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Could UFC champion Ronda Rousey be competitive against male fighters?
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Bill Squabber
Member
Reposting this
IdreamofHIME
Member
Vince McMahon told me she might die in the ring
Floyd and Ronda are about the same height (58 vs. 57) and both walk around at ~150lbs.
So they are fairly evenly matched in terms of size.
Why are we assuming Ronda couldn't get past a BASIC takedown defense? She's an international gold medalist of several Judo tournaments and an Olympic bronze medalist.
Floyd has a 4" reach advantage, at least according to Wikipedia. Would make it quite difficult to get in range to take him down.
Because that would assume she manages to get in range to actually take him down without Floyd using her head as a punching bag. Bouts start on your feet, in a striking style of fight. She women she's facing and dominating on the ground are not in the same universe as Floyd when it comes to striking.
And it would be their last PPV event.
Perspicacity
Banned
The domestic violence crowd is already watching so there isn't as much expansion potential as you'd think
DonasaurusRex
Online Ho Champ
the way she puts on holds...she could get some guys to tap but she also can take some punishment , she took some beatings that show she won that first UFC fight i thought she was OUT for a second. I dont know if she can do that against another fighter...i dont want to see it either. She is soooo damn smooth in the ring she's on cruise control now theres no one left to fight ....
King Cobra
Banned
If the Serena and Venus Williams got their asses handed to them buy 200th rank guy in tennis after he had smoked and drank there is no chance in hell she would be able to stand against a man in UFC. It would just be unfair to her.
Surviving a kick to the neck from a trained MMA male is a whole different ball game than what she has been hit with.
SomethingClever
Neo Member
Mayweather is so good that I think Rousey is an underdog even in an MMA-style fight against him. He's very slippery and wouldn't be taken to the ground easily. And never mind that he would be able to land punches while evading her that would absolutely devastate.
Against a journeyman boxer of similar weight, I'd assume she has a reasonable chance. If she's able to get the fight to the ground, it's almost a lock that she'll submit him. It's all about whether she can make that happen, because she's not stand-up fighting any male boxer. Any of them would annihilate her in a boxing match -- her only chance is to play to her unbelievable wrestling/submission skills.
As for her taking on male MMA-fighters in a similar weight class? They actually know how to defend submission attempts, and tend to have formidable wrestling/submission skills of their own. I think she'd be a lot less successful. I think she would probably be able to submit a few, but not the majority.
I don't see why having her fight a male opponent is so taboo. We've seen fighting mismatches that are surely greater than Rousey/Random Male MMA Dude. People are knocked unconscious all the time in this sport. If she's up for it, and they find a guy who's willing, I say let 'em give it a shot.
Against a journeyman boxer of similar weight, I'd assume she has a reasonable chance. If she's able to get the fight to the ground, it's almost a lock that she'll submit him. It's all about whether she can make that happen, because she's not stand-up fighting any male boxer. Any of them would annihilate her in a boxing match -- her only chance is to play to her unbelievable wrestling/submission skills.
As for her taking on male MMA-fighters in a similar weight class? They actually know how to defend submission attempts, and tend to have formidable wrestling/submission skills of their own. I think she'd be a lot less successful. I think she would probably be able to submit a few, but not the majority.
I don't see why having her fight a male opponent is so taboo. We've seen fighting mismatches that are surely greater than Rousey/Random Male MMA Dude. People are knocked unconscious all the time in this sport. If she's up for it, and they find a guy who's willing, I say let 'em give it a shot.
DonasaurusRex
Online Ho Champ
flyod better take some football tackling drill lessons and learn to break a take down because i dont think Ronda would stand up for too long against his hands. Though her other fight she did show some nice hands.
HolyBaikal
Banned
I don't know much about her, I'm ashamed to say. Because I really respect women's sports and want to get more into things like MMA. But I hope so.
There are many disadvantages in society against women in sports. Like women being discouraged from doing sports. And women's sports not getting enough money.
But women are strong. Women have no limits.
People should never, ever underestimate women.
There are many disadvantages in society against women in sports. Like women being discouraged from doing sports. And women's sports not getting enough money.
But women are strong. Women have no limits.
People should never, ever underestimate women.
For the first video, here's a youtube comment:
He's clearly bigger than her so it's no surprise when he overpowers her during the practice match. She'd have to have a huge skill advantage to beat him in that scenario.
You do realize that you can use your legs in MMA right? That's why muay thai is so popular. I agree that in a boxing match he would demolish her, but if she lets an MMA match turn into a boxing match against Floyd then she's dumber than I could ever imagine. Floyd is used to the range of people's arms and covering the upper half of his body. He's not used to protecting his legs.
I'm not saying she'd demolish Floyd, but it's far closer than people are giving her credit for. He might be so quick that she can't dodge his punches. In that case, she's done. But IMO she never has to let it get to that point. He has to be patient because if he rushes in, she (as a Judoka) can use his momentum against him and take him down. Since he's forced to be patient, she can strike at his legs outside of punching range. As a boxer, that's going to wear him down pretty fast.
LyleLanley
Banned
Is there a male equivalent to this? Is this like when people were saying Mayweather should be fighting guys above his weight class?
HolyBaikal
Banned
I really want to get into women's MMA. But I don't have cable or satellite TV.
Is there a way for me to get into it online?
Is there a way for me to get into it online?
Put her on the same diet and training and she will look similar.
Women's MMA is in its infancy so I assume training and diet is not as strict.
does that include eating steroids?
SomethingClever
Neo Member
She may not have any say in it. Have you ever watched Floyd box? He makes the other top professional fighters in his division look foolish. She would have to be pretty lucky to make him stumble.
True, but again, he is much, much faster than her in every way imaginable. This is not up for debate.
Look, I think Rousey has an outside shot of beating Floyd. But it involves getting him on the ground, not striking at his legs. And it's a very small chance, because he is insanely good at not letting people knock him down.
It's actually a pretty dumb hypothetical, because it matches two people who are really, really good at things that aren't really the same at all. Rousey is an Olympic caliber wrestler with a tremendous ability to submit. Floyd is a boxing champion, who makes men that are 100 times the boxer Rousey is look incompetent.
Rousey versus a male MMA fighter in her weight class is a much more compelling hypothetical, and definitely a more interesting and reasonable fight.
Of course I realize that, I've been watching MMA for years. The problem is that Floyd is one of the slipperiest, most technically sound defensive fighters on the planet. He's not "forced" to be patient - that's his game. She would essentially have to cripple him with leg kicks to be able to get into any situation she prefers, and unless I missed something, her leg kick game is nothing special, especially when you're going against someone as good at not getting hit as Floyd is.
PhoenixDark
Banned
...she'd get her ass beat. I noticed this nonsense in the "can a woman play in the NFL" thread a few months ago: a basic misunderstanding of what equality means, and dismissal of scientific reality. It's a fact that men are stronger than women in physical sports. There aren't any women capable of competing with men in physical sports like MMA, US football, rugby, basketball, etc.
No, not even against a boxer like Mayweather. He has some of the quickest hands ever seen in boxing, and her strike defense is average even in the womens division. Watch her try to defend herself after slow motion jabs, then picture Mayweather sending dozen or so her way, yeah.
UFC has been battling NY for years to have their shows be allowed there, the last thing they need in addition to the heap of PED controversies is a MMA fight between a man and a woman.
It would likely garner a few "you go girl!" but if the mass public sees a man punching a woman on the ground, while the crowd cheers, then UFC has a huge problem. Its just not going to happen.
Enjoy Ronda for who she is, not some fantasy. In a way she has "beaten" some of these men, by being a bigger draw than them. That counts for a lot, and she should be praised for that.
UFC has been battling NY for years to have their shows be allowed there, the last thing they need in addition to the heap of PED controversies is a MMA fight between a man and a woman.
It would likely garner a few "you go girl!" but if the mass public sees a man punching a woman on the ground, while the crowd cheers, then UFC has a huge problem. Its just not going to happen.
Enjoy Ronda for who she is, not some fantasy. In a way she has "beaten" some of these men, by being a bigger draw than them. That counts for a lot, and she should be praised for that.
Impeccable
Member
Are we talking UFC or some random guy who wants to try "UFC Fighting".
UFC caliber? I doubt even the lowest ranked, smallest and least talented figher on the roster would lose to her. She's just a step above in a stale and thin division and it shows.
UFC caliber? I doubt even the lowest ranked, smallest and least talented figher on the roster would lose to her. She's just a step above in a stale and thin division and it shows.
Only if she wants to compete in professional bodybuilding, which I assume she doesn't.
coolfighter1993
Banned
Only if she kicked her in the balls (which is probably disallowed), otherwise she has no chance.
HolyBaikal
Banned
You don't know the limits of what women are capable of.
Women beat men's old records in the Olympics every year. And people are in disbelief of what women are capable of.
You should never, ever, ever ever underestimate what women are capable of!
Ever!
Alligatorjandro
Banned
Rousey vs Conor McGregor
Can Crusher
Banned
Republicans are right for once, Roundey would submit Mayweather no doubt.
I saw a great analogy the other day about why women's sports aren't popular.
Boys HS teams regularly beat professional and Olympic women teams in various sports.
Watching top tier women compete is like watching HS sports, but without the ties that make you want to watch them (have family/friends competing, alumni of the school, etc.)
When casually watching a sport, I want to watch top level stuff, not HS level.
Not hating on women. All for the expansion of sports programs for women. Just giving my two cents.
Emerson
May contain jokes =>
Logistically, what do you do with the precedent set by putting a dominant female fighter in the men's division? Can you really call them men's and women's divisions? It's obviously not an actual gender distinction at that point. Really what you've established is that the "men's" division is for actual contenders and the "women's" is more a minor league if anything. Lots of challenging discussions to come from that.
ArkhamFantasy
Member
C'mon GAF, watch a WNBA game then watch an NBA game, there's a huge difference between men and women physically.
That's why you probably won't see it happen.
It's a lose-lose situation for any man with a chance of a career in MMA.
In those situations the boxers are fighting men.
LyleLanley
Banned
To be fair a fight would at least pair two similarly sized opponents.
dream
Member
Serious question, HolyBakai: would you cry if you saw Ronda Rousey being held down by a man and getting punched in her face until her eyes are swollen shut, bleeding from multiple lacerations on her face, and spitting up blood?
Which is why it will never happen. It's not a good idea.
I think we all want to see Rhonda break Punk's arm and he'd be the perfect guy to help sell a "spectacle" match like that.
Lone_Prodigy
Member
Isn't this like one of those "if Bruce Lee was trained for MMA how good would he be?" threads?
Subpar Spatula
Banned
I believe Ronda can go toe-to-toe with men in her weight division.
Ronda vs Floyd would be a horrible match. Floyd would get destroyed. Boxing is out dated. You simply cannot compete against MMA as a boxer. Boxing to MMA is basically bar fighting.
Ronda vs Floyd would be a horrible match. Floyd would get destroyed. Boxing is out dated. You simply cannot compete against MMA as a boxer. Boxing to MMA is basically bar fighting.
Of course Floyd is a world class athlete but I don't think you understand how the match would play out. Taking someone down doesn't necessarily mean to make them stumble or football tackling them. There are hundreds of ways that Judokas take down people where it doesn't matter if someone's bigger than you or if they want to be taken down or not.
A punch opens you up to getting you thrown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVipkRRkeeQ
Obviously slow motion but the idea is there.
And as for striking at his legs. The idea isn't to knock him down with that. It's to make his legs feel heavy so he moves slower and tires him out so that she can put herself in a better position to win. At full speed/strength she's going to have a hard time.
Rousey has a far better chance in an MMA match (something she's a champion at) vs a boxer who has little to no MMA experience than vs an MMA professional.
I wasn't aware that Floyd was a master of dodging kicks. Floyd's game might be being patient, but that doesn't hurt Rousey in the least. Everytime she kicks him and he "plays his game" by being patient, she gets a point in the judges' minds. All she really has to do is survive to win the match (since if she gets caught she's probably getting knocked out). Her leg kick game might be nothing special but being a 3/10 is better than having no to little experience getting kicked at.
Which disciplines in specific are you talking about?
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