Breaking down Ronda

“Phenom” – a person who is very good at doing something (Merriam-Webster)

It took Rowdy Ronda Rousey just thirty four seconds to dismantle latest challenger Bethe Correia. After the bell rang they exchanged blows and the current UFC Champion landed a punch to the temple that face planted Bethe and kept the bantamweight belt within arm bar nation.

This not only solidified Ronda’s status among the best in the business, it has stamped her legacy together with the all-time greats in all of combat sports. She may or may not retire undefeated, but her legend will definitely echo in the years to come.

She is simply, a fighter ahead of her time.

Exceptional skills with a Hot personality - Ronda (photo taken from the internet)

What made her into the cage shark that she is today?

Let’s try to break it down in detail:

High level Judo:

This has provided her with an exceptional base that is integral in Mixed Martial Arts. Her Olympic Judo years that earned her a Bronze medal are utilized the most when her opponents decide to play the clinch game. Ronda’s judo is world class. Her hip throws have been her bread and butter move dating back to her reign as Strikeforce women’s champion. There has yet to be a fighter who can stop getting their legs up in the air once her hips are under them.

Ronda gave team USA it's first medal in Olympic Judo. (photo taken from the internet)

Fight camp composure:

Most fighters dread fight camps. They hate it. Interviews will show its time away from families, wives, girlfriends, dogs, etc. but all will agree that it is a necessary phase that they all have to go through in order to get victory. For Ronda, it just another day in the office; training as an Olympic athlete has prepared her for the grind of fight camps. She embraces it. Sees it as an opportunity to test herself, push boundaries and witness the results come fight night.

True to form and self-motivated.(photo taken from the internet)

She is rarely out of shape:

Her schedule revolves around media appearances, social obligations, taping for movies and training at the gym. All non-obligatory days are spent in the gym. Evident in her last fight with Correia, she displayed beautiful striking. Those can only be achieved investing hours in the gym working on your hand speed, timing and footwork. Her punches are smoother, her combinations are varying and her confidences to trade punches are higher now than before.

Her latest victim: Bethe Correia in 34 seconds.(photo taken from the internet)

Killer Instinct and Mental Toughness:

She has beaten her opponent even before cage has closed. Her predatory eyes mean she has flicked the “kill mode” switch ON as she awaits the referee to give her the go signal to destroy her opponent. This led to a staggering statistic that may not be replicated for a long time – especially in women’s MMA.

Simply Amazing (photo taken from the internet)

What’s next for Ronda Rousey?

Two possible scenarios:

Gina Carno (left) and Cyborg (right) (photo taken from the internet).

A super fight Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino (from a MMA’s fan point of view)

This has the word “FINALLY” written all over it. Many pundits, analysts and hardcore MMA fans have been begging the UFC to make this fight happen. Cyborg may probably have the tools to measure up to Ronda’s skill level. She is brutally strong and can pack a punch. Most of her fights (if not all) have also ended in the first round. They have been going at it on social media and during interviews but as of this writing, no formal offer has been signed by both fighters. Hopefully it won’t drag along for years like the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight that ended to a flop.

A super fight against a comebacking Gina Carano (from a promoter’s point of view)

This is one mega fight that won’t be hard to sell. In as much as Cyborg may have the tools to challenge Rousey, her marketability is at an all-time low. In a world of numbers, this fight would be an instant draw and generate more pay per view income. Gina Carano’s fan base from her fighting career mixed with her modelling and movie stints matched with Ronda Rousey’s global popularity could only put dollar signs in Dana White’s eyes. Plus, she is not a bad fighter. Two hot girls going at it inside the cage, who wouldn’t buy that?