won nine of her 10 career fights in the first round. Tate was the only opponent to survive beyond that point, which could be a good sign for Zingano.

Facing Rousey is more than the physical test, though. It’s a mental test as well because of the ease with which she has taken care of every prior opponent. Every game plan used against her has been destroyed, normally within a matter of seconds.

Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports passed along comments from the dominant champ, who explained why she’s so aggressive in the cage:

I go out there to win and I’m satisfied by a win. But I was taught by my mother when I was doing judo growing up to consider any time I went to the judges a loss. That’s allowing a fight to get outside of your control, and so if you put the [outcome] in somebody else’s hands, you probably deserve to lose.

Zingano feels ready, though. Elias Cepeda of Fox Sports provided her remarks about entering a real comfort zone with her fighting style:

This fight is a little different. I feel like I have things together more than the past two fights. I’m more confident and in a better situation. There’s been a lot of progression that has gone on. I feel like I am able to tap in to who I was leading into becoming.

So the question is whether the underdog is going to push Rousey further than anybody else. Andreas Georgiou of MMA Plus is bullish about Zingano’s chances:

The biggest key for Zingano is coming out strong in the opening round. Too many opponents are worried about all of Rousey’s various weapons, causing them to become overly defensive. She powers through that with ease.

To make it an entertaining bout, “Alpha” needs to use her striking ability.

The longer she is able to keep the fight in neutral and off the mat, the better her chances. Land a few shots then back off before Rousey is able to counter, opening the door for grappling and eventually down to the mat for the armbar.

Of course, that’s much easier said than done. Every fighter who’s received a shot at Rousey has probably had a similar idea in their head. But once the fight starts and she comes out flying, it’s hard to maintain composure and stick to it.

While Zingano might find a way to survive the first round, Rousey should force a submission before the end of the second to retain the title.

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Gambling Addiction Enabler: ‘UFC 184: Rousey vs. Zingano’ Edition

(Easy there, Dave. One second it’s doing your job, the next it’s a lawsuit. via Getty)

By Sam Stilson

Well if we learned anything from UFC Fight Night 61, it’s that MMA is perhaps the most unpredictable sport in the world. That, and Bigfoot Silva is slowing shrinking and will soon be nothing but an Easter Island statue made of glass.

The fact that 10 of 11 underdogs won last week has surely given some hope to the massive long shots featured in both the main and co-main events of this weekend’s UFC 184 card. But confidence is hardly enough when facing the best of the best in the women’s division (though this guy might disagree).

Let’s take a look at who the money-makers are for UFC 184.

(Easy there, Dave. One second it’s doing your job, the next it’s a lawsuit. via Getty)

By Sam Stilson

Let’s take a look at who the money-makers are for UFC 184.

The Sure Bets

Jake Ellenberger over Josh Koscheck at -210

Both men have not looked particularly dangerous as of late and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the loser get cut. That being said, this fight can be summed up like so: Koscheck no longer has a chin + Ellenberger hits really hard = Easy money.

James Krause over Valmir Lazaro at -185

Krause is a tall, long fighter with decent kickboxing who has only really lost to top-shelf competition (lately anyway). Lazaro hits hard and certainly isn’t an easy opponent, but he just lost a fight to James Vick, who is cut from the same cloth as Krause. This bout will likely go down the same way.

The Live Dogs

Gleison Tibau over Tony Ferguson at +170

Don’t get me wrong, “El Cucuy” has looked awesome lately; his striking is getting really crisp and he’s continuing to develop his natural power. But Tibau as an underdog is hard to turn down. Gleison only loses to top 10 fighters, so this bout will say a lot about Ferguson’s potential. A slow grinding win for Gleison is enough of a possibility to lay some coin down on this one.

Roman Salazar over Norifumi Yamamoto at +250

Salazar is probably going to take this one. Not because he’s some blue-chip prospect, but because Kid Yamamoto is a shot fighter. He’s 37, he hasn’t looked good in six years and is coming off a three-year layoff plus a slew of injuries. The guy lost to Vaughan Lee, so a Salazar upset isn’t just a good bet. At this point it’s expected.

The Toss-Up

Dhiego Lima (EVEN) vs. Tim Means (-130)

This should be a barnburner, and with the odds this close a bet on either man is a good idea. Means is the more ruthless aggressive fighter whereas Lima takes a bit more of a calculated approach. Both have impressive Muay Thai games, but with Lima getting bombed out early by Eddie Gordon, the odds leaning in Means favour is accurate.

All odds provided by Bodog.

UFC 184: Fight Night Bonus Predictions for Rousey vs. Zingano Fight Card

The main event for UFC 184 featuring women’s bantamweight champion “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey and Cat Zingano has the makings of a competitive and spirited scrap. That’s not anything we’re used to saying about a Rousey bout, but Zingano’s strength, skill and…

In my preview, I picked Rousey to win, but I don’t expect it to be easy. There should be some tense moments during stand-up encounters, but ultimately the fight will go to the ground, and that’s where the Rowdy one is still unmatched.

The reason this fight will be the most thrilling in Rousey‘s career is because of Zingano‘s ability to handle herself on the ground. The first time this battle spills to the mat, Rousey won’t have her way quite as quickly as she does in other bouts.

The champion will ultimately get the submission victory; but on the way, Rousey and Zingano will paint a masterpiece that wins both women a bonus for Fight of the Night.

As the winner of an excellent scrap, Rousey is also my pick for one of the Performance of the Night bonuses. On Thursday, Rousey said she needed to win on Saturday night to afford pricey tickets to see Floyd Mayweather Jr. take on Manny Pacquiao on May 2, per TMZ.

After her bonus haul, Rousey should be able to buy a ticket and some beverages for the “Fight of the Century.”

Ellenberger Will Claim the other POTN

When Jake “The Juggernaut” Ellenberger and Josh “Kos” Koscheck collide, someone is going to get knocked out. My bet is that Ellenberger will be the one standing when this one is over. Both men are on three-fight losing streaks, but Koscheck is also dealing with a layoff. He hasn’t fought since Nov. 2013.

To add to the troubling situation, Koscheck is coming off two vicious KO defeats that would lead you to believe he’ll be more susceptible to another such setback. Kos is 37 years old, and Ellenberger is still one of the heaviest handed fighters in the welterweight division.

Per Mike Bohn of MMA Junkie, Ellenberger says he thinks Koscheck might just be looking for a paycheck in this one. Kos denied those allegations saying:

“That’s his opinion, but I don’t need the UFC money to make it. I have several businesses set up. What kind of opportunity is it to come back and get your face beat in just for a paycheck? That’s not me.”

Whatever the case, it all adds up to a losing formula for Koscheck and a platform for Ellenberger to shine with a highlight-reel KO. This one might not get out of the first round. If it doesn’t, it could be a fast $50,000 for the Juggernaut.

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter. I dig boxing and MMA.

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Video: Watch Ronda Rousey and Cat Zingano Face off Live at UFC 184 Weigh-ins

UFC 184 is upon us.
Saturday evening, UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey faces arguably her toughest test to date as she takes on the 9-0 Cat Zingano inside Los Angeles’ Staples Center. Below her, UFC newcomer Holly Holm looks to make…

UFC 184 is upon us.

Saturday evening, UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey faces arguably her toughest test to date as she takes on the 9-0 Cat Zingano inside Los Angeles’ Staples Center. Below her, UFC newcomer Holly Holm looks to make a statement and establish herself as the No. 1 contender to Rousey‘s throne as she takes on gritty veteran Raquel Pennington.

Watch as the entire UFC 184 cast attempts to make weight Friday at 7 p.m. ET.

Holm, a multiple-time world boxing champion and owner of some of the most polished striking in all of women’s MMA, comes into the Octagon carrying a significant amount of hype and expectation.

She’s 7-0 with six knockouts as a professional mixed martial artist, and some believe she could be the person to eventually knock Rousey off the top of the 135-pound mountain. To get that shot, though, Holm will have to get through former The Ultimate Fighter competitor Raquel Pennington, who is carrying the momentum of a brutal technical-submission victory from her last outing into the matchup.

Despite this intriguing and crucial bout for the women’s bantamweight class, there’s no doubt this card is all about the two ladies at the top.

Rousey vs. Zingano potentially could be the most competitive bout in the division’s history.

One of the biggest superstars in the sport today, Rousey is undefeated in 10 professional contests, and she’s showcased a rapidly evolving skill set, earning back-to-back knockout victories over Sara McMann and Alexis Davis, respectively, after beginning her pro career on an eight-fight tear via submission.

Zingano, on the other hand, simply cannot be denied.

She fell behind early against both Miesha Tate and Amanda Nunes in the UFC, only to come roaring back and finish both competitors via TKO. If Rousey cannot take Zingano out early, the fight could get interesting in the later stages.

Watch the two take the scales and face off for their main event showdown above, then tune in to the UFC pay-per-view broadcast Saturday evening to watch the clash go down.

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