The UFC women’s
bantamweight champion “Rowdy” Rhonda Rousey has quite literally been ripping
apart her competition since her debut in mixed martial arts on August 6, 2010.
Rousey became the first woman to win an Olympic medal in Judo in Beijing two
years prior. For the majority of her career it has been here extremely powerful
judo base that has dominated here bouts and lead her to victory. Her
consistency is quite the marvel considering her first eleven fights were all
finished by way of arm bar. However, as some may suggest, Rhonda Rousey is not
a one trick pony. She has been able to showcase her improved striking abilities
in her last two bouts which have ended via TKO and KO respectively. Rhonda’s title retention has created a
situation similar to that of light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Who is she
to fight? With every victory the list of possible contenders keeps getting
smaller and smaller. UFC President Dana White has even made jokes about having
Rhonda fight men.
However, simply
because the list does seem to be shrinking the challenges presented still stand
strong. Rousey’s next opponent is set to be Cat Zingano and she is no pushover.
Zingano possesses some very high level wrestling credentials in that she is a
four time all American national champion from the University of the
Cumberlands. Cat brings ferocity to the competition in the way that she pursues
the finish. This is particularly true of the way she fights in the clinch and
it is perfectly exemplified in her TKO victory over long time title contender
Miesha Tate. After landing several devastating elbows and knees Tate was unable
to continue and the referee stepped in.
If there were a position that an opponent of Rousey’s would absolutely
need to excel in it would be the clinch. Considering the clinch is one of
Rousey’s most devastating it is an aspect of her game that needs to be
neutralized in order to achieve victory.
It would be safe
to say that of Rhonda’s thirteen opponents none of them have been able to do
any sort of significant damage from the clinch; damage which could turn the
tables of the bout. If the clinch is too dangerous to enter and execute a throw
how then will the champion acquire the takedown? If she is to resort to her
wrestling it may become problematic considering the strong wrestling base of
Zingano. These scenarios are what will undoubtedly make this fight exciting and
also possibly the greatest challenge of the champion’s career. Their bout is set to take place on February
28 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California and it is a date that could
possibly shake the foundations of the division!
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