Ronda Rousey looking to prove a point at UFC 175
UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey has mostly dominated opponents with her take downs and submissions. In her last bout, she faced an athlete of similar caliber in Olympic wrestling medalist Sara McMann, who could have also conceivably challenged her in the take down department.
Rousey kept the fight standing and knocked McMann out. In her next title defense, the "Rowdy" one will take on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt Alexis Davis. Rousey is confident that, despite Jiu Jitsu's reputation for having superior submission techniques to her own base discipline of Judo, she is capable of once more dominating on the ground.
"It's definitely an interesting new challenge," Rousey said in a recent interview with The Great MMA Debate podcast.
"One thing that I couldn't stand when I was just watching MMA and coming from Judo was all these people talking about how the Jiu Jitsu people would beat any Judo player. It was such a stereotype that I thought, and still think, that I could beat any girl in the world, any weight division, gi or no-gi, black belt and in any ruleset they want, in just pure Jiu Jitsu.
Full Rousey Interview:
"I really feel like the Judokas that do excel in Newaza, which is our term for groundwork, have never really gotten enough respect. This fight against Alexis, who is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt and the kind of person I've heard my whole life should be the type to tap me out no problem, would be nice to prove a point against her."
Rousey would also be fine with another knockout win on the feet, however.
"Then again, I always have people saying that my striking is terrible and she's a well-noted Muay Thai fighter," she noted.
"So, any way that I can beat her I think would prove a good point."
Do you think Rousey and Davis' fight will go to the ground? And, if so, which fighter do you think will have the advantage there?
Let us know in the comments section!
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