Rousey, Holm get heated at UFC 193 weigh-in

When it comes to building up a fight with some good wholesome trash talk – Ronda Rousey (12-0) certainly knows what she’s doing. She’s also been known to be respectful for the most part when it comes to opponents not named Miesha or Bethe. Leading up to her upcoming fight with Holly Holm (9-0), there seemed to be a mutual respect between both competitors.

Out of nowhere, things came to a head during the official UFC 193 weigh-in inside of Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium – the same venue that will also serve as the setting for their title bout Saturday night (Sunday locally) when the two faced off after making championship weight.

What was Holly’s response to the whole situation? The challenger said she was just “having a drink.” Ronda on the other hand seems to have changed her tune about Holm.

“I just wanted to get in her face and show her I was there for a reason,” the champ explained to Joe Rogan immediately following the staredown. “She’s the one that put the fist on my face. I didn’t touch her – she’s the one that touched me. I told her, that fake sweet act – I see right through it.” Rousey would go on to say that everything about Holm leading up to this moment was fake.

“All that respect, all that everything, all you being sweet – I see right now that it’s fake and you’re gonna get it on Sunday.”

So, what really made Ronda go all “Rowdy” on the “Preacher’s Daughter.” In an interview with FOX Sports 1 after the weigh-in, Rousey explained.

“Well, all I really noticed about her is that during the staredowns and during the weigh-ins she likes to have her hand on the outside, so I just wanted to place my hand on the outside and that was it and I could tell that she got really frustrated and didn’t like that and actually put her fist on my face and I really didn’t think that was called for at all,” said Rousey.  “All I wanted to do was have my hand on the outside and it was already frustrating her and I really felt like all that sweetness and respect leading up to this point was really fake and I saw it in that moment…. I’m gonna show her what’s up Sunday – I’m done with all of this,” Rousey finished.

It sounds like Rousey needed a little something extra to make her dislike Holm before the two throw down in front of a potential record breaking crowd. She put her hand in a place where she knew it would upset her opponent and she wanted to see if she would back down – when Holm didn’t back down, when she put it right where she always puts it but did it with a little more emphasis – it made Rousey upset. Whether that’s a good idea or not remains to be seen. What is good for both girls and the sport itself is moments like this only add more buzz to an event that didn’t even need it.

cover image – Esther Lin/MMAFighting