After Holly Holm knocked out longtime women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey at UFC 193, many fans and critics expected an immediate rematch.
That, however, is not the case.
"Holly Holm will fight before she fights Ronda," UFC President Dana White said during Wednesday's episode of UFC Tonight.
White did not confirm an opponent, venue, date or time, but all signs point toward Miesha Tate. Many felt Tate was more deserving of the title shot at UFC 193 than Holm to begin with, but "Cupcake" had already been soundly defeated by Rousey twice. With Holm pulling off the massive upset in Australia, the pipeline to the title has seemingly re-opened for Tate. She has won four straight, most recently defeating Jessica Eye via unanimous decision at UFC on Fox 16.
While the attention here mostly lies in the fact that Holm will defend her title for the first time against someone other than Rousey, it's important to take note of White's full statement. Holm will fight "before she fights Ronda," signaling that the promotion still fully intends to give Rousey the rematch when she is ready to return.
Earlier in the show, White told hosts Kenny Florian and Daniel Cormier when we could expect to see Rousey return to the cage.
"You will see Ronda Rousey fight again," White said. "Ronda has some well-deserved time off, but she will fight this year."
Maybe they hope that Tate defeats Holm, so Rousey would "deserve" a title fight (without having to face Holm again) as she already has won twice against Tate. Certainly an easier way to get the golden cash cow back to the title than having her outstruck again after only a couple of months of training.
Oh Dana would blow his load if Tate beat Holm. Not sure how that would happen though Holm is much better and trains with far better people, better coaches, and probably a better work ethic.
Makes no sense for Dana to want Tate to beat Ronda. That kills the money fight with the rematch. Sure, he's mates with Ronda but he also knows which fighter will have the more longevity and which fighter will from now on generate the more money for the UFC and it's not Ronda Rousey if Ronda can't beat Holm in a fight.
If Tate wins and Rousey regains the title via beating Tate again, they will give Holm bad match ups in hope she loses some, so she can't claim a title shot again. If Rousey continues to dominate, narration will be her loss was just a fluke and she will be rehabilitated as the golden cash cow. And if the fluke narration doesn't work and Holm doesn't lose the next fights, at least that way they give Rousey more time for preparation all the while she is champ and can be milked.
If they give Rousey an immediate rematch, it might generate more money for that specific fight, but that would be short term thinking, as Rousey would probably lose again with not enough preparation time and then she will be burnt as the money machine.
Don't like predictions, but I think Holm beats Miesha easier than she did beat Rousey. Miesha is a brawler standing and is not as strong as Ronda, so she won't rock Holly Holm like Ronda did if something lands, I think.
Holm footwork shoud be enough to keep Miesha away and with her boxing she will still tag her coming in. Holm also has shown she is very strong in the clinch and can get away from grappling attempts and again, Miesha isn't as strong as Ronda, nor more technical on the ground.
Holly Holm confirmed the announcement for her next fight will be made this week? Something like that, I don't remember. Sometime soon. She mentioned it on the last MMA Hour.
Holly Holm’s first defense of the UFC women’s bantamweight title will be a summer rematch with Ronda Rousey despite Holm’s wishes to fight sooner.
“It’s Rousey,” Dana White, president of the world’s largest mixed martial arts promotion, told the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday, confirming the immediate rematch has been slated for 9 July at the new 20,000-seat arena currently under construction on the Las Vegas strip and due to open early next year.
New Mexico governor Susana Martinez declared Sunday to be ‘Holly Holm Day’ throughout the state.
Holm’s manager Lenny Fresquez had previously expressed concerns over whether Rousey will be ready for a July return, saying the 34-year-old champion would prefer to stay busy against top contender Miesha Tate.
“I’m not sure Ronda will be ready for a July fight,” Fresquez told the Times on Tuesday. “She took a severe beating [in her fight with Holm] and I don’t think it’s in her best interest to take the next fight so fast.
“Holly’s used to staying active. We’re from the old school and we believe the No1 contender is there for a reason. ... [Tate] deserves a shot.”
"We're real concerned with his opinion," White sarcastically told L.A. Times.
so, it's been a couple of weeks since dana said all that.... I wonder what changed? Maybe he finally sat down and talked to his favorite once in human history star and realized that she aint ready. She probably will never be ready to face Holly again.
Ronda's a B-movie star now.
Tate will do much better against Holly than Ronda did. She may not win but it will show some new perspective on that once in human history talent.
Ronda lost via 1st round KO punt to the head after getting rocked by a pro boxer and not landing TDs......you guys say Tate will do better......way to go out on a limb........hahahaha
What would be worse?
Tate won't get her in an armbar. Tate won't have a chance at rocking Holm with a punch. Tate simply will survive longer and do nothing offensively. BIG DEAL. I'd rather have someone with a chance that will use that chance on a big opportunity.
Perhaps Tate's wrestling will prove much better than Ronda's (previously unstoppable throws). But Holm trained for those throws....as she will now train all for a traditional shot or a single leg off the cage. She has good coaching. She is waaaaaaaay stronger and bigger than Tate. Tate has no real striking weapons besides brawling with bad strikers. And the way Holm pulled out of an armbar no one ever else has....shows she knows a thing or 2 on the ground. Tate has some break you down sub ability but really she is a wrestler.
But yea, Tate will probably do better than a person who was lit up in round 1. Doesn't mean she has more of a chance.
Sometimes you come off as if the last fight you saw is the only fight you've seen.
a month ago you laughed at anyone who thought Holly had a chance, now you laugh at the thought of anyone having a chance against her. Holly's is as human as Ronda. Tate has a chance.
I do agree that holly is too strong and too good for Meisha to takedown and wrestle. She'll have to stand and fight. She'll probably lose but it's not like no one has ever rocked holly...even poor fat ronda did that.
The UFC needs to get their shit sorted out before even thinking of adding another division. They have one, let me say that again, ONE women's fight booked for the next 2 months. One single fight out of 4 events with an average of a dozen fights per event. That's about one fight out of 50. Half the women in both divisions haven't had a single fight in nearly a year.
Get that shit straight, get those women active and fighting at least 2-3 times a year and then we can talk about adding another division.
Holly vs Tate had better be what he is hinting at. That match up could potentially be great, so long as Miesha doesn't try wading in and actually uses her punches to set up the take down.
I've always thought a cruiser weight division would be good. I've read on here years ago that for some reason that weight just isn't common. But there are plenty of people who could compete in it.
I'm glad the UFC is letting Holly stay active, but I'm betting it was more to do with Rhonda.
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