Ronda Rousey’s Top 5 Reddit Responses


Ronda Rousey Reddit
This afternoon “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey answered a few fan questions on reddit.com. The site had thousands of posts within minutes of her making the announcement. As you might imagine she was bombarded with a variety of questions ranging from her thoughts on Cyborg, Game of Thrones, Transgender athlete, music and more. Here are our top five highlights from the Ronda Rousey Reddit Q&A.


Ronda Rousey’s Top 5 Reddit Responses

Knuckledork: What is your sincere opinion about Cyborg?
Rousey: Sincere opinion about Cyborg: she’s just waiting to be offered enough money to get her ass kicked (‘cuz she knows she’ll get her ass kicked). I know for a fact she can make the weight. She consulted with Mike Dolce (my current nutritionist) before I ever started working with him and after consulting with her he said he could get her in “the best shape of her life” at 135. She then started being represented by Tito Ortiz and all talk stopped. The delay is all about money, not her weight. She made 145 pumped full of steroids. She can healthily make 135 without them. Her shows that she headlines lose thousands of dollars, and the majority of the tickets are given away because no one will buy them. She needs me. So pretty much we’re waiting for her to realize that she needs to fight me before I retire or she’ll never have enough money to retire. I would like me kicking her ass be my retirement fight but whether she steps up or not I’ll walk away undefeated and happily ever after regardless.

2RINITY: What’s your go-to hype music before a fight?
Rousey: I have complete silence before I walk out before a fight. No talking in the locker room, no music, cellphones on silent. If I hear a ding from you taking a video you’re gonna get your own private Rowdy Glare.

Throwaway-to-Stay: What do you think about the pornstar calling herself “Ronda ArouseMe”?
Rousey: It’s funny I used to hear that in high school sometimes! At least some girl somewhere is paying her bills with it now.

Tenglishbee: As a guy, how do I keep from becoming a DNB?
Rousey: Well… try to be more self-sufficient and less cabana boy. 😉

trilobiting: Do you ever think ‘Finish Her!’ in a Mortal Kombat announcer voice when you’re taking down an opponent? In all seriousness, what’s your top piece of advice for young (and not so young) women looking to get into MMA or other competitive fighting oriented sports?
Rousey: Only in post.The advice: for any woman trying to break into a male-dominated career, I’d say the greatest thing you can do is always keep in mind that you always have the right to be there.

Read the entire Rousey Reddit Q&A here.

Lead image via instagram



Ronda Rousey is ‘femininely badass as f*ck’


Ronda Rousey Rio

UFC Champion Ronda Rousey puts her Bantamweight title on the line this Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil against Bethe Correia. If you’ve followed Ronda for any amount of time you know the hardbody champion is never short on giving people something to talk about. She unapologetically speaks her mind and consistently provides writes with headlines on a silver platter.

In the second episode of UFC 190 EMBEDDED we’re treated to a perfect example of this. It’s 10:45pm and Ronda is all business. She’s doing cardio on an elliptical machine. Her headphones are on, hands are wrapped and she’s working up a sweat. She’s not talking or texting…she’s focused.

After cardio and a training session, Ronda discusses her body and the type of woman she isn’t. She’s not a ‘do-nothing bitch’ and she find her body to be ‘femininely badass as f*ck’. What? Watch around the 6:10 minute mark for some of the best of Ronda yet…

“Being put in the position of being like a role model, I don’t think I’m infallible enough for that. I have this one term for the kind of woman that my mother raised me to not be. And I call it a ‘do nothing bitch.’ Or I call it a DNB a lot of the time. The kind of chick that just like just tries to be pretty and get taken care of by somebody else. That’s why I think it’s hilarious like or if people like say my body looks masculine or something like that. I’m just like, ‘listen, I’m like, just because my body was developed for a purpose other than fucking millionaires, doesn’t mean it’s masculine.’ I think it’s femininely badass as fuck because there’s not a single muscle in my body that isn’t for a purpose. Because I’m not a do-nothing bitch. It’s not very eloquently said but it’s to the point and maybe that’s just what I am. You know, I’m not that eloquent but I’m to the point.”

Be like Rhonda. Don’t be a #DNB. Be femininely badass.

Ronda Rousey Quote - femininely badass as fuck



Reebok and UFC partner with DraftKings for UFC 189


Reebok Fight Kit
Reebok and UFC partner with DraftKings for UFC 189 **This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links

Reebok, the official athletic footwear and apparel partner of the UFC, will also be partnering with DraftKings to run a fantasy UFC game for UFC 189: Mendes vs. McGregor on the night of July 11th.

This highly anticipated fight will debut Reebok’s UFC Fight Kit from their new Fight Shop.

DraftKings is a major online fantasy gaming site with brand partnerships including UFC, MLB, and other US pro sports leagues and teams. Prize for the game will include:

• Cash prize contributed by Draft Kings
• Shopping spree or gear pack from Reebok’s online Fight Shop

Rousey ReebokKing Reebok

Paige Reebok

Images via Reebok.com



Ronda Rousey on HBO Real Sports


Ronda Rousey HBO Real Sports
“It makes me feel way better than is someone told me I was pretty.” That was Ronda Rousey’s response to HBO Real Sports correspondent Jon Frankel when he mentions that Sports Illustrated named her the best pound for pound fighter (man or woman) in the UFC. HBO Real Sports tackles gender stereo types and how Ronda Rousey is changing the conversation.

Real Sports premieres tonight (May 19) 10pm ET on HBO.

This wasn’t the first time Rousey was on HBO Real Sports. She appeared on the show in 2013 before



Ronda Rousey’s Meal Plan


What does the leading lady in the UFC eat when preparing for a fight? Ronda Rousey shared her meal plan and daily schedule with espnW’s Allison Glock during a recent interview. Rousey shared, “I try to keep healthy-ish, but I’m so on point when I’m in camp that having a vegetable wrap would actually only be healthy-ish because of the wrap on it.” She’s not all the different from a physique competition by sticking to a healthy plan.

Ronda Rousey Diet:
8:00 am: Two teaspoons oat bran, two teaspoons chia seeds, two teaspoons hemp seeds
10:00 am: Train
11:45 am: Post-exercise smoothie
12:00 pm: Farmer’s scramble: one whole egg, plus two egg whites, two sides of turkey bacon
4:00 pm: Snack: one apple, one-fourth cup raw almonds, one-fourth cup raw cashews
6:00 pm: Train – Post-exercise smoothie, da, da, da.
Before bed: Chamomile tea.

Ronda Rousey: Everything’s got an hour, an amount, everything.

Allison Glock: And you follow it to the letter?
Ronda Rousey: Yeah. And instead of vitamins, I have this giant shake twice a day, so it’s all fresh vegetables and fruits: a whole beet, a whole apple, two carrots, four strawberries, one cup of blueberries, two handfuls of red grapes, one whole lemon, one handful of spinach, one handful of kale, one-fourth handful of parsley, two stalks of celery, two tablespoons of hemp seeds, two tablespoons of chia seeds, one tablespoon of coconut oil, one chard leaf, no stem.

Check out the entire interview on espnW and learn more about the UFC champ. Props to espnW for the excellent interview.



UFC Champ Ronda Rousey on The View


ronda rousey the view
The Women’s UFC Bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey stopped by ABC’s The View. We learn Rosie Perez is a huge Rousey fan and the rest of the hosts are pretty clueless when it comes to Ronda’s accomplishments. Thankfully they had note cards to help them out. When asked about her next fight Ronda channels her inner Jay-Z and shared, “I have 99 problems but a Bethe ain’t one” referring to her opponent Bethe Correia.

The champ then has some fun with the show’s warm-up comedian, Tom Kelly. It goes about as well as you might expect.

After going on the show Ronda shared a couple clips with her fans.


lead photo via The View video.



Don’t F with Ronda Rousey – UFC 190 Confirmed


The UFC made it official. The UFC women’s bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey will defend her title against Bethe Correia on August 1, 2015. The champ quickly posted a message on social media, “This chick is gunna learn why I’m the last woman on earth you should fuck with on August 1st”. After the two squared off at a press promotion, Ronda told her Facebook fans… “Don’t get me wrong, I love fighting at home, but the passion for the sport here is unparalleled – whether I’m hated or loved I appreciate every ounce of passion the Brazilian fans give me looking forward to putting my heart and life on the line again in Brazil.”


Ronda enters the fight undefeated with an 11-0 record. Her opponent, Bethe “Pitbull” Correia is also undefeated with a 9-0 record. Bethe won her first two UFC fights by decision and the last one via TKO. The bad blood between Rousey and Correia began to boil when Bethe said, “I already proved to the world that the Four Horsewomen are a big joke. I just need to conclude my work getting the number one, the leader.” Now she’ll have her chance on August 1st. The “Four Horsewomen” are made up of Marina Shafir, Jessamyn Duke, Shayna Baszler and Ronda Rousey. Bethe has successfully defeated Shayna and Jessamyn en route to her fight against their fearless leader, Ronda Rousey.


First staredown for #ufc190 😈 Video via @cageofbones Styled by @alejandroperazastyle

A video posted by rondarousey (@rondarousey) on

The fight is set to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at the HSNC Area. Also on the card is Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.



Ronda Rousey is Who We Thought She is… UNSTOPPABLE


Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey’s walk out to the octagon took longer than it did for her to finish the #1 contender in the UFC Women’s Bantamweight division. Ronda made quick work of Cat Zingano in UFC 184’s main event and remains undefeated. The win puts Ronda soundly at the top of the division with an 11-0 record.

Cat charged after Ronda like a bull loose on the streets of Spain. Zingano’s aggressive takedown attempt proved to be a costly error for the Colorado contender. Rousey quickly gained control over Cat and forced her to tap in just 14 seconds.


The UFC marketed Cat as Ronda’s biggest threat yet. We were lead to believe she would be Ronda’s toughest opponent and maybe she was but we didn’t get to see much of a fight. If Cat really was Ronda’s toughest opponent then that speaks to her unmatchable dominance and leaves us to wonder who is next for the champ?

There’s only one answer and that’s Cris Cyborg Justino . Last night in INVICTA, Cyborg dismantled her opponent Charmaine Tweet in 46 seconds. Sure there are a number of things that need to happen before this fight takes place in the UFC. Cris has to cut down to 135, which UFC President Dana White doesn’t think can happen. In a press conference earlier today he noted he’d have to see her (Cris) make weight at 135 before he’d entertain bringing her to the UFC to face Ronda, or anyone else.

It was an unfortunate loss for Cat as she’s faced a number of adversities over the last few months. You couldn’t help but hope she put up a fight against Ronda but alas it wasn’t even close. Cat lost her composure in the post fight interview and dropped several F-bombs in disbelief which was also heartbreaking to watch.

Ronda didn’t even break a sweat in the octagon so don’t be surprised if you see her defending her title sooner than later. Will fans buy a Pay-Per-View knowing that it won’t make it out of the first round due to her dominance? The UFC will need to put her with a much better card than tonight if they want fans to keep shelling out 50 bucks. We’ll have to wait what to see happens with Ronda and the division she has decimated.

In the meantime you can rest assured Ronda is enjoying her post-fight meal ritual… wings.

lead photo via UFC



UFC 184 Makes History But Will it Be Memorable?


UFC 184Two undefeated fighters… Any promoter’s dream. In one corner the champion, Ronda Rousey an Olympic medalist in Judo and undefeated in her pro mixed martial arts career. Opposite her is a relatively unknown, soft-spoken bad ass name Cat Zingano, also undefeated. The two women will headline the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) main event at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. UFC 184 (Sat., Feb. 28, 2015) will make history as the first card with the main and co-main featuring women. UFC 184 is best described as OPPORTUNITY.

It wasn’t that UFC president Dana White intended it to play out this way. Chris Weidman was the headliner with his championship belt on the line but after an injury was forced to reschedule. The UFC had no choice but to attempt to play the patron saint by marketing the women as the card’s two main fights. It was an opportunity for the UFC to be more than the Rousey Hype Machine. While Rousey versus Zingano is worthy of a main card slot, the co-main event isn’t. That’s not because they’re women it’s because they’re not a draw casual fans and diehards alike. The co-main event will be Holly Holm versus Raquel Pennington. Never heard of them? You’re not alone and this is no knock on either woman.

They aren’t known to many who follow the UFC much less a casual fan. Holm is undefeated and making her UFC debut which is a great story but she needs more than great striking to be talked about as Rousey’s biggest threat. Holm has an impressive resume in boxing but it remains to be seen how well that translates to the UFC. It would make for a good prelim fight on FOX to get casual fans interested in what the new-comer has to offer. Her oppoonenet, Raquel Pennington has a record of 5-4 and while she isn’t a sacrificial lamb like Charmine Tweet was to Chris Cyborg it’s not exactly a co-main event match-up.

The UFC is banking on Rousey being the Pay-Per-View draw that former champions Georges St. Pierre and Brock Lesnar have been for them in the past. Rousey is a rockstar, there’s no questioning that but will she draw the same numbers as Lesnar and GSP? Not even close. That’s not to say she’s to blame because she’s not. The rest of the card will have some good fights but enough to shell out sixty bucks? Probably not for most people, especially when Rousey has made it a habit of making quick work of her opponents and sustaining little damage. Two unknown fighters as the co-main doesn’t do anything to sell the card when the fight would likely be on Fox Sports One or Fight Pass if held any other weekend. other cards.

Ronda sells herself, something many athletes have trouble doing. She doesn’t just talk a good game but she also backs it up. Ronda has improved her game inside the octagon and continues to shine outside the cage. She recently appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue and had a role in Expendables 3. You’ll see her in ENTOURAGE the movie this summer in her second big Hollywood role. The more impressive thing about Rousey is her ability to take on the media and have sound bites for them to run with. She’s not afraid to take on controversial topics and have an opinion.

Discussing Octagon Girls (The UFC’s version of Boxing’s Ring Girl) isn’t exactly controversial but her remarks did spark a bit of a hubbub in the MMA community. When asked about her remarks towards Arianny Celeste (popular octagon girl) Rousey responded with, “I said that the fighters should get paid more than the ring girls. That doesn’t make me a bully, that makes me f-cking right.” Celeste has question Ronda as a role model and taken jabs at her in interviews and online.

What about Cat Zingano? Cat has been faced with adversity in more ways than imaginable and done so with incredible poise. In 2013, Cat defeated Miesha Tate and earned a spot to coach opposite Rousey in The Ultimate Fighter, the UFC’s reality-tv competition. Appearing on the show would also set up a title shot against Rousey once the season ended. Neither happened for Zingano. Cat was sidelined after with a knee injury that required surgery before the show began taping. The injury not only forced her off the show but put her hopes for a UFC title fight on hold. That was just the tip of the iceberg of adversity for Cat. She was faced with the suicide of her husband and left to care for her son alone. Take a few minutes and read more about her journey back in an incredibly well-written story on ESPN by Allison Glock.

This is obviously a huge opportunity for Cat rock the MMA world and derail the Rousey Train. Will it happen? The Vegas odds-makers don’t think so and most of the the Mixed Martial Arts community agrees that it’s a long shot. You can’t count her out but you also can’t ignore the dominance of Rousey. The only way UFC 184 will be memorable is if Cat defies the odds and defeats Ronda Rousey. If Ronda submits Cat with an armbar the UFC women’s bantamweight division is in big trouble. Why? Because no one currently in the UFC stands a chance at defeating Ronda.

My prediction? Ronda wins and we see her face Chris Cyborg in July. Now THAT would be a memorable fight and likely the only opportunity for someone to test Ronda’s abilities.

Photo via UFC.com



Reebok and the UFC Announce 6-year Partnership


 **This post contains affiliate links and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on the links.
ufc reebok partnerships

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced a 6-year partnership with Reebok. Reebok will become the exclusive outfitter and apparel provider for the UFC with the new policy beginning the week of July 6, 2015. The announcement was met with mixed reviews from the fans but the general consensus amongst the fighters was positive. The new deal provides UFC fighters with a guaranteed income for each of their fights and they’ll also have the opportunity to generate royalty income from their own athlete-specific products.

A promo from Reebok was shown at the press conference.

“This partnership is much more than a licensing agreement,” said Matt O’Toole, President, Reebok. “It is a true collaboration between two great brands, which will not only give UFC a new and exciting look, but will harness the global reach of both brands to also benefit young people around the world, particularly those at risk of being involved in crime and violence.”

Sorry fans but you won’t see CONDOM DEPOT or other random brands across the fighters’ shorts in the octagon. The fighters will no longer be permitted to have sponsor logos on their athletic apparel during the fight, the official UFC fight week events and in any UFC-produced content. There will no longer be banners inside the octagon behind the fighters. Some of which looked more like NASCAR than anything.

WATCH THE PRESS CONFERENCE HERE:
UFC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Lorenzo Fertitta shared, “This will be the biggest non-broadcast partnership that our company has ever signed.”

Women’s UFC Bantamweight Champion, Ronda Rousey tells mmaFighting.com she has known about the partnership for awhile and helped them (Reebok) in the develop of the women’s line. In an interview after the press conference she shared, “Women’s clothing for MMA has never existed before so I’m excited to see what they come up with.” Rousey hasn’t had a major sports apparel sponsor and said, “It works out perfectly for me.” When asked if she has her own Reebok deal Rousey shied away from answering with a smile.

Reebok has found success by partnering with Crossfit, Les Mills and Spartan Race. Only time will tell how things unfold with their UFC deal but they are clearly invested in the sport for the long haul.

During the press conference and on the UFC’s twitter account we saw the hashtag #WhatDoYouFightFor. Reebok has posted this video on their Youtube channel which is the only thing that really addressed the hashtag to date.

Our training is mental battle, a community experience and a physical ass-kicking.
From MMA and Boxing to Kickboxing and Karate, our fights help us get fit – body, mind and soul.
This training is intense. This training is life-changing. This training has us inspired.
We are committed to improving human performance by building the best, most functional product for human movement.
This sport is no exception.
Youtube

Read more about the partnership here.

Information for this article via mmafighting and UFC.com.



Ronda Rousey and Cat Zingano booked for Feb. 28th – UFC 184


UPDATE: UFC President Dana White announced today (October 29th) that Rousey Vs Zingano will be held in Los Angeles on February 28, 2015. The event will take place as the co-main event at the Staples Center.


ufc184
The Women’s UFC Bantamweight Title will be on the line when Ronda Rousey and Cat Zingano face off at UFC 182 on January 3rd in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight was confirmed by UFC president Dana White on UFC Tonight. The women will be the co-main event along side the Light-Heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier.

Both women are undefeated in the octagon. Before Cat’s last fight the champ shared this on instagram.

Been waiting a long time for this fight to happen… Best of luck to @CatZingano tonight 👊😼

A photo posted by rondarousey (@rondarousey) on

There’s a mutual respect between the two women and don’t expect too much shit talking leading into the fight. Rousey is coming off a 16 second routing over Alexis Davis in 175 and Zingano won via TKO over Amanda Nunes at 178. Let’s hope everyone stays healthy to kick the new year off with one helluva show.

Lead photo via instagram



Cat Zingano’s Warrior Code – Why I Fight


Cat Zingano UFC

Colorado’s Cat Zingano is returning to the Ultimate Fighting Champion’s octagon after a series of setbacks. The determined mixed martial artist is featured in the UFC’s “Warrior Code” video where she shares her thoughts on why she fights, the weight cut and more. The video points out that she’s the first-ever mom to fight in the UFC but there’s much more to Cat than that. Check it out.

“History’s first mom to ever triumph inside the Octagon illuminates the Warrior Code that drives her hunt for a UFC belt.”



Ronda Rousey Expendables 3 Poster


The Expendables 3 will be released in August but today a few posters were released online. The only female in the Expendables 3 cast, at least with a poster and a main role. Ronda plays the part of an “athletic female bartender” named Luna. She’s one of the “Young Expendables” alongside the likes of Stallone, Stathan, Schwarzenegger and more.

ronda rousey poster


The Expendables 3

Release Date: August 15, 2014
In THE EXPENDABLES 3, Barney (Stallone), Christmas (Statham) and the rest of the team comes face-to-face with Conrad Stonebanks (Gibson), who years ago co-founded The Expendables with Barney. Stonebanks subsequently became a ruthless arms trader and someone who Barney was forced to kill… or so he thought. In order to defeat Stonebanks, Barney decides that he has to fight old blood with new blood, and brings in a new era of Expendables team members, recruiting individuals who are younger, faster and more tech-savvy. The latest mission becomes a clash of classic old-school style versus high-tech expertise in the Expendables’ most personal battle yet. – via youtube

Starring:
STALLONE
STATHAM
BANDERAS
LI
SNIPES
LUNDGREN
GRAMMER
CREWS
COUTURE
LUTZ
ROUSEY
POWELL
ORTIZ
with GIBSON
with FORD
and SCHWARZENEGGER

ronda rousey poster
Ronda Rousey Expendables 3 Poster
 – via coming soon

View more EXPENDABLES 3 posters here, here and here.



Rowdy Ronda Rousey Remains Undefeated


Two Olympic athletes. Two undefeated records. Two women who respected one another. The fight didn’t go two rounds. Heck it didn’t even go two minutes.

ronda rousey ufc

Heading into UFC 170 there was very little media hype, at least compared to the first time Ronda Rousey stepped into the Octagon. On paper, this was to be her toughest opponent and one many felt should have been the first match-up. Sara McMann was undefeated heading into this fight. She was an Olympic medalist, something she shared in common with her opponent. Sara medaled in 2004 Olympic wrestling and Ronda in Judo at the 2008 Olympics.

Ronda made quick work of her Sara and moved to 9-0 in the process. This was the third time she defended her belt but the first time she’s won by TKO. Referee Herb Deen stepped in and called the after 1:06. McMann was clearly hurt when she fell to the matt after being pinned against the cage and kneed hard to the liver.

What’s next for Ronda? Acting. She told ESPN’s Jim Basquil that she’ll be filming for the movie Entourage next month. She shared, “I wouldn’t be fighting again that soon so why not fill that time with a quick acting job?” Rousey has yet to suffer much physical damage inside the octagon and finishing fights inside the first round allows her to do things like acting.

Who will Ronda face next? There’s Cat Zingano however cat is still recovering from a knee injury and yet to fight since being sidelined. UFC president, Dana White confirmed in a post-fight interview that Cat is next in line to fight Ronda. Aside from Zingano there’s really no one else on the current roster to put the champ to the test.

The internet is all a buzz with Chris Cyborg (who isn’t currently in the UFC) dropping down in White to fight her however the UFC Prez isn’t convinced. He’d like to see Cyborg make weight and fight at 135lbs before bringing her into the UFC. Only time will tell if we see Cyborg in the UFC. In the meantime, Ronda remains on top of the world and one of the biggest stars of the UFC.

Lead photo via espn video.



Ronda Rousey Takes More of A Beating After Win Than During


The UFC’s first female champion, Ronda Rousey successfully defended her title against Miesha Tate and moved to 8-0 in the process. Until last night, all of Rousey’s fights had ended in the first round by arm bar. The end result was the same (arm bar once again) but took place in the third round of UFC 168 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

ronda rousey ufc champ

Those who follow Women’s Mixed Martial Arts (WMMA) along with the Vegas odds-makers knew a snowball in hell had a better chance of surviving than Tate did in this fight. UFC president Dana White reminded the media and fans that Tate was a “fighting dog” and she did manage to do what no one else had done, taking Ronda into a round outside of the first, but Rousey’s simply a superior fighter. Ronda suffered very little damage in the fight, so little in fact that at the post-fight press conference her next fight was announced. Ronda will square off against fellow Olympic medalist Sara McMann, a fight many fans thought should have been the first one made in the octagon.

There seems to be more chatter online and in the post-fight interviews about Ronda not shaking Miesha’s hand than the fight itself. After Miesha tapped out and the referee called off the fight, she stuck her hand out but Ronda walked away. The MGM Grand erupted in boos and twitter lit up. It’s no secret to those who watched The Ultimate Fighter and followed the pre-fight hype that the two don’t care for one another. So why would this come as a shock?

Some fans were brutal with their comments and surprisingly most of them are women. Calling Rousey “classless”, an “asshat”, “poor sport”, “not a champ”, “disgusting” and more. One of the most dramatic female comments reads, “I used to like her and now wouldn’t bother to piss on her if she were burning.”

Really? Come on people.

I’m sorry but I don’t see it as a class-less move, instead I have MORE respect for Rousey by NOT shaking her hand. Sure… Ronda came across as a bit of a loose cannon at times when she was coaching on The Ultimate Fighter. Miesha was shown as the good girl in a positive light. It’s the classic good versus evil. Do I think it was a great move by the UFC to show the champion as a bit of nut? Not so much. The show helped facilitate and manufacture the “rivalry” when diehard WMMA fans knew when the octagon door shut it would be all Rousey.

How many times do we see this monster build up where two opponents are shown hating each other and talk more trash than imaginable? Often. Why? It gets people excited, it creates buzz and interest. Then when the fight is over more often than not we hear them say it was just hype and they hug it out. That’s great and all but it’s the UFC and not the WWE. I’d rather see two people keep it real at the end of a fight and not pretend like they are besties. I’ve seen it countless times in bodybuilding, figure, fitness and bikini competitions where the competitors hug, smile and shake hands only to talk shit as soon as the other person leaves. Oh but that’s being a good sport and showing class right? Not so much. It’s amusing and baffling all at once that a handshake, or lack there of, can cause such controversy.

Rest assured, Rousey knows what she is doing. You may not like the gesture after the fight but you’re talking about her and taking a side. She forces you to have an opinion… for, against or simply don’t care. The buzz keeps her relevant and as long as she continues to win people will tune in. How much will people be talking about Miesha after this fight? She’s lost twice, by the same move, to Ronda so likely not much.

The crazy thing is how no one is talking about her male counterpart being a poor sport or lacking class in an earlier fight. Chris Leben, a veteran of the UFC and fighting on the same card, was knocked silly at the end of his first round. He threw in the towel and left the octagon before the official announcement was made. Many on twitter were applauding him for “knowing it was the right move to hang it up.” How is it that he’s not the one people are blasting for being a poor sport? Oh ya, he lost and he’s on his way out. He’s not the champion and apparently people could care less.

Rousey explained herself and why she didn’t shake her hand in the post fight interviews and at the press conference. She gave Miesha her props as a fighter and said she respected what she had done but until she apologized for what she said to her coaching staff/family; she wouldn’t think about shaking her hand.

Love the move or not she’s speaking her mind and not blowing smoke up your ass. She’s being herself and if that makes her an “ass hat” then sign me up cause I’ll buy one. That’s my take. What’s yours? Join the conversation on Facebook or on twitter #noShakeGate and share your thoughts on the topic.

photo via mmaweekly.com



UFC 168 Preview & Poll: Tate vs Rousey in Co-Main Event


This weekend UFC champion Ronda Rousey (7-0) puts her belt and title on the line against her bitter rival, Miesha Tate (13-4). The fight is the co-main event one of the UFC’s biggest cards of the year. In the main event, Chris Weidman defends his title against legendary Anderson Silva. The attention has largely been on the Silva rematch but fans are also anxious for the rematch between Ronda and Miesha.

ronda-miesha

Ronda Rousey was virtually unknown 3 years ago and when I interviewed her at the LA FIT EXPO before her first fight with Miesha, many people believed she had talked her way into the fight. She shut those people up when she not only defeated Miesha but also submitted her to remain undefeated. She did so in convincing fashion and in the first round. That fight took place during the Arnold Classic weekend as part of the defunct Strikeforce promotion. The fight was impressive enough to get the attention of the UFC’s president Dana White and he changed his tune on Women’s Mixed Martial Arts.

Ronda was part of the UFC’s first women’s event and the event had more media attention from the “mainstream” than anyone since Brock Lesnar. The fight arguably had the most mainstream media attention of any UFC fight. The UFC hype machine went into overdrive to push the fight and while it did a good job of selling fans on Ronda, it left little desire to pay attention to the Women’s MMA after that. As evident in this weekend’s rematch, we see little to no attention outside of the usual MMA media. ESPN’s Sports Center is giving it about as much attention as a high school football game. When Ronda fought in the octagon the first time you saw TIME, LA Times, HBO and countless other outlets covering the event.

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Ronda at the UFC 168 Weigh-ins looking hardbody.

Does Ronda care? Hell no. She wisely put herself on the map heading into her first match with Miesha by giving the media sound clips they could run with for days and she continues to do so today. She took a bit of a hit from MMA fans by the way she was portrayed on The Ultimate Fighter but outside of that fan base it’s done little to cause he stock to drop. She appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live and was a very happy, upbeat and likable champ.

Miesha’s fan base grew out of The Ultimate Fighter appearance. She was shown as a smiling, happy but tough athlete. The fans showed their support when the UFC put her against Ronda for the UFC’s video game cover. She was victorious over Ronda in that contest and will look to do it again tonight but can she?

Anything is possible in the octagon but if you’re a gambler don’t be against the champ. Ronda is an Olympic athlete who is used to intense pressure and media attention on her. She’s talked about how she has more energy than ever before by teaming up with Mike Dolce on her nutrition. When the two stepped on the scales yesterday, you could see Ronda looked the best she has heading into a fight and it could spell bad news for Miesha. Miesha is no slouch but she’ll need to put her emotions in check and fight much smarter than she did the first time against Ronda. Miesha’s stand up is her best bet against Ronda but she better hope it knocks “Rowdy” out because when it goes to the ground we know how it will end. In an arm bar, like every other one of Ronda’s fights, and in the first round.

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Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate have developed one of the fiercest rivalries in the UFC, spawned from Rousey’s armbar submission of Tate for the Strikeforce title in 2011 and their stint as coaches on TUF 18. The pair battle again at UFC 168.



Invicta Fighting Championships Names Julie Kedzie New Matchmaker


PRESS RELEASE

INVICTA FC NAMES WOMEN’S MMA PIONEER JULIE KEDZIE NEW MATCHMAKER
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Dec. 16, 2013) – Invicta Fighting Championships has appointed recently retired women’s Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) superstar Julie Kedzie as the new matchmaker for the women’s world championship MMA promotion, it was announced today on an all-new edition of “The MMA Hour” web TV program by award-winning host Ariel Helwani
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Kedzie will simultaneously continue to serve as color commentator for Invicta FC television broadcasts, a role that she has played for the promotion since the inaugural Invicta FC live event in April 2012.

“I am excited about this incredible new opportunity that will allow me to remain as active and hands on as ever in contributing to the growth of women’s competition in our great sport,” said Kedzie, a protégé of MMA guru Greg Jackson who retired from competition earlier this month following her 29th professional career bout at UFC Fight Night 33.

“(Invicta FC President) Shannon Knapp has done an unbelievable job at pushing the envelope and helping transform women’s MMA into an aggressively expanding enterprise,” continued Kedzie, “a development that will undoubtedly lead to increased participation in the sport by young women athletes who want to challenge themselves in the world’s fastest growing sport.”

“We are thrilled to expand Julie’s role in the Invicta FC organization and have one of the pioneers of our sport assume the pivotal role of matchmaker under her wing,” said Knapp. “There is no one more qualified than someone like Julie, who has lived and breathed MMA for the last 10 years, to take on the responsibility of nurturing our athletes, building our roster and creating the most exciting matchups possible for our live event series.”

Invicta FC rolled out its final live event of the year on Dec. 7, an explosive, live Pay-Per-View televised world championship doubleheader that saw Barb “Lil’ Warrior” Honchak (9-2) successfully defend her strawweight (125 pounds) title against Leslie “The Peacemaker” Smith (6-4-1) in the main event that was also named “Fight of the Night.”

In the eight-bout card’s co-main event, Lauren Murphy (8-0) extended her perfect record and retained her bantamweight (135 pounds), defeating Miriam “The Queen of Mean” Nakamoto (2-1) by way of TKO (knee injury) in the fourth round (:23).

About Invicta Fighting Championships:
Invicta Fighting Championships (www.invictafc.com) is a world championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight series dedicated to providing female athletes with a major platform to hone their skills on a consistent basis. Founded in 2012 by longtime MMA executive Shannon Knapp and sports aficionado Janet Martin, Invicta is committed to pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA by promoting the best possible matchups between female competitors and identifying and developing future superstars of the sport.



UFC Champ Ronda Rousey on Jimmy Kimmel Live


UFC Bantamweight Champ, Ronda Rousey made an appearance last night on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Kimmel opens the segment saying there is no one he’d rather go Black Friday shopping with than Rousey. It sets the tone for the rest of interview, which was refreshingly fun. Ronda discusses how she was able to enjoy Thanksgiving and eat more than an ice cube, her words not mine. She goes onto chat with Jimmy about how her mom, AnnMaria Demars, got her into fighting. In 1984, AnnMaria was the first-ever American to win the Judo World Championships.

ronda rousey jimmy kimmel

Ronda said her mom’s motto was “always be ready”. She gives an example of how she’s always ready in part two of the interview, shown below. It was nice to see a much more light-hearted, upbeat side to the champ. Since the airing of The Ultimate Fighter, where Ronda was a coach, she’s received backlash from fight fans. This interview makes her a much more likable personality and more appealing to mainstream.

Ronda continues to take care of business in the octagon (she’s undefeated and won by arm bar in the first round of them) and will look to do so again at the end of this month. Ronda faces Meisha Tate at UFC 168 on December 28, 2013.

ronda headlocks Guillermo on jimmy kimmel live

Ronda puts Guillermo in a headlock. Pic via @JimmyKimmelLive.

Twitter
@JimmyKimmelLive
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Julianna Pena Wins First Women’s The Ultimate Fighter


Season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) brought female fighters on the show for the first time. On Saturday night, the finale featured Jessica Rakoczy and Julianna Pena competing for the first ever women’s TUF title. Pena had a target on her back from the beginning of the show based on her training partner and history with one of the coaches.

Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey served as the coaches on The Ultimate Fighter and Julianna had been a long-time training partner of Tates. Rousey knew this and attempted to sink Tate’s battleship by pitting her against her number one fighter in the first fight of the show. Ronda matched up her number one pick, Shayna Baslzer against Meisha’s girl, Julianna. The plan backfired. Julianna won the fight and set her destiny in motion. She gained confidence by beating the opposing team’s number one fighter, a fighter who many thought would win the entire season.

Fast-forward to Saturday night in Las Vegsas where Julianna stopped Jessica Rakoczy with just one second left in the first round. The win made Julianna the first-ever female TUF champion. She’s a fighter who will make her presence known in and out of the octagon in the months ahead. She likes to speak her mind and like the current champion, Rousey, she creates headlines when she interacts with the media.

When talking about the women’s division in the UFC and the attention its getting Pena tells Thomas Gerbasi from UFC.com that women “take things a little bit more personal and we’re like psycho women trying to protect our baby cub. We’re not going to let anybody get in the way of our dreams and what we have worked so hard for. I think the women display a lot of heart and they make for more interesting fights.”


TUF FINALE – Press Conference



Miesha Tate Upsets Ronda Rousey in UFC Cover Contest


It’s no secret that Ronda “Rowdy” Rousey is not a fan of Miesha “Cupcake” Tate. That’s of little concern to Miesha, at least in this event. Miesha’s fans cast more votes for her in the EA SPORTS UFC Cover Contest and she moves on to round two. The big story in this is that Miesha squared off against the UFC Women’s bantamweight champ who is also thought of as the face of women’s MMA.

tate-vs-rousey

In the eleventh hour, Miesha’s push on social media proved to be her best asset. Despite having nearly 223,000 fewer fans on twitter (Miesha currently has 147,142 to Ronda’s 369,983) she came out victorious.

Did Miesha even the score?

The two fought inside the cage before and Ronda prevailed by making Tate tap via her signature arm-bar. Lately, Ronda’s been getting a great deal of heat for the way she comes across on this season of the Ultimate Fighter. Boss man, Dana White doesn’t give a crap what fans think about how Ronda comes across on tv and noted that without Ronda he never would have brought women into the UFC.

Ronda and Miesha will fight again on December 28, 2013 at UFC 168. The winner of Rousey vs Tate leaves Vegas with the UFC championship belt. The winner of the EA Sports Cover Contest shares the cover with Jon Jones, the men’s 205-pound champion. Something tells me that while Rousey would have liked to be on the cover of the game, she’d much rather hold on to her belt in December.

Rest assure Ronda will be asked how she feels about losing this contest to Tate at the next UFC press conference / media event. We know how Miesha feels.

VOTING SCHEDULE
Round of 16: Prelims – Voting live from Mon, Nov. 4th – Sun, Nov. 10th
Round of 8: Main Card – Voting live from Mon, Nov. 11th – Sun, Nov. 17th
Final Four: Co-Main Event – Voting live from Mon, Nov. 18th – Sun, Nov. 24th
Finals: Title Fight – Voting live from Mon, Nov. 19th – Sun, Dec. 1st

Round Two Matchups

match-ups

EA SPORTS UFC will be released in spring 2014.



UFC 157 Primetime: Rousey vs. Carmouche Episode One Recap & Full Video


UFC’s cameras follow Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche as they head into UFC 157. UFC Primetime is a documentary style approach to give fans a raw and real look inside their headline fighters. They don’t produce a prime time show for every title fight but when they do it’s very professional and carefully edited.

ufc-primetime-rousey

UFC 157 is a historic event that will feature women’s MMA for the first time inside the octagon. President of the UFC, Dana White told the fans and reporters they’d never see women fight in the UFC. That changed when a trash talking Ronda Rousey did more than talk, she delivered and finished fights. All of them. She has yet to allow an opponent to make it to a second round.

The first first of the UFC’s three part series aired last night and focused largely on Rousey. Those who follow the UFC and Rousey’s meteoric rise would expect nothing less. She has the looks, she provides the sound bites worthy of headlines and she can fight. Some would argue that she’s only getting the attention she is because of her looks but those are the same people who don’t know her story and her struggles from day birth.

In episode one, we learn Ronda was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck. It caused her to struggle with her speech and it was nearly three years before she could talk. Ronda shared, “My sisters would translate my gibberish.” Near the end of the show, we see a side of Ronda that often goes unseen with the MMA bad ass. She breaks down into tears. It one of the few times you’ll see a vulnerable Rousey, she shares the story of how her father committed suicide after a sledding accident. Ronda was a young girl when the tragedy happened but you get a sense the memory lives with her every day.

Ronda was the first American woman to win an Olympia medal in Judo. “After the Olympics they pretty much gave me gave me 10 grand & a handshake,” said Rousey. Ronda worked as a waitress and bartender while trying to get her MMA career on track. Those days are long gone and you get the feeling she’s doing whatever it takes to never go back to those jobs.

Rousey’s opponent, Liz Carmouche gets about a third of the airtime in the first episode. UFC Primetime chose to highlight Liz’s sexual orientation right out of the gate. She served five years in the US Marine Corp but we learn little about that instead we hear about her being a lesbian. Carmouche openly talks about it and her relationship with her girlfriend. She doesn’t live a glamorous life but you don’t hear her complain about it.

Liz is the underdog in the fight. Unlike Rousey she has yet to reach super-star status. Liz opens the doors to her gym, the San Diego Combat academy, and helps close them at the end of the night. She answers phones, teaches classes and often runs the front desk. In one of the few moments we hear from Liz in episode one she says, “I was brought in to be the underdog ’cause they think that she’s going to win and I’m okay with that. I like having people think that. I absolutely think I’m gonna spoil the UFC plans.”

Watch as UFC Primetime cameras follow women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and challenger Liz Carmouche in the weeks leading up to their historic bout at UFC 157.

Wondering what the song was that played during Ronda’s drive to the gym? It’s ZZ Ward’s “Move Like U Stole it”. Listen to it on Spotify.


Props UFC
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UFC Primetime: Rousey vs. Carmouche


Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Primetime returns on Thursday night and it features the first two women to fight in the octagon. Ronda Rousey (6-0) has quickly become the face of women’s MMA and dominated in every fight. Her opponent, Liz Carmouche (7-2) will try to do the unimaginable by defeating the highly favored Rousey.

ufc-primetime

UFC Primetime: Rousey vs. Carmouche, premiers at midnight ET on FUEL TV. The three part series takes you inside their training camps for the historic championship bout.

PRESS RELEASE:
Las Vegas – UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and challenger Liz Carmouche are set to make history on Saturday, Feb. 23 when they become the first women to compete in the UFC’s hallowed Octagon®. Tonight, fans get an all-access pass inside their training camps before the historic championship bout, as episode one of UFC PRIMETIME®: ROUSEY vs. CARMOUCHE premieres on FSN. To see when the show airs in your region, check your local listings or visit http://msn.foxsports.com/tv/schedule or http://www.ufc.com/news/157-primetime-listings-news

UFC PRIMETIME®: ROUSEY vs. CARMOUCHE will also be available on www.ufc.com beginning tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 8. Air dates and times for the remaining two episodes will be announced shortly.

UFC®157: ROUSEY vs. CARMOUCHE, which takes place Saturday, Feb. 23 from Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., will be available live on Pay-Per-View at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Avail-TVN and in Canada on BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.99 US/$49.99 CAN for Standard Definition and $54.99 US/$59.99 CAN for High Definition.

For more information or current fight news, visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

About the Ultimate Fighting Championship®
Universally recognized for its action-packed, can’t-miss events that have sold out some of the biggest arenas and stadiums across the globe, the UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, headquartered in Las Vegas and with offices in London, Toronto and Beijing, UFC produces more than 30 live events annually and is the largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. In 2012, the UFC burst into the mainstream with a landmark seven-year broadcast agreement with FOX Sports Media Group. The agreement includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network annually, with additional fight cards and thousands of hours of programming broadcast on FOX properties FX and FUEL TV. This also includes the longest-running sports reality show on television, The Ultimate Fighter®, which airs on FX.

In addition to its reach on FOX, UFC programming is broadcast in over 169 countries and territories, to nearly 800 million TV households worldwide, in 28 different languages. UFC content is also distributed commercially in the United States to bars and restaurants through Joe Hand Promotions, in English throughout Canada via Premium Sports Broadcasting Inc. and Australia via Main Event and in French throughout Quebec via Interbox. The UFC also connects with tens of millions of fans through its website, UFC.com, as well as social media sites Facebook and Twitter. UFC President Dana White is considered one of the most accessible and followed executives in sports, with nearly 2.4 million followers on Twitter. Ancillary UFC businesses include best-selling DVDs and video games, an internationally distributed magazine, UFC.TV offering live event broadcasts and video on demand around the world, a new franchise in development with EA, UFC GYM®, UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo® festivals, branded apparel and trading cards.



UFC’s First Female Fighter, Ronda Rousey on HBO’s ‘Real Sports’


HBO will profile their first MMA fighter in an upcoming spotlight on “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel”. The program will air on February 19th at 10 p.m. ET. The feature will focus on the UFC’s first female fighter, Ronda Rousey. Ronda will headline UFC 157 and from the looks of this teaser, people will be interested to see her journey continue.



Monique Ricardo – Queen of the Guillotine


Monique Ricardo aka Momo has been away from the Bikini stage but that doesn’t mean she’s sitting around doing nothing. She’s been honing her MMA skills and is an amazing Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. She’s mastered the art of the guillotine and won  the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Worlds Championship (IBJJF) with it. Check out the video of Momo dropping the hammer err guillotine down on her opponents.



Ronda Rousey Headlines First Women’s UFC Fight & Some Bros Are Mad


One of my favorite hardbody women, Ronda Rousey continues to make history. When she’s not arm-barring someone inside the cage she’s giving the media a headline to chat about. Sure she has the looks but that will only take you so far in any walk of life. What’s attractive to any business is the all-mighty dollar and Rousey is money. Ronda rocked the cover of ESPN Magazine The Body Issue, she’s on the current cover of Oxygen magazine and featured in the newest Esquire. She’s doing appearances on talk shows and getting out of her comfort zone because she knows it’s good business not only for her but also the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC). The UFC is the fastest growing sport and in two months Ronda will not only be the first female to fight on their roster, she’s also headlining it.

rounda-rousey-ufc
UFC President, Dana White was against women in the UFC telling TMZ we’d “never” see them in the octagon.That was until Rousey came along. Now Dana White is not only bringing women’s MMA into the fold but he’s also made it the headline fight for UFC 157.

Oh what a difference a year makes.

Last year around this time fight fans were blasting Rousey for her lack of experience in MMA and claiming she was a one-trick pony. Ronda is known for arm-bar finishes inside the cage. Some call Rousey cocky but in the words of Kid Rock, “It ain’t braggin’ m_f_er if ya back it up.” She’s backed it up before and she’ll have the chance to do it all over again in Anaheim, California on Feb 23, 2013.

Not everyone is stoked about Ronda having top billing though. The co-main event features former UFC light-heavyweight champ Lyoto Machida against Dan Henderson. Dan Henderson’s striking coach, Gustavo Pugliese, was none to pleased with ‘Rousey vs Carmouche’ getting billing over the injury plagued fighter. After posting a rant on facebook he clarified (kind of) his comments to GracieMag.

“Where I come from, there’s a pecking order for anything in life,” he explained. “I believe in paying dues. In this particular case, ‘Hendo’ and Machida paid their dues a long time ago. For someone new to come in and have a free ride just seems unfair to them and the whole sport they helped build.”

Whaaaa-Whaaa.

He’s right they have “paid their dues” but with all due respect that doesn’t entitle you to blast Rousey and claim she’s getting a “free ride”. Like the boys, she’s paid her dues and now she’ll get the chance to let the world see on PPV.

Deal with it.

This isn’t the first time Henderson and Rousey have shared the spotlight. Earlier this year UFC magazine (now UFC 360) featured the two fighters on the cover of their Olympic issue. Henderson is an accomplished wrestler but never won an Olympic medal. Rousey on the other hand was the Judo bronze medalist in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. She became the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in Judo.

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Rousey was originally scheduled to make her Strikeforce debut on the same card as ‘Henderson vs Fedor’ in 2011 however the fight was pushed back. She went onto win the rescheduled fight and months later became the Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion.

I’m willing to bet more casual MMA fans know who Ronda Rousey is than Dan Henderson. Diehard MMA fans will tune into the PPV no matter what but it’s the new fans that the UFC is eyeing. Dana White isn’t stupid. He recognizes the hard work Rousey has been doing in and out of the cage. She’s everywhere in the media and finishes her business in the cage.

That’s good business not only for Rousey but also the UFC. Tickets for UFC 157 go on sale Friday, December 21, 2012.

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UFC logo and poster via zuffa – UFC.



MMA Hardbody Ronda Rousey on the Cover of UFC® Magazine


Strikeforce Women’s Mixed Martial Arts Champion, Ronda Rousey continues to capture the attention of the media world. While at the 2012 ESPYs, Ronda provided a few sound bites about Kim Kardasian that gained her a few new fans at TMZ and around the globe. She’s currently featured on the cover ESPN The Magazine BODY issue and the newest issue of UFC Magazine.


The August/September issue of UFC Magazine features former Olympians Dan Henderson and Ronda Rousey. Dan was an Olympic Greco-Roman Wrestler and Ronda was an 2008 Olympic Medal winner in Judo. The issue is available now.

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Ronda Rousey with her UFC Magazine cover.
Photo via: UFC Magazine Facebook.



MMA’s Ronda Rousey in ESPN Magazine’s BODY ISSUE


ESPN The Magazine will publish their fourth annual BODY ISSUE and we’re stoked that women’s mixed martial arts (MMA) will be represented by Ronda Rousey. It’s cool to see this come to fruition as our resident man on the hardbody scene, Isaac Hinds asked Ronda earlier this year if she would pose for the issue. She was a little taken back by the question of posing nude but said, “it would have to be tactful.” She went on to say if it was done by a reputable photographer and done in a classy way, then she’d be on board. Well, it sounds like things worked out as Ronda will be one of 27 athletes baring all of the issue that hits stands on July 13th.

 

Ronda has been taking the MMA world by storm and showcased a dominant performance in Columbus, Ohio earlier this year. Many felt (not us) Ronda was all talk but she quickly shut those critics up when she nearly snapped Miesha Tate’s arm in two and remained undefeated in her MMA career. She will defend her Strikeforce Bantamweight title against Sarah Kaufman on August 18, 2012.

Earlier today, Ronda wrote shared the ESPN Magazine news via twitter, “Hey so …. Espn body issue….. If anyone wants to see me “artistically nude” I suggest you grab a copy when it’s revealed on July 13th.”

Props to ESPN for selecting Ronda as the sole MMA representative (men and women). Congrats Ronda! We’re stoked to see your continued success in and out of the cage.

VIA ESPN.com:

 

All 27 athletes posed nude for the issue’s signature Bodies We Want photo portfolio. The full lineup includes:

• Carlos Bocanegra (soccer)
• Daniela Hantuchova (WTA)
• Rob Gronkowskii (NFL)
• Abby Wambach (soccer)
• Tyson Chandler (NBA)
• Candace Parker (WNBA)
• Maurice Jones-Drew (NFL)
• Jose Bautista (MLB)
• Brad Richards (NHL)
• Maya Gabiera (surfing)
• Ronda Rousey (MMA)
• Mike Smith (jockey)
• Tim Morehouse (fencing)
• Walter Dix (track)
• Danell Leyva (gymnastics)
• Suzann Pettersen (LPGA)
• Ashton Eaton (decathlon)
• Carmelita Jeter (track)
• Anna Tunnicliffe (sailing)
• Oksana Masters (paralympic rowing)

USA Volleyball Team:
• Destinee Hooker
• Stacy Sykora
• Alisha Glass
• Cynthia Barboza
• Megan Hodge
• Nellie Spicer
• Heather Bown

Follow The Mag on Twitter (@ESPNmag) and like them on Facebook. See more of Ronda on her Facebook Page, twitter and on the Team Gaspari Nutiriton page.


Lead photos via Gaspari Team Page.



MMA with Momo – UFC 146 Predictions


IFBB Bikini Pro Monique Ricardo is back with her MMA predictions for UFC 146. The fight takes place Saturday, May 26th in Las Vegas, Nevada. When Momo isn’t training for a bikini competition, she’s kicking ass on the mat. Monique trains alongside headline fighter Junior Dos Santos so you can be assured she’s legit. Check out her picks for this weekend’s main fights.

MMA with Monique

Hey Hardbody buddies,
I don’t know what your doing this Saturday but I will be in downtown Dallas watching the UFC heavyweights throw down! This Saturday, UFC 146 will feature an amazing card. The exciting part is the payperview fights will be all heavyweights, a first in UFC history. The interesting thing about heavyweights is that they weigh over 230 pounds, that means any punch or kick can knock a mofo out. That makes me think about when Arnold Schwarzenegger knocked out a camel on “Conan the destroyer” LOL. So if you are not doing anything don’t miss this fights. My team mate and friend Junior dos Santos will be fighting Frank Mir, I hope he knocks his teeth out hahahhaha just kidding… maybe lol! Here are my predictions for this card.


Struve vs Johnson –
I’m gonna go with Struve aka skyscraper on this one…this guy is very tall like 7 ft something from the Netherlands. I have seen this guy about to lose and pull a horseshoe out of nowhere! This guy is very lucky.

Miocic vs Del Rosario –
Del Rosario for the win this should be a brawl fight!

Nelson vs Herman – Def goin with Nelson here….judging by Herman’s last fight Nelson is motivated to win this fight because he wants to get back on top to shoot for the belt!

Velasquez vs Silva –
Velasquez for the win… he is quicker than Silva and more aggressive. Just a bad match up for the big foot. Even though I like Bigfoot because he trains with our team, I don’t think its a good match up for him because the guy (Cain) is really really fast and prolly going to take down and ground and pound!

Dos Santos vs Mir – Being a team Noguiera member, this fight is really special to me because Dos Santos will be fighting Mir, who beat his master(Noguiera) with a nasty kimora breaking his arm. Mir talks a lot and has gotten really full of himself lately! I can’t wait for Dos Santos to knock him out:) I have witnessed live, his heavy fists and his Jiu jitsu skills dominate his training partners! This warrior packs a lot of power.A lot of fans (especially me) will hope for Dos Santos to avenge his teacher with this fight!

Let MOMO know what you think of her predictions in the comments below or on her facebook page.



MMA with MOMO – UFC 145 Predictions


Our resident MMA Hardbody Monique aka Momo is back with her UFC predictions. While we don’t necessarily agree with her picks, we’re not going to argue with her over it. Monique not only follow MMA she practices is and is quite good. Check out who Momo thinks will win this weekend at UFC 145.

MMA with Monique

Hello Hardbodies!
The weekend is coming and after a week of work, pumping iron and the daily grind on the mat….I dont know about you but I am excited for a day of rest! We all know to grow…you have to rest… so our muscles can recover. 🙂 What better way than to relax with good friends and watch some warriors battle?

This weekend we have some exciting fights for UFC 145. Finally, we will see the long waited match between light heavyweights ” suga” Rashad  Evans vs Jon “bones” Jones. There’s alot of hype for this fight and it should be a good one.  Here are my predictions!

Hominick vs Yagin –  Hominick for the win! He just has more experience in the cage.

Torres vs McDonald – This fight could go either way…. Torres is the more experienced fighter… and back in the day use to be unbeatable! McDonald, up and coming and is very hungry! I will call Mcdonald by decision.

Schaub vs Rothwell – The MuscleTech athlete (well Six-Star but close enough), Schaub with submission rear via naked choke second round! Rothwell tries hard and is a brawler though.

Macdonald vs Mills – Def Macdonald for the win on this fight. He has fought some tough fights in the past with his only loss to Carlos Condit, the current welterweight champion of the UFC.

Rashad vs Jones –The main fight of the night, it will be the classical bad blood between two ex-training partners who are fighting for more than money, the title or fame. These guys hate other and not only do they wanna kick each others butt, but they also are fighting for their honor. Suga Rashad Evans the older man, feels betrayed by his coach for putting more expectations on a young fighter than a fighter who helped build his fame. Long Bones Bones, claims he didn’t do anything wrong and is a professional and will fight whoever the UFC puts him to fight. I am going with MuscleTech athlete Jon Jones because he is coming from a wining streak and his confidence is at maximum level. And like Arnold, I believe that mind is more important the body because it creates the will….and Jones will is to crush rashads a$$. Jones by submission.

What do you think Hardbody Nation? Agree or not so much?



Miesha Tate vs Ronda Rousey Promo


It’s not often that women headline a MMA event but that’s exactly what’s going down during the Arnold Sports Festival weekend. On Saturday, March 3rd at 10pm ET Miesha Tate will put her bantamweight belt on the line against rising star Ronda Rousey.

This event has been getting all kinds of media attention which is great for women’s MMA. The event will be aired live on SHOWTIME and if you’re in Columbus that weekend, check it out. It’s sure to be one to watch!



Disclaimer: Reader discretion advised, please consult your physician before beginning any exercise or diet program.