This Saturday, March 3rd in Columbus, Ohio (one of my favorite cities) will be host to the first ever Strikeforce main event headlined by the women’s championship belt. The champ, Miesha Tate (12-2) in her first title defense against 4-0 ‘Rowdy’ Ronda Rousey. Women’s MMA has existed in the cage since the mid-90’s but it’s only now starting to get some traction in the media spotlight and even the participants aren’t shying away from the fact that it’s because two attractive women are involved. To the ladies credit, they have been waging a war of words via twitter and Facebook. It’s not quite Mike Tyson’s declaration that he wants to kill Lennox Lewis and eat his children, but I find it just as entertaining: “If you weren’t pretty, it wouldn’t matter what you said or didn’t say,” Miesha says. “If we push the ‘hot chicks’ to fight each other for a title, we’re going to get a lot of attention,” Ronda said at the time. “That’s why I’d rather fight Miesha for a title instead of Sarah Kaufman. Because she’s good-looking and marketable.” Tate’s ‘gimmie respect’ attitude is the perfect foil to Rousey, trash-talking upstart akin to what Brock Lesnar did to get a title shot (and victory) with a 4-2 record.
Ronda Rousey
Now there are some folks, male and female, who don’t like the idea of two women, pretty or not, pounding each other to a bloody mess. Truthfully, I think the same can be sad for the guys. Sure, they don’t say it, but universally everyone groaned when they saw last weekend, Frankie Edgar’s nose getting busted and bleeding everywhere. I think if people can watch the fight with the idea that this is an athletic competition, they’ll find themselves enjoying the match.
The thing is that there’s no telling if the media attention is going to stay on women’s MMA after this fight. If the fight is an exciting fight, maybe. I don’t expect the Rousey or Tate are going to sandbag this fight with Tate defending her belt and Rousey putting opponents away in 60 seconds or less but the division certainly could use some lasting star power. Maybe this is the start of that?
Miesha Tate-Champion
To break down the fight a little bit, Miesha has an impressive record and is a solid wrestler. Ronda is an Olympic bronze medalist who’s 4 wins have come fast and furious. I think wrestling wins out over judo, but it’s hard to argue with undefeated success. With that in mind, I think the champ keeps the belt even if Vegas currently has Ronda as a 4-1 favorite. I’m a fan of Ronda’s (as if her ‘Rowdy’ nickname, after Roddy Piper couldn’t have told you) but it all stacks up that Miesha has more experience in general, but also in striking, which we haven’t seen from Ronda. Plus, if the match goes longer than 60 seconds, who knows how well Ronda will hold up? Sure her conditioning is superb but when you win your fights at sub-atomic speeds, that lack of cage-time can hurt you. I’m thinking of Kody MacKenzie.
In any case, the spotlight is on them right now. It’s up to them to make it stick around for their own futures and the future of the division.
This look to be awesome match up. Two skilled, talented, physical women with lotta grit an’ determination. Both have ground game. I think bossman is right that it will all be on Ronda. She has to come out aggressive and bring her speed game otha’wise experience an’ ring savvy works for her opponent. I no seen Meisha in interviews but I have Ronda an’ I honestly like both of them from what I seen. So, no favorites for Mo Chen. Jus’ the hope that is a good, straight up fight.
i must say have zero problem with two trained athletes having a cage fight and these two are obviously that. We as people know lionesses are deadly so cant why our females kick major ass too. That being said I don’t like seeing women get hurt and unfortunatly people will cause as stink because those two are STUNNING! But at the end of the day, best of luck and may the best FIGHTER win. (Did I mention they’re both freaking gorgeous? O_o lol)
I LOVE a fighter with a solid opening rush, and from the sound of it, Rousey is exactly that. And wrestling vs judo is kind of a non-issue, as long as she trains without a gi. An Olympic bronze medalist, too, so she’s really got the grappling chops. I don’t follow these fighters, but she sounds very impressive.
On the other hand, a lack of evident striking ability makes me cringe, ESPECIALLY in a fighter who emphasizes the opening rush. It makes the blitz strategy that much riskier. If she doesn’t seal the deal immediately, she’s spent a lot of energy for no real gain, and I’m sure that would be a big morale hit too, at this point in her career, getting her rush stopped for the first time. A striking rush, at least, even if it doesn’t win the fight immediately, can cost the opponent mobility, stamina, and offensive power, if done right.
Tate is an experienced striker, too. She’s got a fair chance of stopping Rousey’s rush, and if she does that, she’s got the edge.
Obviously, my opinion on MMA is, if they sign up, let ’em fight! This is what they trained for! This is what WE train for!
I haven’t been this excited for a women’s MMA fight since Carano and Cyborg. Unlike that fight, I hope this one delivers and does big things for women’s MMA going forward! *crosses fingers*
Co-sign on that 100%.
Wow! All I can say. Only 4 minutes but both ladies brought it! Meisha took Rousey longer than any other woman to date. She even escaped an early armbar attempt but Ronda was not going to be denied.
No doubt! I really enjoyed the fight and thought it was fantastic and shows that women can headline main events. I plan on writing a post-fight for tomorrow’s blog. 😉