Next For Ronda Rousey? Only A 145lb Fight With Cris Cyborg Makes Sense
While some speculate about possible Ronda Rousey opponents like Bethe Correia, Cat Zingano and (laughably) Gina Carano, the only true Super Fight opponent that makes sense for Rousey is Cris Cyborg.
Yes, the opponent Ronda Rousey should fight next is Cris Cyborg. They should fight at 145 lbs. Ronda can keep her 135 lb title.
Both Ronda and Cris are natural 145 lb fighters and fought in that weight division when they were under contract with Strikeforce.
Back then Strikeforce offered Ronda a 145 lb fight with Cris Cyborg. Cris accepted but Ronda turned it down. Rousey has been been running and hiding from Cyborg ever since.
Ronda Rousey has had 13 MMA fights (pro and amateur). The majority of her MMA career has been contested at 145 lbs or higher (yes, she fought once at 150 lbs). Out of those 13 fights Ronda only fought 5 women at 135 lbs (Miesha Tate twice). Rousey’s natural weight division is 145 lbs. She fought Hayden Munoz, Autumn Richardson, Taylor Stratford, Ediane Gomes, Charmaine Tweet, Sarah D’Alelio, and Julia Budd all at 145 lbs or higher.
The UFC has a strong distributorship agreement with Invicta FC (Cyborg’s current employer) so it would be easy for the UFC to stage a special 145 lb fight with no title on the line. Another solution is to have Invicta FC and the UFC co-promote a Super Fight for Cris Cyborg’s 145 lb Invicta Title. If Ronda wins she can vacate the 145 lb belt and be two division champion. If Cris wins Ronda will still have her 135 lb belt.
Rousey has already agreed to do this (fight at 145 lbs) but only for Gina Carano.
Ronda Rousey Willing To Fight At 145 Pounds In The UFC.
If she’s willing to accommodate Gina Carano at 145, there is no reason to refuse Cris Cyborg the same terms.
However, Rousey, Dana White and the UFC fear losing to Cris Cyborg at 145 lbs.
Recently Cris Cyborg made a mistake agreeing to try 135 lbs for two fights in Invicta. It will delay her chance to fight Rousey while allowing Ronda to improve her already spectacular MMA skills.
Both Ronda and Cris are large women. During her Judo days, Ronda walked around at close to 180 lbs between fights while Cris Cyborg walks around as high as 173 lbs.
Ronda’s extra weight was mostly fat while Cris, even at 173 lbs, has only 5% body fat. That is significant because it is more healthy and effective to cut fat weight than muscle weight.
Rousey, Dana and the UFC know this. It’s why they demand 135 for Cyborg…it offers a weaker Cyborg for Rousey. They were smart to demand this; Cyborg was not smart to accept.
We will soon see how Cris Cyborg’s cut to 135 lbs goes. She will debut at 135 lbs in December for a fight under the Invicta banner.
A better choice would be to hound Ronda Rousey for a fight at 145 lbs like Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay) relentlessly trashed talked Sonny Liston in the early ’60s to force him to accept a fight.
I realize Cyborg can’t match Ali’s brilliant trash talking and self promotion. He was the best at that in all of sports. However Cris can do it in her own style. If she dogs Rousey for a fight at 145 lbs, the press and fans will force the UFC to make the Super Fight.
Here’s a sample of Ali’s trash talking and self promotion that was successful in compelling Sonny Liston to accept a fight. Clay was interminable in hounding Sonny, even though he did poorly in the two fights leading up to his first bout with Liston. Most felt Cassius had lost his fight with Doug Jones. The Madison Square audience loudly booed and pelted the ring with debris after it was announced. Later Henry Cooper won the first two rounds vs. Clay then flattened him with a powerful left hook in the fourth. Clay was saved by the bell but out on his feet as his corner carried him to his stool. Trainer Angelo Dundee illegally sliced Clay’s boxing glove to buy him recovery time and also broke the rules by giving the almost unconscious Cassius Clay smelling salts. Clay roared back to stop Cooper in the fifth. Even with these “setbacks” Cassius Clay never stopped pursuing Sonny Liston. The point being that Muhammad Ali did not let anything stop him from fighting Sonny Liston.
Cris Cyborg would be wise to force Ronda Rousey to fight her at 145 lbs with the same determination, vigor and trash talking, albeit in her own style. That is the Women’s Super Fight fans deserve and the stage and weight division that will honestly determine who is the best female MMA fighter.
It’s nice to see Ronda’s fighting weight being brought up. I don’t like Ronda Rousey as a person but I do respect her hard work and rapidly improving skill set. It is never really mentioned that Ronda appears to be 20lbs heavier than her opponents, come fight night. She does not appear to be a natural 135lbs. Surely the fact that she is able to bulldoze her way through her challengers so quickly (I am not denying her talents) is telling that the match ups are very uneven. I have a feeling that if Ronda were to fight at an elite level at 145lbs, she would not be able to manhandle her opponents so easily. I am not saying that she would lose (she might?!) but the fights would be more of a challenge for her, be more entertaining and we would see her properly tested. I don’t know, the whole thing just niggles at me. All the hype. Ronda’s fights are just not very entertaining. There are 31 female fighters listed at 135lbs for the UFC and Ronda has only fought 4 of them, yet all of this hype?! That’s not Ronda’s fault, the hype, it’s paying the bills and setting her up for more lucrative careers so of course she’s gonna roll with it. The whole set up just niggles at me. I really enjoy women’s MMA but watching Ronda fight at 135lbs is boring and frustrating to watch. I would like to see 145lbs introduced to the UFC, for Ronda to move up a weight and if she destroys and conquers everyone at that weight? Great! Hopefully the fights will last longer!
What are your thoughts on the upcoming fight between Ronda and the wonderful Cat, Mr Six Toed Pete?
Cat Zingano is a strong fighter who was dominated by Miesha Tate for two rounds before getting the (controversial) stoppage in round 3. I believe Ronda Rousey’s pace, speed and technique will be too much for Cat to overcome.
And you were correct.
People who say RR natural weight is 145 are nuts. Her Natural weight is heavier. That isn’t the point.
Cyborg cheated and took steroids. 145 is an easy weight for her to make and still take the steroids and quit in enough time to make urine tests.
135, she cannot take steroids and make 135 safely and that is why she doesn’t want to do it.
Saying Ronda turned down a fight at 145 at Strikeforce is way misleading. She did NOT turn down the fight while she was fighting at 145. She had already made the jump to 135.
So when they say that they say it because it benefits their weak argument that Ronda should chase Cyborg.
Then they act like Ronda fears losing the belt. lol. Ronda WANTS TO FIGHT AT HER WEIGHT FOR THE BELT!!! How can she fear losing it?
Cyborg walking around at 175 shows she isn’t trying to make weight.
Your facts are wrong. While both were fighting in Strikeforce at 145 lbs, Cris Cyborg offered to fight Ronda Rousey. Ronda refused the fight and has been running and hiding from Cris at 145 lbs ever since.
The “she’s on steroids” excuse is a complete lie. Do you have any proof, any solid evidence to support it? If so you are welcome to submit it here.
“crickets chirping”