Tag: UFC 207

Anderson Silva Hopes 2017 Is Year Of ‘Many Wins’ For Ronda Rousey

If any fighter can relate to Ronda Rousey at this point in her career, it may be former longtime UFC middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva. Rousey, the once dominant 135-pound titleholder, has suffered back-to-back stoppage losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes. After being brutally knocked out by Holm in Nov. 2015, Rousey spent most of

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If any fighter can relate to Ronda Rousey at this point in her career, it may be former longtime UFC middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva.

Rousey, the once dominant 135-pound titleholder, has suffered back-to-back stoppage losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes. After being brutally knocked out by Holm in Nov. 2015, Rousey spent most of 2016 on the self before returning at Dec. 30, 2016’s UFC 207 only to be finished by Nunes in 48 seconds.

Silva was also a dominant champion at one point, reigning over the 185-pound division for nearly seven years. In 2013, however, he was brutally knocked out by Chris Weidman. Since then, Silva’s record stands at 0-3-1.

Being that he has been in Rousey’s shoes before, “The Spider” recently offered up some advice to the “Rowdy” one, and he said that he hopes 2017 is a year of ‘many wins’ for the ex-champion:

“After her first loss, I sent her a message,” Silva said (Via MMAJunkie). “Right then, I posted something on social media motivating her. I think regardless of what happened and what will happen in your life, you need to keep your head up because what you did will stay in history. Regardless of wins or losses, you need to care about what you see as the most important in your life.

“I hope 2017 is a year of many wins for you and new accomplishments, and that if you keep fighting, that you return well. The way I see it, personally and technically as a fighter, pick your opponents better when you return. Don’t fight someone who’s as active as the champ. I think it was the wrong strategy. I hope you come back. You’re a great athlete. God bless you.”

While it’s unclear whether or not Rousey will ever fight again, perhaps she should take Silva’s advice and ease her way back into competition. Either way, “The Spider” says that losing is part of the game, and that fans and critics need to understand that:

“But as for Ronda, it happens. These are things that happen. It’s not like, ‘Oh, she should have lost because she’s arrogant.’ No. It happens. You get up there, and you can either win or lose. It’s natural. People need to understand that.”

Do you agree with Silva’s assessment of the situation?

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Johny Hendricks Reportedly Set For Middleweight Debut This February

Johny Hendricks apparently isn’t retiring after all. The former welterweight champion, who said he would call it a career if he lost to Neil Magny at UFC 207 and then proceeded to do so (albeit by a close and controversial decision), will instead move up to 185 pounds for a rumored bout with Hector Lombard

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Johny Hendricks apparently isn’t retiring after all.

The former welterweight champion, who said he would call it a career if he lost to Neil Magny at UFC 207 and then proceeded to do so (albeit by a close and controversial decision), will instead move up to 185 pounds for a rumored bout with Hector Lombard at February 19’s UFC Fight Night 105 from Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The move, which was reported by Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com, will come at a time when Hendricks had missed the welterweight limit of 170 pounds prior to his last two fights, with a third fight against current champion Tyron Woodley having been called off due to “Bigg Rigg” being hospitalized because of complications from the weight cut. The UFC attempted to book the reported bout against former Bellator champion Lombard for February 11’s UFC 208 pay-per-view (PPV) event from Brooklyn, New York, but complications with the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) forced it to be moved to the Halifax card.

That could be good news for the event, which recently lost its Junior dos Santos vs. Stefan Struve heavyweight main event after Struve was forced to withdraw due to injury. As it stands right now, it appears dos Santos will be removed from the card after Fabricio Werdum supposedly refused to fight him three times.

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas for USA TODAY Sports

The bout comes at an ultimately pivotal time for former champion Hendricks, who has dropped his last three bouts to top welterweights Stephen Thompson, Kelvin Gastelum, and Magny. His issues with making weight are well-documented, as he hardly made the 170-pound limit for his title bout against Robbie Lawler at UFC 171 in March 2014, a “Fight of the Year” candidate which he won by a thrilling-but-close split decision.

Hendricks will face a fighter in a very similar situation in Lombard, the once-touted former Bellator champ who has lost his last two UFC bouts by stoppage after having both Dan Henderson and Magny on the ropes early on. “Lightning” (or “Showeather,” depending on which you prefer) has also had issues with cutting weight down to welterweight, as a failed run at the 170-pound title ended when he was suspended after 2015’s UFC 182 and he returned to the middleweight division where he made his biggest mark.

With losses in their last five combined bouts, these two former champs could be fighting for their jobs in Halifax next month.

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Amanda Nunes: Ego Made Ronda Rousey Strike With Me

UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes solidified herself as the baddest woman on the planet at 135 pounds, when she downed former bantamweight queen Ronda Rousey in just 48 seconds in their main event meeting at UFC 207 last month. The loss marked the second consecutive defeat of ‘The Rowdy One’s’ career and left the

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UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes solidified herself as the baddest woman on the planet at 135 pounds, when she downed former bantamweight queen Ronda Rousey in just 48 seconds in their main event meeting at UFC 207 last month.

The loss marked the second consecutive defeat of ‘The Rowdy One’s’ career and left the former UFC champ’s fighting future in doubt, but Nunes doesn’t believe this should necessarily be the end of the road for her former opponent. Recently speaking to FOX 11 Los Angeles (via MMA Fighting) Nunes reveals she once found herself in a similar position, and believes a few changes in Rousey’s camp could make all the difference in her career:

“I already passed this moment in my career. It’s harder to lose but if you be strong, you’ll be able to come back like I did. Make some changes, adjust. The passion in her life, the family has to be with her. The base is very important. Make some changes in her camp, move to another gym and come back strong.”

Rousey came into the contest looking to strike with the heavy-handed Nunes, opting not to utilize her judo technique that has been the downfall of nearly all who shared the Octagon with her in the past, and paid for it with a quick first round knockout. Nunes credits Rousey’s ego for the decision to attempt to keep the fight on the feet:

“I think it was ego. I knew she was gonna try to strike with me and I think that was the completely wrong strategy to fight a girl like me…

“When I landed I saw, in that moment I saw in her eyes she was done. That [first punch] was the moment that I saw something. Like scared; scared if I connect the other hand because it was the jab.”

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

As for Nunes, she has her eyes fixed on making UFC history once again, by becoming the first female dual-weight champion in promotion history. The UFC has introduced a 145-pound female division that will crown its first champion at UFC 208 when former 135-pound champ Holly Holm meets Germaine de Randamie, and Nunes is hoping to challenge the winner of that contest:

“Next is the 145 [pound] belt, to move up to featherweight.”

Who would you like to see Nunes take on next? Do you think she’s earned a shot at making UFC history by challenging the inaugural 145-pound champ?

You can check out Nunes’ interview with FOX 11 Los Angeles here:

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Amanda Nunes Demands Winner Of Holm vs. De Randamie

Fresh off her destruction of Ronda Rousey, Amanda Nunes is hungry for more… Heading in to UFC 207, women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes experienced little promotion. With the return of Ronda Rousey on the card, the UFC made sure everyone knew about it. As color commentator Joe Rogan pointed out, the lack of Nunes promotion

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Fresh off her destruction of Ronda Rousey, Amanda Nunes is hungry for more…

Heading in to UFC 207, women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes experienced little promotion. With the return of Ronda Rousey on the card, the UFC made sure everyone knew about it. As color commentator Joe Rogan pointed out, the lack of Nunes promotion was very bizarre. Popularity means little when the octagon door shuts, a point illustrated perfectly by ‘The Lioness’ on December 30. Taking just 48 seconds to destroy Rousey, the champion ensured everyone knew who she was.

Now riding a five-fight win streak, including back-to-back stoppages over two WMMA legends, Nunes’ future is bright. During her second fight for the UFC, ‘The Lioness’ stopped Germaine De Randamie with an onslaught of elbows. Little did we know that victory could lead to a record-breaking bout four years later. ‘GDR’ is set to face Holly Holm for the inaugural featherweight title at UFC 208. Seeing an opportunity after finishing Rousey, Nunes was quick to announce her intent.

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Nunes Issues Demand

Taking to Twitter, current bantamweight boss made a direct demand to the UFC. On February 8 former bantamweight champ Holly Holm will battle Germaine De Randamie to make history, and Nunes wants to be part of the second chapter:

Thoughts

With Julianna Pena and Valentina Schevchenko set to collide on January 28, the champion moving to featherweight could cause frustration. Pena already said she’d leave if she’s snubbed again, but Nunes’ demands certainly fit the current trend. Would the UFC be willing to make yet another interim title for Nunes to jump to 145 pounds? With little in the way of contenders outside of Pena & Schevchenko, women’s 135 could become complicated if Nunes goes to featherweight.

Then again, who doesn’t like a two-weight UFC world champion these days?

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White: Rousey Was Mentally & Physically Ready For Nunes

Appearing on yesterday’s (Jan. 13, 2017) edition of The Herd, UFC President Dana White made headlines when he offered both Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor $25 million each to make their often talked about, but thought to be unrealistic boxing match a reality. In addition to touching on the Mayweather-McGregor saga, White also spoke about

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Appearing on yesterday’s (Jan. 13, 2017) edition of The Herd, UFC President Dana White made headlines when he offered both Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor $25 million each to make their often talked about, but thought to be unrealistic boxing match a reality.

In addition to touching on the Mayweather-McGregor saga, White also spoke about former women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey. After suffering a brutal knockout loss to Holly Holm in Nov. 2015, Rousey spent much of 2016 on the sidelines before returning at Dec. 30’s UFC 207 against champion Amanda Nunes, who only needed 48 seconds to stop the “Rowdy” one.

Despite the outcome, White said that Rousey was mentally and physically prepared for the fight:

“Listen, she trained hard for that fight,” White said. “She wanted that fight. She was mentally and physically ready for that fight. But she knows what happened, I don’t.”

The 29-year-old Rousey still appears to be in her athletic prime, but many have wondered if she’ll ever fight again given the fact that she’s suffered back-to-back disappointing losses. She certainly doesn’t need the money, but the competitor inside of her may lead her back to the cage.

White, however, isn’t sure at this point, as he admits that he hasn’t had much interaction with the “Rowdy” one since UFC 207:

“Ronda and I haven’t talked (about what’s next),” White said. “We texted yesterday. Yesterday was the first day that we started texting, and even if it was just a regular fighter … I don’t mess with the fighters for a while. I let them have some time off. Ronda and I will talk soon and we’ll see what she wants to do.”

Would you like to see Rousey fight again or should she look to hang up her gloves for good?

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Dana White & Ronda Rousey ‘Haven’t Talked About What’s Next’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDY-hGNY7_k

Ronda Rousey’s future remains uncertain.

The once dominant Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) women’s bantamweight champion has suffered back-to-back knockout losses. The first defeat of her career was brutal. Holly Holm avoided Rousey’s grappling and kept the fight standing. She knocked “Rowdy” out cold with a head kick in the second round.

In her last bout, Rousey competed for Amanda Nunes’ women’s bantamweight championship. The fight only lasted 48 seconds. Nunes pasted “Rowdy” with punches and shoved her off of any attempts at getting a throw. “The Lioness” became just the second fighter to successfully defend her UFC women’s 135-pound title.

Many have questioned what’s next for Rousey. Speculation has run rampant that Rousey will either keep doing movies or join World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Perhaps both are viable options.

UFC President Dana White recently appeared on “The Herd,” (via MMAJunkie.com) to talk about a variety of topics. One of them was on “Rowdy’s” fighting future:

“Ronda and I haven’t talked (about what’s next). We texted yesterday. Yesterday was the first day that we started texting, and even if it was just a regular fighter … I don’t mess with the fighters for a while. I let them have some time off. Ronda and I will talk soon and we’ll see what she wants to do.”

Rousey has received a lot of backlash after her second straight loss. Fans and analysts criticized her media blackout leading up to the fight. Some have blasted Rousey’s defense during the fight and have poked fun at her stand-up. White believes Rousey was prepared for the title bout:

“Listen, she trained hard for that fight. She wanted that fight. She was mentally and physically ready for that fight. But she knows what happened, I don’t.”

The former champion recently posted an uplifting quote from J.K. Rowling after climbing back up after hitting rock bottom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDY-hGNY7_k

Ronda Rousey’s future remains uncertain.

The once dominant Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) women’s bantamweight champion has suffered back-to-back knockout losses. The first defeat of her career was brutal. Holly Holm avoided Rousey’s grappling and kept the fight standing. She knocked “Rowdy” out cold with a head kick in the second round.

In her last bout, Rousey competed for Amanda Nunes’ women’s bantamweight championship. The fight only lasted 48 seconds. Nunes pasted “Rowdy” with punches and shoved her off of any attempts at getting a throw. “The Lioness” became just the second fighter to successfully defend her UFC women’s 135-pound title.

Many have questioned what’s next for Rousey. Speculation has run rampant that Rousey will either keep doing movies or join World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Perhaps both are viable options.

UFC President Dana White recently appeared on “The Herd,” (via MMAJunkie.com) to talk about a variety of topics. One of them was on “Rowdy’s” fighting future:

“Ronda and I haven’t talked (about what’s next). We texted yesterday. Yesterday was the first day that we started texting, and even if it was just a regular fighter … I don’t mess with the fighters for a while. I let them have some time off. Ronda and I will talk soon and we’ll see what she wants to do.”

Rousey has received a lot of backlash after her second straight loss. Fans and analysts criticized her media blackout leading up to the fight. Some have blasted Rousey’s defense during the fight and have poked fun at her stand-up. White believes Rousey was prepared for the title bout:

“Listen, she trained hard for that fight. She wanted that fight. She was mentally and physically ready for that fight. But she knows what happened, I don’t.”

The former champion recently posted an uplifting quote from J.K. Rowling after climbing back up after hitting rock bottom.