I'm sure you have all heard about this big debate between Ronda Rousey and Strikeforce 135lb Champion Miesha Tate. Ronda said a couple of weeks ago that she planned to drop to 135 and she wants a title shot. When I told her that Sarah Kaufman was promised the next title shot, Ronda offered to fight Sarah for the title shot. She thinks a fight against Miesha is more marketable because of Miesha's sex appeal. Ronda says "everyone wants to watch two hot chicks fight each other". First of all, I think Sarah should get the promised title shot. But other than that, the whole reaction to this has been laughable. I like Sarah Kaufman. I interviewed her two years ago before anyone knew who she was. But there's no way of getting around that Miesha Tate has sex appeal that Sarah doesn't have. Ronda isn't talking about fighting ability. She's talking about sizzle. Like it or not, sex appeal has always been a part of women's MMA and it will always be a part of women's MMA. And then Miesha accuses Ronda of using her sex appeal to get what she wants. Ronda says "So what". At least Ronda hasn't posed in Maxim yet. Of course Miesha is hypocritical because as you can see by the above pic that appeared in the June 2009 issue of Fight Magazine, she uses sex appeal when it suits her. Of course the other argument is that Ronda has only won four fights and has never fought at 135 before. Those folks have forgotten that Marloes Coenen was given a 135lb title shot despite the fact that she never fought before at 135. So there is a precedent. Last Saturday, Miesha said on Twitter that Ronda should have to beat two 135lb fighters before getting a title shot. Psst, Miesha. Just between you and me, that's called ducking. It's just a dumb thing for her to say. Ronda hasn't just won all her fights, she smoked her opponents in less than a minute. I was also asked if she could make 135. Ronda demonstrated her discipline by competing in judo tournaments as a teen and winning a Bronze medal in the 2008 Olympics. Nothing in MMA will be harder than that. I don't know if there are any fighters who can handle Ronda's quickness. She has the quickness and the imagination of Megumi Fujii but weighs 30 pounds heavier. Think about that. That's hard to defend. Just because you know what Ronda will do doesn't mean she can be stopped. So I don't know what Strikeforce will do. They may think this fight will be good for business. Or they may keep their promise to Sarah Kaufman. The only thing I do know is that Ronda Rousey has got people talking about women's MMA. That's a good thing. The complaints about Ronda's etiquette are ludicrous.
All good points. I think she is Meisha is ducking her. You are right saying she should fight two fights @135 does sould like ducking. I like Meisha and was glad to see her win but I think she is very nervous. Ronda has all the 135lbers very very worried. I saw an interview earlier with Alexis Davis and she is saying the same thing Meisha and Sarah is saying. They all have their stories straight!!
ReplyDeleteThe biggest problem I see for Ronda is that she will run out of intersting opponents too soon. especially if they put all these really cool fights together too soon. I'm sure she will beat Miesha and I think she has a legit chance to beat Cyborg too....what's after that...to find high level oponents for her will be her biggest challengeg
ReplyDeleteThat's not her problem. That's Sean Shelby's problem. They have the same problem with Cris Cyborg and they've asked her to drop to 135.
ReplyDeleteHer technique is almost as vicious a weapon as her smile. Cheerz!
ReplyDeleteMiesha is talking about Ronda, Sarah is talking about Ronda. You are talking about Ronda. Ronda has done a good job of promoting herself. End of story.
ReplyDeletei've seen miesha in person. i don't see the sex appeal. she's my age but looks a lot older and has a butter face. i do think sarah should still get her title shot since she is no. 1 contender right now. in the meantime let liz carmouche fight ronda, and i think kerry vera is coming back soon. she should fight finney and then carmouche. miesha would lose against sarah anyway. she got lucky against marloes too.
ReplyDeleteSarah Kaufman was promised the title shot last summer and at first I thought she should still get it. But when Miesha's first reaction was to avoid Ronda, I changed my mind. Do the match now. Why delay the inevitable so the avoiders feel better?
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