Ronda Rousey vs Liz Carmouche Title Bout Headlines UFC 157For the first time in its 19-year history, the Ultimate Fighting Championship is set to promote a female fight inside the world-famous Octagon. Newly-crowned UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey will face Liz “Girl-Rilla” Carmouche in the main event of UFC 157.

UFC officials announced the historic title bout today. UFC 157 takes place on February 23, 2013 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Rousey remains unbeaten in MMA and is one of the sport’s fastest-rising stars. Carmouche is coming off of back-to-back stoppage wins for Invicta FC.

Rousey (6-0-0) has experienced a meteoric rise to stardom since her August 2010 MMA debut. Her skills inside the cage, coupled with her willingness to speak her mind on hot-button topics, have made the judoka one of MMA’s most talked-about fighters. After three quick wins in amateur competition, Rousey opened her pro career with a pair of slick submission wins. Her first two fights for Strikeforce ended in equally quick and decisive fashion.

On March 3rd of this year, Rousey made the move down to 135 pounds for the first time and captured the Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Championship from Miesha “Cupcake” Tate. She then defended the belt by submitting former champion Sarah Kaufman in just 54 seconds in August. Rousey has yet to see round two in her MMA career and all nine of her victories have come by way of armbar.

Carmouche (8-2-0) has also attracted a considerable fan following for both her impressive performances in fights and her personality outside of the cage. Carmouche, who is openly lesbian and has talked in depth about her life in hopes of inspiring others, is a military veteran and one of the sport’s top female bantamweights. Fans have rallied behind the charismatic Team Hurricane Awesome fighter dating back to her August 2010 Strikeforce debut.

In March 2011, Carmouche brought a 6-0 record into a short-notice Strikeforce title bout with Marloes “Rumina” Coenen. Despite dominating the fight through three rounds, Carmouche succumbed to a fourth-round triangle choke and subsequently dropped a Unanimous Decision in her next fight against Kaufman. She has since rallied back with TKO victories in two appearances for Invicta FC this year and now challenges for the most notable women’s title in mixed martial arts history.

UFC 157: “Rousey vs Carmouche” takes place on February 23, 2013 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. In addition to the historic women’s title fight, the card also features a light heavyweight bout between Dan “Hendo” Henderson and Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida. Elsewhere, “The California Kid” Urijah Faber faces “The Pride of El Salvador” Ivan Menjivar in a bantamweight rematch from 2006.

 

 

(Photo Credit: UFC.com)

  1. For all of us promoting and cheering on the ladies the time has finally come. The Women’s MMA movement is finally here and here to stay. Can’t wait for this historic moment at UFC 157 on February 23rd!

  2. I just wish they would of put rousey against davis, or basyler, according to dana, tate, mcmann and cyborg turnedvdown this fight, but TATE SAYS SHE WAS NEVER EVEN OFFERED, mcmann was nt able to be reached, cyborg says she will fight her at 145, we all know alexis davis would take this fight kaufman would in a sec, if only to prove she is better than she showed, the only way i could see any female turning down this fight is if rousey got the big money and the challenger gets peanuts, but im happy this is happening, i just hope its not one and done if rousey loses. ill believe dana is sold on wmma if and when rousey loses

  3. Very glad to see the women in the UFC. Very glad to see Carmouche headlining this fight, although I don’t understand UFC’s choice here either.

    Marloes Coenen, Alexis Davis and Sara McMann would make more sense at this point. On the other hand, they also are more of a threat to Ronda, in a way… it feels like they wanted someone tough, but that Ronda might beat.

    Don’t get me wrong: I root for Liz. But Ronda got a huge size advantage here, and, man, she is so fast on the ground.

    I hope Carmouche surprises everyone and strips Ronda of her belt, and that other women in the UFC start to shine… you can’t have a division based on only one fighter.

  4. Rhonda really hasnt earned the right to be champion, I believe Dana made it happen because he has special feelings for her. There are more worthy opponents for Rhonda. I know of one, my daughter, Vanessa Mariscal. She has a 2-1 record, both wins by RNC and neck crank, her only loss against De’Alesio and that was a pretty good scrap.

  5. “Beauty” vs “the beast” how shocking.
    I hope Liz wins and this freakshow ends, but won’t hold my breath of it happening 🙁

  6. @Carlos it is nice that you think your daughter can beat Ronda not”Rhonda” learn how to spell the champs name. I am sure Vanessa is a nice woman and all but really?? Carlos I am on the floor laughing at you all day long