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Rowdy Ronda Rousey Remains Undefeated

February 23, 2014 by

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.

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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.

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UFC Primetime: Rousey vs. Carmouche

February 7, 2013 by

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.

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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.

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

February 5, 2013 by

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.

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Monique Ricardo – Queen of the Guillotine

January 18, 2013 by

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.

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

December 20, 2012 by

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.

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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.

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

June 27, 2012 by

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.

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MMA with MOMO – UFC 145 Predictions

April 20, 2012 by

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?

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