With an improbable three straight losses, Holly Holm never needed a victory more than when she met Bethe Correia in the main event of today’s (Sat., June 17, 2017) UFC Fight Night 111 from the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore. And she got just that. Holm used her trademark kickboxing to find an opening on […]
With an improbable three straight losses, Holly Holm never needed a victory more than when she met Bethe Correia in the main event of today’s (Sat., June 17, 2017) UFC Fight Night 111 from the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore.
And she got just that.
Holm used her trademark kickboxing to find an opening on a clowning Correia in the third round, absolutely melting her with a picturesque question mark kick that left no need for the follow-up shots Holm landed on an obviously out-of-it “Pitbull.”
It was the kind of statement Holm needed to make in a fight she was supposed to win, and it should instantly reinsert her back into a women’s bantamweight title picture that’s struggling for contenders. Watch the video highlights of Holm’s huge head kick KO courtesy of ESPN here:
Today’s (Sat., June 17, 2017) UFC Fight Night 111 is in the boooks from the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore. In the main event, former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm got back into the win column with a brutal head kick knockout over Bethe Correia. In the co-headliner, rising heavyweight Marcin Tybura outlasted former […]
Today’s (Sat., June 17, 2017) UFC Fight Night 111 is in the boooks from the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore.
In the main event, former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm got back into the win column with a brutal head kick knockout over Bethe Correia.
In the co-headliner, rising heavyweight Marcin Tybura outlasted former champion Andrei Arlovski. Watch the event’s post-fight press conference video here:
Ronda Rousey may be semi-retired from mixed martial arts (MMA), and now she’s got some big plans for her future. News arrived from TMZ Sports this afternoon (Thurs., April 20, 2017) that Rousey recently got engaged to her boyfriend, UFC heavyweight Travis Browne: “We’re getting married,” Rousey said. Browne elaborated on his proposal, which included
Ronda Rousey may be semi-retired from mixed martial arts (MMA), and now she’s got some big plans for her future.
News arrived from TMZ Sports this afternoon (Thurs., April 20, 2017) that Rousey recently got engaged to her boyfriend, UFC heavyweight Travis Browne:
“We’re getting married,” Rousey said.
Browne elaborated on his proposal, which included a large diamond ring for his queen. “Hapa” said the time was right during a picturesque scene on a recent trip to New Zealand:
“We were out under a waterfall in New Zealand and it felt like the right place to do it.”
Rousey then revealed the couple hadn’t set a date for the nuptials, but didn’t want an all-out gala involving too many details, as she didn’t know what all went into planning a big wedding:
“Soon, but I don’t know what goes into planning a wedding. It could be really easy. I don’t really want a lot. We don’t really need decorations or flowers, just somewhere to go and something to eat and some people around.”
Rousey and Browne have been dating since 2015 after training together at Edmond Tarverdyan’s Glendale Fighting Club. That shared meeting place obviously worked wonders for their love life, but it’s also been the center of a hotbed of controversy surrounding the concerning direction both fighters’ careers have taken in recent years.
Rousey is unlikely to return to the sport after two knockout losses to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 and Holly Holm at UFC 193, while Browne has lost five out of his last seven bouts, including a stoppage defeat to Derrick Lewis in a his last bout. “Hapa” had supposedly sought a change of scenery prior to the loss to “The Back Beast,” a fight he very nearly won only to lose, but Tarverdyan was still in his corner.
As for the once-dominant queen of MMA, she’s been seen in a guest role on NBC’s “Blindspot,” a role that could turn reportedly into a more frequent one, but her future involvement, if any, with MMA is currently unknown.
Ronda Rousey’s mixed martial arts (MMA) career is currently on a tremendous downward spiral, and it’s all thanks to Holly Holm. The formerly undefeated reigning 135-pound female champion Rousey once sat atop the mountain of MMA glory, before being knocked off with a thunderous head-kick from ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ in the main event of UFC
Ronda Rousey’s mixed martial arts (MMA) career is currently on a tremendous downward spiral, and it’s all thanks to Holly Holm.
The formerly undefeated reigning 135-pound female champion Rousey once sat atop the mountain of MMA glory, before being knocked off with a thunderous head-kick from ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ in the main event of UFC 193 in November of 2015. After a hiatus from the Octagon that lasted over a year Rousey returned to challenge current bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes to reclaim her throne, but was subsequently knocked out in just 48 seconds of the first round.
While Rousey’s Octagon future remains in a state of doubt, Holm is currently in preparation to challenge for the UFC’s inaugural female featherweight title against Germaine De Randamie in the main event of UFC 208 next month (Sat. February 11, 2017) from Brooklyn, New York.
Holm’s head-coach, Mike Winkeljohn, recently joined Submission Radio (quotes via MMA Fighting) ahead of his pupil’s historical bout, and shared his thought’s on ‘Rowdy’s’ downslide since the loss to Holm:
“I think Holly broke her [Rousey],” Winkeljohn said. “I think Ronda was on top of the world and Holly broke her, because when she came out for Amanda [Nunes] she just wasn’t the same fighter by any means. Not taking anything away from Amanda, but Ronda, she didn’t have anything, she just wasn’t there.
“She was just basically waiting for the end in essence once she couldn’t find a way to grab her. And she did the same thing she’s done before in the past, reaching out with her left arm and trying to corral. It was just a one-sided fight just like I said. I think she’s done.”
Given that Rousey has remained relatively quiet since her second consecutive loss, despite her brief statement following her bout with Nunes stating she needs time to reflect, do you believe we’ll ever see the former bantamweight queen compete in the UFC again?
Ronda Rousey has experienced a sudden fall from grace over the last 14 months. The once-dominant UFC women’s bantamweight champion has lost her last two bouts by knockout and her fighting future is currently unclear. After being on the wrong end of a brutal Holly Holm head kick at Nov. 2015’s UFC 193, Rousey spent the majority
Ronda Rousey has experienced a sudden fall from grace over the last 14 months. The once-dominant UFC women’s bantamweight champion has lost her last two bouts by knockout and her fighting future is currently unclear.
After being on the wrong end of a brutal Holly Holm head kick at Nov. 2015’s UFC 193, Rousey spent the majority of 2016 on the sidelines. With the belt no longer wrapped around her waist, the “Rowdy” one faded out of the limelight, but she made her long-awaited return at last Friday’s (Dec. 30, 2016) UFC 207 from Las Vegas. Unfortunately for Rousey, this loss was far more harrowing than the last, as she was finished by Amanda Nunes in just 48 seconds.
Due to her current losing streak and the fact that she has remained relatively quiet in the media – something unusual for a star of her stature – Rousey has received a tremendous amount of criticism. While some of that criticism may be warranted, it seems fight fans are suddenly downplaying Rousey’s previous accomplishments.
Perhaps fans are forgetting that the former Olympian has held titles in two different promotions? Perhaps fans are forgetting that we’re speaking of the female who brought women’s MMA to the UFC, and therefore the mainstream? Perhaps fans have forgotten that Rousey will always be known as the inaugural UFC 135-pound champion and that she defended her title six consecutive times?
With that being said, let’s flip the script, stop trashing Rousey for a moment and take a look at ‘Rowdy’s’ five best fighting moments:
Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey:
Ronda Rousey made her bantamweight debut in a title fight against fellow pioneer and then Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion Miesha “Cupcake” Tate at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey on March 3, 2012.
After scoring four straight first round armbar victories, Rousey was put in the headlining role against her bitter rival with a title on the line. To say that she made the most of the opportunity would be an understatement, as she ended up scoring yet another first round armbar victory over Tate to secure the title. In fact, Rousey even snapped Tate’s arm in gruesome fashion, which just added an exclamation point to the victory.
Establishing herself as a legitimate star and a legitimate force in this fight, Rousey would go on to defend her Strikeforce strap one time before making the jump to the UFC.
UFC 207 on Friday night will undoubtedly be the most important night in the MMA career of Ronda Rousey.
On November 15th 2015 in Melbourne, Australia, Bruce Buffer introduced Ronda Rousey to a packed out Etihad Arena as the women’s bantamweight champion of the world. The UFC superstar and cultural phenomenon had never been beaten in MMA, and was one of the most recognisable faces in the world of sport. It took just two rounds into her title defence against ex-boxing world champion Holly Holm for that to end. Since that spectacular dethroning, the name most female MMA fighters once feared to speak no longer holds the currency it once did. So what happened?
Quite simply, Ronda was dominated at UFC193 and could not bounce back. The loss affected the former Strikeforce champion severely, and this coming Friday will see her return after a long hiatus. Another question which hangs over the partner of UFC heavyweight Travis Browne, is the quality of the team which she has around her. Rowsey’s sole defeat is attributable to a fight plan which was embarrassingly one dimensional, and highly simplistic. Edmond Tarverdyan’s baffling tactics were effectively to pressure, and hunt down an accomplished long-range striker [in Holm] to beat her on the inside. It was clear by the end of the first round that not only would this game plan not work, but it was being completely exploited by the former WBC champion of the world.
Tarverdyan had no plan B or deviation from what was not working (he even bizarrely commended his fighter’s efforts). The gapingly obvious failure here was that Rousey was not squaring up against a run of the mill, flat-footed slugger; Holm was (and is) a proven, technical striker with great footwork. “The Preacher’s Daughter” employed powerful straight lefts from the outside and slick lateral movement; such simple boxing fundamentals appeared far more impressive given the opponent’s inability to find a way inside. “Rowdy” could only move forward, and in a straight line, and was ill-prepared for a challenger with a southpaw stance. With no concept of space management, or timing strikes, a fighter will eat solid punches trying to reach their target. In Rousey’s case she was picked apart, worn out and eventually opened up giving Holm the window to connect with a perfectly timed head kick which knocked her out. The stunning knockout not only exposed arrogance in the Glendale camp’s preparations for the match-up, but was detrimental to their fighter’s health. If the first defeat of the Queen of MMA painfully highlighted limitations in her striking abilities, it certainly confirmed one thing: Holm is a boxer; Rousey is not.
Prior to her loss in Australia, “Rowdy” displayed a peerless aura of invincibility. Many called for her instating as the pound for pound #1 in UFC, while others suggested that she possessed the skills that could beat male fighters. Before Conor McGregor, Rousey was the muted cross-over opponent to fight Floyd Mayweather. While the accolades, superlatives and hyperbole which surrounded the iconic fighter had never been seen before, the magnitude of her fall from grace will possibly never be seen again.Having reached peak popularity, and with a string of acting roles, advertisements and product endorsements, the 135lb champion watched her stock collapse dramatically. Speculation mounted of exterior commitments acting as a distraction from her fight game, and ultimately affecting her preparation and her dedication to the craft which had made her famous. A retreat from public life led to speculation of retirement: would she ever step foot inside the octagon again? Further talk of depression and suicidal tendencies (concerning, given that both her father and grandfather’s took their own lives) added weight to the argument that we had seen the last of the bantamweight in the UFC.
No one has yet to establish themselves in the absence of the Beijing 2008 medallist. Since UFC193, the women’s bantamweight division has seen the belt change hands three times in as many fights. Miesha Tate, the now retired (one time) nemesis of “the arm collector”, earned the strap via rear-naked choke from Holm at UFC 196. “Cupcake” would subsequently fall victim in her first title defence against Rousey’s next opponent Amanda Nunes at UFC 200, suffering the same fate she had dealt Holm the previous March (rear-naked choke). What is curious in the case of all three fighters to sit atop the division following Rousey’s defeat, is that none are yet to successfully defend the strap. Some may say that this demonstrates the depth of quality within the 135lb ranks, while others have argued that it is testament to the strength of the ex-Olympian’s dominance – the old adage “form is temporary, class is permanent” may be pertinent given the fact that there is only one loss on her record.
If we are to see the challenger emerge victorious this Friday night, it will more than likely come down to the greatest tool in her weaponry, and the foundation of her success: the armbar. The American’s MMA debut victory came in March 2011 against Ediane Gomes at KOTC: Turning Point (submitting her opponent in 25 seconds). A further six victories would come via armbar, and all in the first round. At UFC 170, almost three years and eight fights later, Sarah McMann collapsed following a knee to the body – the first fight Rousey won via strikes. A fluent left knee gradually softened the body, until McMann hit the canvas after the first minute of the first round. At UFC 175 the following July, Alexis Davis was the next victim of the female superstar, and lasted only 16 seconds in spectacularly brutal fashion. Rousey, looking more the stand-up fighter, landed a couple of jabs and straight-rights, before hip tossing her opponent and demolishing her with several blows on the ground. Despite this, Cat Zingano would fall victim to the signature armbar at UFC184, but a return to a strike oriented game plan at UFC190 was enough to flatten Bethe Correia via a right-hook.
Rousey’s departure from what had been so effective (barring the Zingano bout) was evidently missing against Holm in UFC193, but it is likely that Rousey will revert to this tactic against the powerful Nunes, and rightly so – it works. Providing her gameplan is more robust against the dangerous Brazilian, she will be favoured to recapture a belt many see as hers. It really is quite simple for the ex-bantamweight champion: boom or bust. Defeat cannot be an option worth considering.
UFC 207 on Friday night will undoubtedly be the most important night in the MMA career of Ronda Rousey.
On November 15th 2015 in Melbourne, Australia, Bruce Buffer introduced Ronda Rousey to a packed out Etihad Arena as the women’s bantamweight champion of the world. The UFC superstar and cultural phenomenon had never been beaten in MMA, and was one of the most recognisable faces in the world of sport. It took just two rounds into her title defence against ex-boxing world champion Holly Holm for that to end. Since that spectacular dethroning, the name most female MMA fighters once feared to speak no longer holds the currency it once did. So what happened?
Quite simply, Ronda was dominated at UFC193 and could not bounce back. The loss affected the former Strikeforce champion severely, and this coming Friday will see her return after a long hiatus. Another question which hangs over the partner of UFC heavyweight Travis Browne, is the quality of the team which she has around her. Rowsey’s sole defeat is attributable to a fight plan which was embarrassingly one dimensional, and highly simplistic. Edmond Tarverdyan’s baffling tactics were effectively to pressure, and hunt down an accomplished long-range striker [in Holm] to beat her on the inside. It was clear by the end of the first round that not only would this game plan not work, but it was being completely exploited by the former WBC champion of the world.
Tarverdyan had no plan B or deviation from what was not working (he even bizarrely commended his fighter’s efforts). The gapingly obvious failure here was that Rousey was not squaring up against a run of the mill, flat-footed slugger; Holm was (and is) a proven, technical striker with great footwork. “The Preacher’s Daughter” employed powerful straight lefts from the outside and slick lateral movement; such simple boxing fundamentals appeared far more impressive given the opponent’s inability to find a way inside. “Rowdy” could only move forward, and in a straight line, and was ill-prepared for a challenger with a southpaw stance. With no concept of space management, or timing strikes, a fighter will eat solid punches trying to reach their target. In Rousey’s case she was picked apart, worn out and eventually opened up giving Holm the window to connect with a perfectly timed head kick which knocked her out. The stunning knockout not only exposed arrogance in the Glendale camp’s preparations for the match-up, but was detrimental to their fighter’s health. If the first defeat of the Queen of MMA painfully highlighted limitations in her striking abilities, it certainly confirmed one thing: Holm is a boxer; Rousey is not.
Prior to her loss in Australia, “Rowdy” displayed a peerless aura of invincibility. Many called for her instating as the pound for pound #1 in UFC, while others suggested that she possessed the skills that could beat male fighters. Before Conor McGregor, Rousey was the muted cross-over opponent to fight Floyd Mayweather. While the accolades, superlatives and hyperbole which surrounded the iconic fighter had never been seen before, the magnitude of her fall from grace will possibly never be seen again.Having reached peak popularity, and with a string of acting roles, advertisements and product endorsements, the 135lb champion watched her stock collapse dramatically. Speculation mounted of exterior commitments acting as a distraction from her fight game, and ultimately affecting her preparation and her dedication to the craft which had made her famous. A retreat from public life led to speculation of retirement: would she ever step foot inside the octagon again? Further talk of depression and suicidal tendencies (concerning, given that both her father and grandfather’s took their own lives) added weight to the argument that we had seen the last of the bantamweight in the UFC.
No one has yet to establish themselves in the absence of the Beijing 2008 medallist. Since UFC193, the women’s bantamweight division has seen the belt change hands three times in as many fights. Miesha Tate, the now retired (one time) nemesis of “the arm collector”, earned the strap via rear-naked choke from Holm at UFC 196. “Cupcake” would subsequently fall victim in her first title defence against Rousey’s next opponent Amanda Nunes at UFC 200, suffering the same fate she had dealt Holm the previous March (rear-naked choke). What is curious in the case of all three fighters to sit atop the division following Rousey’s defeat, is that none are yet to successfully defend the strap. Some may say that this demonstrates the depth of quality within the 135lb ranks, while others have argued that it is testament to the strength of the ex-Olympian’s dominance – the old adage “form is temporary, class is permanent” may be pertinent given the fact that there is only one loss on her record.
If we are to see the challenger emerge victorious this Friday night, it will more than likely come down to the greatest tool in her weaponry, and the foundation of her success: the armbar. The American’s MMA debut victory came in March 2011 against Ediane Gomes at KOTC: Turning Point (submitting her opponent in 25 seconds). A further six victories would come via armbar, and all in the first round. At UFC 170, almost three years and eight fights later, Sarah McMann collapsed following a knee to the body – the first fight Rousey won via strikes. A fluent left knee gradually softened the body, until McMann hit the canvas after the first minute of the first round. At UFC 175 the following July, Alexis Davis was the next victim of the female superstar, and lasted only 16 seconds in spectacularly brutal fashion. Rousey, looking more the stand-up fighter, landed a couple of jabs and straight-rights, before hip tossing her opponent and demolishing her with several blows on the ground. Despite this, Cat Zingano would fall victim to the signature armbar at UFC184, but a return to a strike oriented game plan at UFC190 was enough to flatten Bethe Correia via a right-hook.
Rousey’s departure from what had been so effective (barring the Zingano bout) was evidently missing against Holm in UFC193, but it is likely that Rousey will revert to this tactic against the powerful Nunes, and rightly so – it works. Providing her gameplan is more robust against the dangerous Brazilian, she will be favoured to recapture a belt many see as hers. It really is quite simple for the ex-bantamweight champion: boom or bust. Defeat cannot be an option worth considering.
