Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm Victorious In UFC 184 HeadlinersUFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey retained her title with another lightning-fast victory in the main event of UFC 184: “Rousey vs Zingano” tonight in Los Angeles, California. Rousey submitted top contender “Alpha” Cat Zingano with a straight armbar in just 14 seconds.

Rousey kept her perfect professional record and aura of invincibility intact with tonight’s slick submission win. In the co-main event, a potential future title challenger, Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm, made a successful UFC debut with a close decision win over Raquel “Rocky” Pennington.

 

Rousey (11-0-0) was expected by some to have a tough test ahead of her tonight, but she instead set a record for the fastest finish in UFC title fight history. Zingano (9-1-0) ran forward and landed a flying knee to the body in the opening seconds of the fight, but Rousey clinched and she reversed a throw attempt in mid-air. The champion wound up on top and she quickly transitioned from side control to Zingano’s back. From there, she effortlessly jumped into a far-side straight armbar and went belly-down with the hold. Rousey bent Zingano’s arm back at the elbow and the challenger tapped at the 14-second mark.

Tonight’s quick victory reignited talk of a potential super fight between Rousey and reigning Invicta FC Featherweight Champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino, who picked up a 46-second TKO victory on Friday night at Invicta FC 11. However, Justino herself stated earlier this year that she was no longer sure that she could make 135 pounds and has instead challenged Rousey to a catchweight bout, which seems to be of no interest to the UFC champion. Rousey has a handful of potential challengers left for her on the UFC roster, but she has already dispatched of most of the top ten.

Winner: Ronda Rousey by Submission (Straight Armbar) at 0:14 of round one. She improves to 11-0-0 and remains the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion.

 

The bantamweight co-feature between Holm (8-0-0) and Pennington (5-5-0) was not the most exciting fight, but Holm got the job done in her long-awaited Octagon debut by narrowly outpointing the TUF 18 veteran. In rounds one and two, Holm kept up a high pace and put together quick combinations of punches. Pennington appeared to land the more damaging shots, but Holm, just as she did throughout her storied boxing career, favoured sheer volume. She kept Pennington guessing with punching flurries and a series of head kick attempts throughout the opening ten minutes.

Pennington’s best success came in the final stanza. She began the round with aggressive striking and knocked an off-balance Holm to the ground with a lunging punch. She followed with more punches on the feet and repeatedly scored with overhand rights that snapped Holm’s head back. A bloodied Holm answered back with knees to the body, but Pennington clearly took the round with effective boxing.

After three rounds, the bout went to the scorecards. The first two judges were split, with one seeing the fight 29-28 for Pennington and the other scoring it 29-28 for Holm. The third and final judge returned a ridiculous 30-27 card for Holm, who took a narrow Split Decision win and remained unbeaten. However, her performance reinforced that she is not yet ready to challenge Rousey for UFC title gold and still has work to do in order to develop her overall MMA game.

Winner: Holly Holm by Split Decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. She improves to 8-0-0.

 

 

(Photo Credit: UFC)

  1. I don’t think Cyborg wants any part of Ronda at 135. Ronda took on a legit fighter compared to whatever Cyborg faced and destroyed her in 14 seconds! Ronda is like a bouncing ball who then sticks to you. Then it is over. Cyborg made 144.5. She just drop 8 pounds to be around 136. But Cyborg knows once Ronda beats her, she is done. But that is also the only way Cyborg makes the real money. No one wants to see her beat up 145s anymore.

    Holm fought no one during her brief mma career and it showed tonight. Holm looked more talented but was facing a much better and tougher fighter than she was use to. She never hurt Rocky once and looked weak. This is what happens when you stop facing flyweights. I am not sure about Holm. Being a defensive point fighter will not win her any fans. Book her against McMann.

  2. Cyborg has no chance against Rousey. Cyborg’ is like Zingano on steroids. Rousey will use Cyborg’s natural aggression against her and then it’s lights out.

    As far as Holm goes, she has a long way to go. She’ll need a few top ten wins before she’s even close to being ready for Rousey, if any one can say that. I’d put Holm in against Sarah Kaufman and then Sara McMann. A couple of good measuring posts for Holm’s progress.

  3. Cyborg knocked down (and flash k.o.ed) three of her past four opponents in under 10 seconds (Yamanaka, Muxlow and Tweet). Only Marloes withstood it, and she said she never was hit that hard — which prompted her to go survival mode.
    So, no one knows how Cyborg vs Rousey would go. One thing is for sure: Cyborg is a lot stronger and hits MUCH harder than any of Rousey’s past opponents. So, she wouldn’t be able to walk through her punches.
    Also, Holm and Kaufman are training partners. They won’t fight each other.
    We should have Holm vs Germaine de Randamie, but Randamie would destroy Holly, and Dana White doesn’t want that…

  4. The main problem with Cyborg is she fights so infrequently and her competition is so low. She still overpowers people. At 135, that is not going to happen against Ronda. Cyborg has nothing for Ronda on the ground and all of Ronda fights end up on the ground.

    De Randamie would not destroy Holm. Holm’s boxing skill along is miles better than GDR. GDR might have the worst fighter IQ of anyone in UFC despite having so much talent. Holm would pick her apart. Holm would have another boring point win against GDR.