UFC 193: Holly Holm versus Ronda Rousey thoughts and highlights

Anderson Silva versus Chris Weidman. Georges St. Pierre versus Matt Serra. Mike Tyson versus Buster Douglas. Go ahead and add Ronda Rousey versus Holly Holm to that list.

Holly Holm had her way with Rousey last night in a fight that is already being called the greatest upset in UFC – even combat sports history. Rousey, who closed as a -2000 favorite on some sports books, looked like a beaten champion when she came out to answer the bell in the second round. Her corner lying to her, telling her that she did a great job in the 1st certainly didn’t help matters any.

Holm’s accuracy in this fight was stunning. It’s almost like we were watching a former 18-time world boxing champion in there with Rousey. She landed 38 of 53 (71%) of her total strikes and she made each one count leaving a frustrated Rousey gasping for breath with a split lip and bloody, potentially broken nose. What was even more shocking was that she actually landed a takedown on the most dangerous submission artist in the game today. That just speaks volumes about her confidence at that point in the fight. Rousey went 21 for 69 (30%) in the striking game and was unsuccessful on her lone takedown attempt.

Holm and the UFC have already agreed that an immediate rematch is the right fight for the champions first title defense. When any champion who has defended their title successfully 6 (7 counting Strikeforce) times then it’s simply “common sense” as Holm herself called it. Will Rousey be game? She certainly carries herself like the type of competitor that will come back with a vengeance. Can she do so successfully with the same camp though?

It’s been no secret that Rousey’s mother, Judo great AnnMaria De Mars, is no fan of Rousey’s head coach, Edmond Tarverdyan. De Mars wasn’t even present this week for her daughters fight which is highly uncommon. Judo Gene LeBell, a life long friend of Rousey and the family was also noticeably absent. Expect Mom to be back around the next time we see Rousey compete. She needs her family now more than ever after this devastating loss to Holm – Rousey didn’t handle losing well back in her Judo days and she likely isn’t handling things well following the most profile loss not only in hers, but really anyone’s fighting career. You can also expect the now former champion to align herself with either a “real” camp or multiple different ones until she can find a good fit.

A champion is defined by how they carry themselves, how they bounce back after a crushing defeat like this one. Everyone loves a comeback story and a humbled Ronda Rousey taking on MMA’s new sweetheart in Holly Holm will make an even bigger PPV than their first fight.

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