You’d think MMA fans would be used to disappointment when it comes to “dream fights” at this point, but that initial sting never really goes away. With a very public feud with former Strikeforce Women’s Featherweight Champion Cris “Cyborg” leading up to her first defense of the bantamweight title last night, it didn’t take long for Ronda Rousey to get on the stick and call out the Brazilian.
“Cyborg” immediately took to twitter to dispel the notion that she was willing to make the move to bantamweight, saying “I didn’t change my weight class, I’m where I started.” As if that weren’t enough, the Chute Boxe fighter immediately followed up by stating that was waiting to be released because Strikeforce dissolved her division, even saying she’ll likely fight for Invicta FC soon.
This came as a shock to Scott Coker first and foremost, who, befuddled, told MMA Weekly “I don’t understand why she’d be saying that since we just had a 145-pound fight on the card tonight.” No one can be sure what’s going on inside Cyborg’s head, but for now, it looks like a match-up between her and the Olympic judoka has become just another pipe dream.
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Disappointed but has a point there is only a couple women left at 145 in strikeforce. I remember rousey when she was at 145 that she was dropping to 135 to get the belt then she was gona go back to 145 and get that belt. Why doesn’t she do that and just take it at 145?
If Rousey really wanted to fight her, she could easily go up to 140 or 145. I guess she doesn’t. too bad.
When you’re the champ, challengers come to you. Not the other way around.
@ dude who says you go to the champ- nah, that’s hype and a sorry excuse. Fighters make good fights. Competitors make rules to hide behind. Rousey is ten thousand kinds of cool, but she is clearly ducking, and this whole ‘come to me’ crap has hidden her from Marloes and it’s hiding her from Cyborg. She can beat Marloes, but a healthy Cyborg? We all want to see a 140 fight because none of us know for sure. What did her mom say? Never go to a competition you don’t expect to win? That’s how she operates.
“Cyroid” is the one thats not supposed to be on the juice anymore… that should account for 10 pounds, most of which would still be water. Cyborg is the one poppin all that big girl sh!t, so she should go to Rousey.
I dont know how anyone could say that Rousey is ducking ANYBODY. She’s beat everyone she’s faced in the 1st round. I think Cyborg saw what she did to Sarah, a striker, and realize that she can’t beat her, so now she’s tucking her tail and trying to run to Invicta.
If anyone’s ducking people, its Cyborg, who’s talking about a dissolved weight class when there was obviously a fight at that weight. Gina gave her more than she expected and she knows Ronda will beat her.
Just another Brazillian ducking opponents and making up excuses why they shouldn’t have to fight someone.
Rousey would get owned anyways
Cyborg want no part of Rousey without steroids. She can’t make 135 on the juice but she can’t win without it.
I think he would lose to Rousey
+1
A lot of people are saying that Cyborg is “afraid” to fight Ronda Rousey and that is the reason she wants to be released. I completely disagree with that.
Another thing I disagree with is people saying that Rousey would “destroy Cyborg”…
Rousey is undefeated with all wins coming via 1st round arm bar which of course is very impressive.
But, what people fail to realize is that she is still very much growing as a full MMA Fighter and still has a lot to learn. Her standup is terrible and in case some of you have not been paying attention. Rousey can be very wreckless.
There is no question that once she clinches up your in real trouble and its probably just a matter of time before your arm gets taken…
Rousey is very aggressive early on and likes to clinch as fast as possible. But every time she shoots in, or tries to get a hold of her opponent, her chin is always there for the taking, not to mention her hands are down and very wide open.
She’s had the good fortune of her opponent’s first instincts being, defend the clinch instead of what they should do and that’s counter with strikes to Rousey immediately when Rousey tries to shoot or clinch up because she leaves herself very exposed it’s just that nobody has bothered to take advantage of that.
Just like Anderson Silva countered with what 2 or 3 straight shots to Chris Leben’s chin when Leben recklessly went after Silva overly aggressive, Cyborg with her power, speed and her own aggressiveness and killer instinct could easily counter on Rousey early on and drop her like a bad habit and end the night fairly quick because like I said, nobody has pointed out how reckless Rousey can be coming in for takedowns not to mention her obviously green striking game.
I believe that Rousey is a 30 second ko waiting to happen. All that needs to happen is for one of her opponents to pick up on this especially a technical striker with decent power and boom, lights out for Rousey, it’s just too bad Cyborg isn’t up for that fight…
It’s a smart move by borg. She doesn’t want to lose an arm. There’s no way she could pose a threat to Ronda. Without her magic steroids she’s just another girl. She might as well move on to a different show.
Ronda is fighting at the right weight now. There’s no reason for her to move up to fight borg. Borg should come down to fight Sarah Kaufman or somebody so she could EARN a title shot as a CLEAN fighter.
“Ronda is fighting at the right weight now…
So if Ronda is fighting at the right weight now, then why should Cyborg try and cut down to 135 if she’s at the right weight for her? A divsion she’s been the champ in SF in since before Rousey was even fighting?
Because she’s the one talking sh!t and posting stupid pictures saying “you’re next” like a cheesy 90′s Goldberg WCW promo.
I get the whole steroid scandal and talk, but it doesn’t change the fact that Cyborg has been fighting in the same division for years and Rousey is the one who changed divisions right when a matchup with Cyborg was starting to make sense. Now all of a sudden it’s Cyborgs responsibility to go to her?
a while back rousey said she wanted the 145 and the 135 belt. she’s ducking cyborg, clearly, because even without the roids she’s a beast.
How would you know? We’ve never seen her fight clean.
That’s a good question Advent, how would we know? My question to you then is how could you possibly know that she’s never fought clean if she’s only popped positive once?
Yeqh no doubt eh? She’s only taken the roids that one time as far as you can see. She wasn’t aware what she was taking and it was roids. It get fault she took something and didn’t know what she took. But I’m pretty sure she’s fought the other fights clean. I love Ronda but she would get KILLED!
@Newfie – So, over her career, she has never looked different. She has consistently looked like a dragqueen, and the ONE time she got caught, we’re to assume that its the only time she’s done it? Please.
Question, how many times in the UFC did Ken Shamrock p!ss hot? Never, if memory serves me correct. Yet HE has come out and said that he was on roids. I mean, look at him. So becuase he’s never been caught by athletic commissions that are never wrong, then I guess he’s lying about using, and that he’s always fought clean?
Come on man, you’re smarter than that.
And don’t give me that, “She didn’t know what she was taking” crap. These are prossional athletes who meticulously watch what they put into their bodies, from the food and drink intake all the way to supplements they take in order to achieve the best possible athletic results… and you think someone is just going to slip them anabolic steroids, or ANY PEDs without their knowledge? If so, then you sirs, are looking through lamb’s wool.
If you ask me, this is Cyborg’s chance at redemption. Her name, record, and fight style have been put into question with her testing positive for steroids. She has an opportunity to take down the biggest rising female MMA star, capture a belt, get back in good graces with the Zuffa family, and somewhat repair her image in the eyes of the fans. She would be a fool not to take up Ronda’s challenge at 135. She can make weight- she just needs to take the time to do it properly.
Alot of you seem to be forgetting that Cyborg is a very accomplished grappler. Is she as good as Rousey? Probably not,….but she is skilled enough NOT to get submitted, is much stronger (even off the juice, its not as though she is going to get weak overnight) and a far better striker.
Rousey has nothing to lose by fighting Cyborg at 140 or 145- if she loses, she keeps her belt, if she wins, she’s the supreme champion of the universe. Look, clearly Rousey is gifted athletically and good at what she does, but i think shes terribly unclassy (name calling? “cyriod”? really, is she five?) and really bad for women’s mma.
Her fault*