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GeneChing
04-26-2012, 10:05 AM
She needs her own thread here. She's been mentioned elsewhere, of course, like the Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=63241) and the Women in MMA (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46722) threads.


Ronda Rousey and UFC Stars Take a Swing at Horrible California MMA Legislation (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1161328-ronda-rousey-and-ufc-stars-take-a-swing-at-horrible-california-mma-legistlation)
By Jonathan Snowden (MMA Lead Writer) on April 26, 2012


Rob Maysey's Mixed Martial Arts Fighters Association seems to have been a colossal flop.

The organization attempted to bring fighters together to "maximize the influence and earning capacity of its members in the sport of mixed martial arts." Maysey told me last year that the tyranny of Dana White and Zuffa was holding the fighters back.

"Currently, the business of mixed martial arts is akin to the old 'studio system' that dominated Hollywood, where the fates of actors were left entirely to the mercy of idiosyncratic studio executives and owners," Rob Maysey said.

Maysey, a long-time advocate for fighter's rights, runs the Mixed Martial Arts Fighter's Association. He says the lack of a viable competitor makes an organization like his more necessary than ever.

"In MMA, the athletes may be at an even greater disadvantage, as only one major 'producer' (the UFC) remains. Monopolies in the existing team sports arguably serve to maximize the earnings potential, level of competition and brand power of existing leagues.

"The monopolistic power enjoyed by these leagues, however, is necessarily offset with a counter balance in the form of a strong association representing the interests of the athletes. Without such protection, the athletes face a future that may resemble the studio actors prior to the emergence of the Screen Actors Guild and other protections afforded by law."

It turns out that fighters were more comfortable with their agents and managers helping them maximize earnings, rather than an Association. Maysey wasn't able to galvanize much support. One veteran agent told me he was "too fanatical" and that his dismissal of the UFC didn't sit well with the fighters who have become wealthy working with Zuffa.

For the most part, Maysey faded from the scene—but it's become obvious that he had no intention of disappearing entirely. It appears that he is now working behind the scenes, trying to do legislatively what he couldn't manage in the free market. If fighters didn't want to support the MMAFA of their own free will, why not force them into it with the power of the state?

Yesterday, California Congressman Luis A. Alejo, with Maysey riding shotgun in support, introduced California AB2100 and managed to get the bill out of committee and before the Assembly as a whole.

The legislation reads like an MMAFA manifesto. It looks to abolish what they consider exploitative contracts, charge the UFC an exorbitant five percent of their pay-per-view income from events in California and essentially kill MMA in the state on all levels.

Rousey's testimony

While Frank Shamrock and Antonio McKee spoke on behalf of the legislation, Strikeforce star Ronda Rousey was a vocal critic, telling the committee she was making good money after only a year of fighting professionally.

"I didn't get that way through bad contracts," Rousey said. "This is a performance-based business. You have to make yourself valuable. I win, and I make myself entertaining to watch, and that's why this company pays me.

"...This bill is being presented as something to help the athletes. It wouldn't help me renegotiate a contract. I would enter into a contract. Even if I'm happy with it and they're happy with it, and I went and told all my friends 'Oh my God, I have a UFC contract, that's so cool,' someone that I don't know and doesn't know me or anything about my financial situation could take a look at this contract, say they don't like it, and instead of helping me renegotiate it, pull the promoter's license."

In the end, debate over this legislation is just noise. No single state could hope to enact any meaningful change. As UFC owner Lorenzo Fertitta explained, this legislation would simply demand that any responsible business promote shows anywhere but California:

It is therefore troubling that AB2100 would specifically impede bringing business to California and would intentionally drive the business to states with a more reasonable tax and regulatory framework.

Indeed, AB2100 would remove the economic certainty of television taxes and would place an undue and unacceptable burden on all promoters of televised unarmed combat.

Thus, the proposed tax structure would actually result in fewer events in California, and would directly harm California’s athletes, arenas, hotels, restaurants, shopkeepers and all of their respective employees and families.

I don't believe that this legislation is necessary. Fighters are free to negotiate deals that work for them. If they are unhappy with the UFC, they can find another party to promote their fights.

For the most part, fighters haven't, and won't, because the UFC pays well, on time, and offers tons of options for earning ancillary income.

It's a system that isn't broken. The last thing it needs is an incompetent California legislature meddling where it doesn't belong.

Lucas
04-26-2012, 10:15 AM
http://www.freedomisgreen.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/rondarousey.jpg

http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/cNxO0qI1YCDPRmTrS.D8Xw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD05NDc7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://l.yimg.com/os/152/2012/03/01/137771956-jpg_214328.jpg

TroyMacraft
04-27-2012, 09:25 AM
Ronda Rousey has the weight of Women's MMA on her shoulders right now. Very like-able and easy to cheer for.

dcrjradmonish
04-29-2012, 05:14 AM
Watching her on the ultimate fighter giving the boys tips then going and visiting them in the house makes me think this might be the beginning of seeing the girls fight in ufc. She is my favorite female fighter of all times although gina is a close 2nd.

GeneChing
07-10-2012, 02:17 PM
VIDEO!

Body Issue 2012: Ronda Rousey (http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=8147390)
Publish Date: Today, 11:48 AM ETDuration: 01:44

http://espn.go.com/espn/photos/gallery/_/id/8136693/image/18/ronda-rousey-2012-body-issue-bodies-want-espn-magazine
http://espn.go.com/espn/photos/gallery/_/id/8136693/image/19/ronda-rousey-2012-body-issue-bodies-want-espn-magazine
http://espn.go.com/espnw/photos/gallery/_/id/8135372/image/2/bodies-want-2012


Ronda Rousey featured in ESPN the Magazine’s Body Issue (http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/ronda-rousey-featured-espn-magazine-body-issue-182218140--mma.html)
By Maggie Hendricks | Cagewriter – 2 hours 51 minutes ago

http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/q46Dsvh02ok728E7FgbiLQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/sptusmmaexperts/rondarouseybody.jpg

Strikeforce bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is one of six athletes who will appear on different covers of ESPN the Magazine's Body Issue. Rousey is not the first fighter to appear in the yearly issue dedicating to celebrating athletes' bodies. Jon Jones, Gina Carano and the Cyborgs have all appeared in previous issues.

(ESPN)The magazine officially drops on newsstands Tuesday. To see the complete pictures of Rousey and every athlete featured in the magazine, check here. To see more Rousey in the cage, wait until Aug. 18, when she'll attempt to defend her belt for the first time.
"the Cyborgs" :p

enoajnin
07-11-2012, 01:50 PM
Still trying to get the image of Tim Morehouse, fencer, from that issue out of my head.

GeneChing
08-21-2012, 09:07 AM
Anyone watch the fight?

Aug 19, 2012
Strikeforce CEO: 'Female mixed martial arts is here to stay' (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/mma/post/2012-08-19/strikeforce-ceo-says-female-mma-is-here-to-stay/827264/1)
6:11 PM

http://i.usatoday.net/communitymanager/_photos/fighting-stances/2012/08/19/tatex-wide-community.jpg
By Jayne Kamin-Oncea, US Presswire

By John Morgan and Matt Erickson, MMAjunkie.com

SAN DIEGO -- Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker has long been a staunch supporter of women competing in mixed martial arts, and it seems he's quickly developing a powerful ally.

UFC President Dana White, who has often expressed concern in regards to the viability of female MMA, was cageside on Saturday in San Diego to watch women's bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey (6-0 MMA, 4-0 SF) continue her impressive streak, and Coker believes there should now be little doubt what women can bring to the sport.

"Female mixed martial arts is here to stay," Coker said on Saturday. "Look at the fights tonight. They were unbelievable. They're great athletes, and I think that tonight they showed that again."

In total, three of Saturday's eight "Strikeforce: Rousey vs. Kaufman" fights featured female talent. Featherweights Germane de Randamie (3-2 MMA, 2-1 SF) and Hiroko Yamanaka (12-2 MMA, 0-1 SF) didn't exactly thrill the Valley View Casino Center in their preliminary matchup, but the striker vs. grappler affair played out as those bouts tend to when the fighter looking to bring the fight to the floor is unable to do so.

But the night took a dramatic shift for the better when former female champion Miesha Tate (13-3 MMA, 6-2 SF) and Julie Kedzie (16-11 MMA, 0-2 SF) went back and forth for the better part of three rounds before the artist formerly known as "Takedown" was able to register a submission win. White, who was watching the fights simply as a fan, couldn't contain his excitement.

"WOW!" White wrote on Twitter. "Now I know who Julie Kedzie is!!!

"HOLY [expletive]. Tate is tough as nails!!!!!"

White's excitement remained at a fever-pitch following the night's main event, where Rousey continued her impressive run as a professional fighter by notching her sixth straight first-round armbar victory.

"Ronda is a BEAST!!!!," wrote White, who attended this month's UFC on FOX 4 weigh-ins wearing a T-shirt adorned with Rousey's ESPN the Magazine "Body Issue" cover.

Coker, Strikeforce's founder, has seen the women's sport develop over the past six years and believes it's time for the questions concerning legitimacy of the women's product to stop.

"It's here to stay," Coker said. "Showtime loves female fights. I love the female fights. I've always believed in it."

Since onetime rival promotion EliteXC shut its doors in 2008, Strikeforce has been the home to female MMA's biggest stars. From Gina Carano to Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos to Rousey, the honorary "face of women's MMA" has been a Strikeforce fighter. Questions constantly surround the future of the organization, but Coker insists for now, Strikeforce remains strong and is firmly committed to promoting the female game.

"We did the first female fight in 2006 with Gina Carano fighting Elaina Maxwell back in the day," Coker said. "That was the first fight in the state of California that was sanctioned. We're going to continue doing it."

Whether or not the women will ever step into the UFC cage remains to be seen. White has long contended that there simply aren't enough women in the sport to create a meaningful division, but upstart promotions like the all-female Invicta Fighting Championships are working hard to change that.

Recently, White has even been quoted as saying, hypothetically speaking, that Rousey could someday potentially serve as the first female to fight in the UFC's octagon. While television contracts and operational policies currently make that dream impossible, it's obvious White is at least taking more notice of what female fighting is all about.

And Coker believes it's time for others to do the same.

"I think they've proved themselves again and again and again," Coker said. "Those questions, I think, should stop coming up."

Hebrew Hammer
08-21-2012, 10:08 AM
Saw it, she always beats up on the Jewish girls...she was hot and devastating. I'm curious to see how she deals with someone who can stop her take downs. Her Judo is amazing. Her striking needs some work. She called out Cyborg at the end of the fight. Cyborg might be another story, that man child might be tough.

The fight of the night actually went to her previous victim, Meisha 'Cupcake' Tate. Tate got pummeled for almost 2 solid rounds, then came back in the third to sink in the rear naked choke. Awesome fight.

Would love to see Carano vs Rousey...the winner gets a date with me.

Faruq
08-21-2012, 02:27 PM
Didn't Rousey break Tate's arm in her last fight? Wasn't she the champ who refused to tap out? I'm stupified that such a horrible arm break didn't end her career! She's fighting again 3 months later! Unbelievable!

Hebrew Hammer
08-21-2012, 08:16 PM
Didn't Rousey break Tate's arm in her last fight? Wasn't she the champ who refused to tap out? I'm stupified that such a horrible arm break didn't end her career! She's fighting again 3 months later! Unbelievable!

Yes, the commentators and I were amazed about her recovery, they said anyone they've ever seen or known with that kind of dislocation were never the same. Tate got lucky and had full range of motion.

MightyB
08-22-2012, 10:11 AM
Would love to see Carano vs Rousey...the winner gets a date with me.

Heck - I'd even take the loser.

Faruq
08-22-2012, 10:15 AM
Yes, the commentators and I were amazed about her recovery, they said anyone they've ever seen or known with that kind of dislocation were never the same. Tate got lucky and had full range of motion.

Wow, I'm astonished. Maybe she's double jointed or something...

mawali
08-22-2012, 10:55 AM
She's strong, capable, does Judo, upped her game with BJJ, tough, ability to think on her feet and until she meets an equal competitor, she is the Boss! Of course, if she starts to take the 'status' of fame too far, then she falls faster!

I saw her last week in an ESPN special MMA and women, and she appears level headed!

MightyB
08-23-2012, 05:25 AM
Sweet Highlight Clip (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rf-eNVAeC0U). She does a lot of my favorite take downs at around the 1:30 mark.

GeneChing
09-07-2012, 10:28 AM
Good list of her media accolades here.

Sep 07, 2012
Rolling Stone says Ronda Rousey 'best female fighter ever' (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/mma/post/2012-09-07/rolling-stone-says-ronda-rousey-best-female-fighter-ever/840982/1)
By Matt Erickson, MMAJunkie.com

Ronda Rousey can add Rolling Stone magazine to her ever-growing mass media resume.

Rousey, the unbeaten Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion, makes an appearance in the magazine's most recent issue in a short piece 33 pages in –- next to a fellow Olympian and U.S. swimming sensation Ryan Lochte.

And Rolling Stone cut right to the chase with the all-caps headline: "The best female fighter ever."

Rousey (6-0 MMA, 4-0 SF) is coming off yet another dominant victory, defending her Strikeforce title for the first time with a 54-second armbar -win over former champ Sarah Kaufman last month in San Diego.

That win came on the heels of her title fight win over Miesha Tate in March, which took what for Rousey has become an almost crazy-by-comparison 4:27 to pull off.

The math is what makes that 4:27 crazy, of course. Rousey's three amateur opponents and five professional opponents outside of Tate lasted a combined 4:56 – an average of 37 seconds each. And as is well-known, all tapped to Rousey's signature armbar.
http://i.usatoday.net/communitymanager/_photos/fighting-stances/2012/09/06/rouseyx-wide-community.jpg
By Jayne Kamin-Oncea, US Presswire
While the MMA world has known for a while first of Rousey's potential, and then of her prowess, the mainstream world quickly is catching up.

The Californian appeared on the cover of ESPN The Magazine's famed "Body Issue" wearing nothing but pink hand wraps. She's graced the back cover of UFC Magazine. She appeared on Conan O'Brien's show. She guest-hosted on "TMZ Live" after her criticism of reality star Kim Kardashian hit the news in a big way. And in the buildup to her fight with Kaufman, Showtime aired a two-part All Access special on her.

Now Rolling Stone, the 45-year-old music, politics and culture magazine, has taken notice, too. Jesse Hyde's story references Rousey's thoughts on Kardashian, sure, but also says she has "proved she's the best female fighter in the world ... Partly because of her looks, and partly because of the lethal way she finishes fights, the bantamweight champ is forcing the powers that be in sports to pay attention to women's mixed martial arts."

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker believes Rousey has officially made the crossover into the mainstream. But he also believes the time may be coming soon when Rousey, like a select few athletes in history, could be a one-name star, a la Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods. Rousey, Coker believes, could fill the role that last was thought to be for Gina Carano before Carano mostly left the sport behind to focus on an acting career.

"She's definitely on her way (to being a one-name star)," Coker told MMAjunkie.com. "She's so dominating right now. And I always tell everybody, 'Don't let the beauty fool you because this girl is a dangerous athlete, a dangerous fighter and a great martial artist.' ... But slowly and surely, the media has caught on to who this personality is.

"Gina was like the girl next door, the way I look at it. Ronda has that little edge on her. Or maybe a lot of edge on her is a better way to say it. She'll speak her mind. This girl has a lot to say and she's going to come out and say it."

Coker believes the kind of publicity Rousey commands now, just six fights into her pro career, is not something that can be orchestrated. And while it's a good thing for Rousey, which in turn is a good thing for Strikeforce -- despite the Rolling Stone piece not once mentioning the promotion Rousey fights for -- Coker is in position to sit back, watch and enjoy the ride.

"I think it's kind of happening organically, to tell you the truth," Coker said. "You can try to market somebody -- let's put this person on this show or that show. But this is a situation that has kind of unfolded organically, which has really been fun to watch. It's been one hit after the next. The success she's had in the media and outside the cage, it just keeps coming.

"These are things you can't just plan for – they're just happening. And that's going to continue. She's already one of the biggest stars in MMA, male or female, but she could become the biggest star in mixed martial arts."

For now, Rousey, who is not yet three weeks removed from her win over Kaufman, remains in a bit of limbo for what her next fight will be. The biggest talk is that former featherweight champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos (10-1 MMA, 4-0 SF) could return from a yearlong steroids suspension in December, drop to bantamweight and face Rousey for the title.

But Coker believes Rousey won't want to wait that long. And then there's the matter of Cyborg perhaps not wanting to make the drop in weight, depending on which report is read. Coker said Strikeforce is committed to finding fighters who can test its champions, Rousey included, in the event that fight can't be put together for the next time Rousey gets in the cage.

But regardless of when Coker's biggest star returns, he knows he's dealing with a rare commodity.

"I think if you look at the success of Ronda, not just in the ring but outside the ring, she's one of those rare athletes in any sport that's crossed over," Coker said. "I think the Rolling Stone article and the ESPN The Magazine cover and the Conan interview she did, these are the things that athletes in all sports, whether it's football, basketball, baseball, swimming, track, whatever -- not many athletes cross over to where there's that much interest into what she's saying. Male or female. It's a testament to what she can do inside the ring and outside the ring."

RickMatz
09-11-2012, 03:18 AM
Wow, I'm astonished. Maybe she's double jointed or something...

Well, she is now

GeneChing
09-11-2012, 09:13 AM
California State Athletic Commission Turns Strikeforce Drug Testing Into Farce (http://bayarea.sbnation.com/2012/9/11/3314321/csac-drug-testing-strikeforce-mma-ronda-rousey)
by Bill Hanstock • Sep 11, 2012 4:00 AM PDT

The California Sate Athletic Commission is turning into a parody of itself as the year progresses. The state governing body for Mixed Martial Arts and boxing -- among other things -- bungled the drug testing of the event at last month's card headlined by Ronda Rousey. Details are coming out now which cast the commission in a very unfavorable light indeed.

Star-divide

Tim Burke at Bloody Elbow brings us the long and winding story of the CSAC's drug testing at the latest Strikeforce event, which may as well be set to Benny Hill music.

The long and short of it is that the "random" drug testing for the event resulted in just two drug tests -- for Rousey and her opponent, Sarah Kaufman. Those drug tests were administered by a woman who has experience neither with MMA nor with drug testing of athletes, despite the fact that there were several qualified CSAC inspectors at the event who could have done this instead. There were also chain of custody problems while getting the samples (which came back negative) to the lab.

I think we all know what the solution is: we need to name the Diaz Brothers as the new heads of the CSAC. It would be less laughable at this point than the people currently in charge. Diaz Brothers drug testing! :p

GeneChing
10-24-2012, 05:20 PM
...not to mention smoking hot and great for business.

Mixed Martial Arts - Rousey to spearhead UFC female league (http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/mixed-martial-arts-rousey-spearhead-ufc-female-league-100015006.html)
Ronda Rousey will be the first female fighter to compete in the UFC after her success in 2012 inspired Dana White to add a women's division to UFC.
By Kevin Iole | Yahoo – 14 hours ago
http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/FQdQCxhw5PkNST_CgZDe5Q--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Y2g9MzYwO2NyPTE7Y3c9NjQwO2R4PTA7ZH k9MDtmaT11bGNyb3A7aD0zNTU7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_GB/Sports/Eurosport/877611-14767087-640-360.jpg

The burgeoning superstar remains under contract to Strikeforce, but Rousey's performance in 2012 has convinced UFC president Dana White to add a women's division to the sport's flagship brand.

Rousey still has three fights on her Strikeforce contract, White told Yahoo! Sports on Tuesday, and will fulfil that deal before she moves to the UFC. Sports Illustrated first reported Tuesday that the UFC would add women.

"This isn't breaking news," White said. "I've been saying for months that this was absolutely going to happen. I don't know when it's going to be, because [Rousey] is under contract. We don't have the timing figured out yet. It could be a year, year-and-a-half, but I'm [in support of it]. It's going to happen."

For years, White had been a vocal opponent of women's MMA. But when he saw Rousey defeat Miesha Tate in March, he began to warm to the idea of women in the UFC.

His objection in the past was the dearth of quality women, but on Tuesday, he told Yahoo! Sports that he considers Tate, former Olympic silver medalist wrestler Sara McMann and Cris "Cyborg" Santos as first-rate fighters.

Rousey, though, is the biggest name and by far the top attraction. She's the only woman ever to receive votes in the Yahoo! Sports MMA rankings.

White said he wants Rousey in the UFC because he considers her "the real deal."

"Look, I know a lot of people are going to say we're doing this because she's pretty," White said. "But [ex-Strikeforce star] Gina [Carano] was pretty, too.

"Ronda is a whole other story. She's nasty. She's a real fighter. She not only likes to win, she likes to finish.

"Think about this: Everyone she fights knows what is coming, that armbar of hers, and no one can stop it. They have a whole training camp to prepare for that one move and nobody has been able to stop it yet.

"People who are nasty and technically sound and have that attitude, I love them. She's an Olympic medallist and she's got a great history, but she's in the gym all the time. She's a dude in a girl's body.

"She loves to beat the [expletive] out of people and she's serious about getting better. She's not saying, 'I'm the champ and I've beaten everyone in the first round,' and taking a victory tour. She's up there in Stockton working with the Diaz brothers, trying to get better."

Rousey is expected to fight in January, though nothing has been announced. Two Strikeforce cards in a row have been canceled, leading to speculation about its future, though White declined to speak about it. White typically refuses to speak about Strikeforce to reporters.

MightyB
10-25-2012, 06:53 AM
Another one

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/mma--dana-white--women-fighting-in-ufc--absolutely-going-to-happen--after-ronda-rousey-s-strikeforce-deal-ends.html

RickMatz
10-25-2012, 05:30 PM
I think it's high time that Ms Rousey was named the next GoDaddy Girl.

MightyB
10-26-2012, 08:48 AM
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/396173_10151254495774382_86751637_n.jpg

..........

Syn7
10-30-2012, 09:28 PM
Is she frontin on camera, or is she really that cold in real everyday life? It's gotta be an act. At least I hope so. If it was a conscious ploy to manipulate the market in her favour, that's great. Love it. But if she really is that person, she isn't anyone I would even bother getting to know. Who wants to spend time with a c0cky moody b1tch? I wanna watch them fight, no doubt. But people saying she's likable? That depends. Especially now that she is on top. Of course she was nice to people in the biz when she was nobody. That's just par for the course.

GeneChing
11-14-2012, 10:11 AM
There's a little iPhone vid if you follow the link.

Ronda Rousey won't confirm deal (http://espn.go.com/mma/story/_/id/8611990/ronda-rousey-next-mixed-martial-arts-fighter-join-ufc)
Updated: November 9, 2012, 6:01 PM ET
By Brett Okamoto | ESPN.com

Rousey Dances Around UFC Rumors
Strikeforce bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey addresses reports Zuffa will shut down Strikeforce and start a women's division in the UFC.Tags: UFC, MMA, Ronda Rousey, Strikeforce, Brett Okamoto

LAS VEGAS -- Female mixed martial arts star Ronda Rousey says it would be "totally cool" to become the first woman to sign with the UFC, but would not confirm it's already happened.

A report from TMZ late Thursday stated Rousey, the Strikeforce female bantamweight champion, officially had joined UFC. Additionally, TMZ reported Strikeforce, which airs on Showtime, would cease operations after a previously announced event Jan. 12.

Mindenhall Amid reports that Strikeforce's run as a major fight promotion has come to an end, Chuck Mindenhall looks back at its bittersweet demise and what it likely means for the UFC moving forward. Blog

Officials from UFC and Showtime have yet to speak publicly on the report. UFC president Dana White posted a smiley face to his Twitter account, which he has done in the past when MMA issues explode on social media.

Rousey, who has three fights remaining on her Strikeforce deal, refused to confirm the news while visiting the Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas. Darin Harvey, Rousey's manager, has denied any deal to ESPN.com.

"Seems totally cool," Rousey said. "I would like it to be that way. I haven't signed any bout agreements. I don't know exactly what's going on yet. I know just as much as everybody else knows right now."

Zuffa, parent company of the UFC, purchased the Strikeforce brand in March 2011. An extension to keep the promotion on Showtime was signed in December, with a network option to continue into 2013.

Rousey, 25, has become a major star on Showtime, capturing the 135-pound title with a first-round submission over Miesha Tate in March. A former member of the U.S. Olympic Judo team, she is 6-0 in MMA and has finished all of her opponents via armbar in the first round.

The UFC long has taken a lukewarm stance to the idea of adding a female division, but that's changed drastically in recent months. During an interview with Sports Illustrated last month, White was quoted as saying, "It's absolutely going to happen."

A fight against former Strikeforce featherweight champion Cristiane Santos likely would be the biggest fight in women's MMA history. Santos was stripped of the Strikeforce 145-pound title after testing positive for an anabolic steroid after a fight last December. Rousey has stated Santos, who is serving a yearlong suspension, would have to drop to 135 pounds for the bout.

MightyB
11-14-2012, 01:32 PM
have you met her yet?

GeneChing
11-14-2012, 02:28 PM
If I did, y'all would be the first to know. ;)

MightyB
11-15-2012, 09:07 AM
http://bjjtoday.net/kyra-gracie-vs-ronda-rousey/


Kyra Gracie on fighting Ronda Rousey

http://bjjtoday.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Kyra-Gracie-Wikimedia-Commons-Veritas-300x205.jpg

“She has great skills pulling off that armbar. Congratulations”, compliments the Brazilian. “I guess she’s doing a great job representing women in MMA. She has a good Judo background and managed to well adapt her skills to MMA. Each fight she comes better and better on ground and stand-up skills”.

Kyra points out Rousey’s trainings with Cesar Gracie as one of the factors for her improvement at grappling. “She’s training Jiu-Jitsu with my cousin Cesar in San Francisco, and I can see she’s evolving”.

A three-time ADCC champion and five-time world champion, Kyra is training Boxing in regular basis eyeing her MMA debut. And she keeps getting more excited about the transition.

“I’m training right now. I added Boxing to my training routine, I’m training with Claudio Coelho but I always focus more in Jiu-Jitsu because that’s where I come from. MMA growth makes me think about it more and more each day. I’m studying some propositions and checking with my coaches when would be the best moment to do it. But it doesn’t slow things down”, says.

Women’s MMA market is still pretty small in Brazil, and being a Gracie might help her to sign a contract with a big organization like Strikeforce. Despite that, Kyra is not in a hurry. “I gotta take one step at a time. I can’t do it all at once and then break down. I’m a white belt at this sport”, acknowledges. However, Kyra trust her ground game skills on a possible future fight against Ronda.

“I have pretty good armbar defense (laughs). I proved that already in Jiu-Jitsu tournaments”, remembers the fighter, warning she would have a bigger advantage over Rousey in case they had a Submission or a Jiu-Jitsu fight. “I’m an expert at Submission, so…”.

“Cyborg is more complete”, Gracie evaluates. The possible fight against Ronda is far from being a reality, but another Brazilian might cross Rousey’s path in 2013: Cris Cyborg. Strikeforce champion on a heavier division, Cris owns a sharp striking game and it could put Ronda in trouble.

“They’re not on the same weight class, but I wanna watch it in case it happens. It’s hard to predict an outcome for this fight because each fight is unique”, says the black belt. “I guess Cris is more complete because she has a great stand-up and has been evolving a lot on the ground, and she’s a two-time world champion (of Jiu-Jitsu) on the purple belt. Ronda is an Olympian athlete, who trains since she was a little girl and is used to suffering from training”.

Cyborg’s roots are in Muay Thai, but she’s been constantly investing on grappling. And a proof of that is her Jiu-Jitsu evolution, earning the world title twice in the modality. “I trained Jiu-Jitsu with Cris in San Diego earlier this year, before World. It would be a great experience and we both benefit from it”, said on the possibility of training with Cris Cyborg for her MMA debut.

“Since I trained with her before World I could notice her moves and explosion. I knew it would be hard to take that world title from her”.

sanjuro_ronin
11-15-2012, 09:10 AM
http://bjjtoday.net/kyra-gracie-vs-ronda-rousey/

Fight should happen in bikinis, just to make sure that it is fair for all.
:D

GeneChing
11-19-2012, 10:37 AM
Dana White confirms Ronda Rousey signing with UFC (http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mma/2012/11/16/dana-white-confirms-ronda-rousey-ufc-signing/1710581/)

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/16/usp-mma_-strikeforce-rousey-vs-kaufman-3_4_r560.jpg?f061b7ce9937c38b702e6f308816ac2a14e2a 4ec
(Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea, US Presswire)
Story Highlights

6:50PM EST November 16. 2012 - Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is officially UFC-bound.

After a week's worth of news reports about a potential deal, UFC President Dana White confirmed the signing Friday.

White confirmed the UFC deal, which is the first for a female fighter, while a guest on The Jim Rome Show ahead of Saturday's UFC 154 event.

"Yes, it's official," White said. "Ronda Rousey did sign with the UFC.

"She has the whole package. ... This girl is nasty. She might be beautiful on the outside, but she's a Diaz brother on the inside. She's a real fighter and real talented. She has the credentials and the pedigree. And she has the 'it' factor. I think she's going to be a big superstar."

Terms of the deal, as well as a debut date and opponent, were not disclosed.

Rousey (6-0 MMA, 4-0 Strikeforce), an Olympic bronze-medal judoka, likely will become the UFC's women's bantamweight championship as her title changes promotions. As of now, she's the only confirmed female fighter signed to the organization.

Rousey, in a short window of time, has taken the MMA world by storm. She ran through three amateur opponents with first-round armbars, and she did the same to her first four pro opponents.

She got a title shot in March against then-Strikeforce champ Miesha Tate, and though Tate lasted longer than all of Rousey's previous opponents combined, she still was forced to tap to a first-round arm bar. In her first title defense in August, Rousey also submitted Sarah Kaufman – by armbar – in less than a minute.

Many fans are eager to see a fight between Rousey and Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos, who was stripped of her title and issued a yearlong suspension after a failed drug test (steroids) last December. But Santos has been hesitant to drop from 145 pounds, where she was Strikeforce's champion, at her doctors' urging.

Rousey's move comes amid rumors of Strikeforce's likely demise after a final show Jan. 12. Rousey isn't scheduled to compete in the event, which features three other champions from the promotion.


Now the question is, who will be the second female?

Rousey-Santos not likely for UFC (http://espn.go.com/mma/story/_/id/8648171/ufc-eyes-possible-ronda-rousey-foes-cristiane-cyborg-santos-unlikely)
Updated: November 18, 2012, 8:36 AM ET
By Franklin McNeil | ESPN.com

MONTREAL -- Ronda Rousey's first UFC opponent is undetermined but this is much is clear: It likely won't be former Strikeforce featherweight champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos.

A date has yet to be set for Rousey, the recently signed women's bantamweight champion, to make her UFC debut, promotion president Dana White said Saturday night.

Rousey is the first and only women's mixed martial artist under contract with UFC, though White says efforts are being made to bring on more 135-pound fighters.

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An effort was made to sign Santos, a former Strikeforce featherweight champion, but thus far she is unwilling to drop to 135 pounds and fight Rousey in a highly anticipated bout.

"I haven't talked to (Santos') camp, but our matchmaker has and she doesn't seem too excited to fight Ronda," White said. "We're bringing in the 135-pound division.

"That's what we're doing. I'm trying this whole women's thing out."

UFC intends to only promote the women's bantamweight division at this time. Santos' reluctance to fight at 135 pounds means that she will not compete in UFC in the foreseeable future.

Santos has not fought since Dec. 17, 2011, when she defeated Hiroko Yamanaka by first-round TKO. The result of that fight, however, was overturned after Santos tested positive for stanozolol, an anabolic steroid.

Santos was stripped of her title and suspended for one year.

When an opponent is found for Rousey it is possible that she will defend her title in a UFC main event. White said Rousey's debut will be on a pay-per-view card.

"She's the champ," White said. "Unless there's a (men's) weight division higher than (bantamweight) and she's defending the title, she'd be the main event.

"She is the first ever UFC women's champion."

Rousey (6-0) won the Strikeforce bantamweight title with a first-round armbar submission of Miesha Tate on March 3. She successfully defended the title in August with a first-round armbar submission of Sarah Kaufman.

Napitenkah
12-04-2012, 04:13 AM
So at the female fights, will they have male models walking around in bathing suites, with round signs?

MightyB
12-04-2012, 07:39 AM
Ronda Rousey's Sex Strategy: 'I Try To Have As Much Sex As Possible Before I Fight' (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/30/ronda-rousey-sex-fight-mma_n_2218942.html?utm_hp_ref=email_share)

Syn7
12-04-2012, 03:16 PM
So thats it? Strikeforce is dead because White couldnt wait two years to add women to the UFC, something he swore up and down to the world not even two years ago that it would never ever ever in a million years happen? That man would eat a dick to make a dollar.

The UFC is great, its mos def the top tier, but I hate how they are cannibalizing every other league that is worth watching. Without strikeforce, that pretty kills pro alternatives in the US. Theres still Bellator I guess. And some of the minor leagues are ok but they arent usually run very well.

The tradeoff sucks, anyone who does well in the mma promotion game ends up selling out and the rest cant organize an event very well and end up looking like what they are. Nobody.

Syn7
12-04-2012, 03:22 PM
I wonder what her contract is like compared to her male counterparts?

Napitenkah
12-04-2012, 05:04 PM
She's on the ground floor running, so she will likely be Dana's female Liddell, her financial future is likely solid.

Assuming she does well.

GeneChing
12-04-2012, 05:48 PM
Still trippin on this.
Ronda Rousey's Sex Strategy: 'I Try To Have As Much Sex As Possible Before I Fight' (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/30/ronda-rousey-sex-fight-mma_n_2218942.html?utm_hp_ref=email_share)

Syn7
12-04-2012, 08:09 PM
She's on the ground floor running, so she will likely be Dana's female Liddell, her financial future is likely solid.

Assuming she does well.

Yeah but theres just no way she'll make the kind of money the long term champs are making, like silva and st pierre. I wondr if she does better than ben henderson.

Napitenkah
12-05-2012, 04:01 AM
Funny you should mention them. Because Silva and GSP are two of the very few UFC fighters that are close to being actual Martial artists.

There are few MMA fighters that are proficient in martial arts and think and act like martial artists.

Not that a martial artists is a singular idea, or that they all would be clones of each other, but there are certain attributes.

Both of them don't talk ****, and if you talk **** about them, they take it as disrespecting them.

But they won't do anything until the right time.

MightyB
12-05-2012, 06:59 AM
Still trippin on this.

This is why you need to score an interview with her. Not only could you ask the probing questions that are on all of our forum-ers' minds, but you could also work her over with that special Gene Ching charm®. Who knows, maybe you could help her train.

GeneChing
12-05-2012, 10:41 AM
This is why you need to score an interview with her. Not only could you ask the probing questions that are on all of our forum-ers' minds, but you could also work her over with that special Gene Ching charm®. Who knows, maybe you could help her train.
First, I am married. Second, Ronda would break me. Third, the special Gene Ching charm® just ain't what it used to be.

That being said, I'm on it, MightyB. Some one has to take one for the forum. ;)

Um...who is she dating now?

sanjuro_ronin
12-05-2012, 10:48 AM
Still trippin on this.

Wouldn't trip too much dude.
Someone knows what sells, know what I mean?

MightyB
12-05-2012, 02:33 PM
Um...who is she dating now?

Not sure, her last boyfriend was a Rickson Gracie Black Belt by the name of Henry Akins...

Why the F*** do I know this stuff?

MightyB
01-04-2013, 10:46 AM
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ronda-Rousey-WMMA-Autographed-Sports-Bra-/221171641630?pt=US_Autographs&hash=item337edb6d1e

MMA Marketplace: Bid on sports bras from the best female fighters for a good cause (http://ht.ly/gxJCr)

Do you want to own your favorite fighter's sports bra without committing a felony and support a worthy cause? Good news. Some of your favorite female fighters are auctioning off signed sports bras and rash guards to help fight breast cancer.

Ronda Rousey, Felice Herrig, Liz Carmouche and Julie Kedize are among the fighters who have handed over their sports bras for an eBay auction. Rosie Sexton gave her top and shorts. Proceeds will go to Keep A Breast, a nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating breast cancer for future generations.

As of this writing, UFC women's bantamweight champion Rousey has the highest bid. It's going for $340, plus shipping. The bra that belonged to Bec Hyatt, who will fight for Invicta's straw weight title on Saturday, is up to $330. Check it out, and help a good cause.
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Ronda-Rousey-WMMA-Autographed-Sports-Bra-/00/s/ODQ3WDk2MA==/$%28KGrHqJ,!i4FCqnCBv%29%29BQ4NyZcR!Q~~60_57.JPG

Judokarl
01-09-2013, 10:22 AM
Still trippin on this. Its simple she knows sex sells so she tries to be flirty or say inciting things in interveiws to try and get more and more attention. Her opponent Liz "Girl-rilla" Carmouche did an invterview and said the same thing and made a joke about how much her girlfriend loves fight night.

I am looking forward to their fight but I am worried what the state of women's MMA will be if Ronda looses. Right now it looks like that if Ronda looses that Dana will just be sitting their looking like a dope with his thumb up his butt. This fight is abit to build around Ronda for my tastes. (Note that as a judoka I am a huge fan of hers, but I also enjoy other fighters and I don't want to see womens mma completely fade out.)

MightyB
01-11-2013, 02:06 PM
Sex does sell but you cannot ignore the fact that Ronda Rousey is really good at Judo and has shown better than any competitor to date how well Judo translates to MMA and how exciting it can be as a fighting art. Right now IMO she's one of the most exciting fighters in MMA regardless of gender yet she still has trouble selling out a UFC event.

GeneChing
01-11-2013, 02:28 PM
Perhaps 'fantasizing' would have been more accurate. :o


Dana will just be sitting their looking like a dope with his thumb up his butt. Yea, either way, he'll be laughing all the way to the bank.

Judokarl
01-17-2013, 10:13 AM
Sex does sell but you cannot ignore the fact that Ronda Rousey is really good at Judo and has shown better than any competitor to date how well Judo translates to MMA and how exciting it can be as a fighting art. Right now IMO she's one of the most exciting fighters in MMA regardless of gender yet she still has trouble selling out a UFC event. Oh no doubt he judo is amazing. I am still mistified by her work, shes like a female Parisan without the drug problems. I blame the lack of selling on her not smack talking on this one. I get that she feels the first female fight in the UFC should be enough to sell it self and that she doesn't want to spoil it with the usual theatrics but it would help it sell better if the talked half the amount of smack she does with Cyborg.

GeneChing
01-18-2013, 03:35 PM
HSK fell for that one too (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1205716#post1205716)... :o


Tweets in bad taste still rampant (http://espn.go.com/blog/mma/tag/_/name/ufc-157)
January, 17, 2013 6:23 AM ET
By Chuck Mindenhall
ESPN.com

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/1210/mma_a_rousey01jr_576.jpg
Ronda RouseyAP Photo/The Canadian Press/Neil Davidson
Ronda Rousey's outspoken ways got her in hot water Tuesday when she posted an insensitive tweet.

For starters, Sandy Hook was not a hoax. I live in Sandy Hook, and the week's worth of funeral processions down Church Hill Road was not imagined. The grieving people here are not actors. The ambulances that raced by my house were not props. The kids that have been taken from this community are not coming back. Neither are the teachers.

It'd be nice if Ronda Rousey knew better, but you wonder whether she does. Even after her manager Darin Harvey tried to clear things up in an interview with MMA Junkie.

Rousey tweeted an "extremely interesting must watch video" (as she put it) on Tuesday about a government conspiracy in regard to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on Dec. 14 in Newtown, Conn. (a poorly constructed video presenting the whole thing as a staged massacre to boost anti-gun sentiment.) It takes imagination to conjure a wholesale tragedy like that. It takes suspicious minds to help perpetuate the notion, even if Rousey later said she was only trying to present open-mindedness.

There's open-minded and then there's absent-minded.

Perhaps Rousey had to be here. Perhaps she should be here. After all, there are plenty of people I could introduce her to who would love to learn that the whole thing was a work of creative fiction, so their family and friends could come home. If only that could really be the case. When my own daughter was on lockdown that morning, it seemed real enough for me.

I am as opposed to high horses as the next guy, but tweets like these come off as senseless. And as a transcendent, historical figure in MMA whose actions take on more intensive scrutiny as she goes along, that's not something the UFC needs. Responsibility remains an issue for some of these fighters who've become overnight celebrities.

Rousey has yet to understand her own sense of bigness. She's still dealing in silly.

And right now she's a long way from being an ambassador of this sport. As a self-proclaimed "Diaz brother" -- a product of her better humor -- maybe she doesn't really need to be. She can be as ornery and candid and as opinionated as befits her job. Her mean streak works well in a sport than ends up in a cage.

But she could stand to add something very important to her arsenal that right now is a glaring weakness -- and that is common sense. The UFC goes over social media protocol in its annual fighter summit, but it apparently still leaves people with vague notions of what passes as proper behavior.

The UFC likes raw. I like raw. I like candid. I like Rousey. I want her to be great for the sport, and I believe she will be great for the sport.

But there's a line of decency. It's not in good taste to post a must-see video that the people all around here -- shattered, bereft and traumatized -- are in on a conspiratorial work. That the unthinkable thing that happened to them didn't happen to them at all.

And that's certainly not the kind of response you want from your superstars. While many athletes are using their status to help, Rousey chose to exacerbate the grief. What is the proper response? There isn't one, but you can pick up cues from the professionals in other sports, where players came at it from a place of empathy rather than paranoia.

New York Giants receiver Victor Cruz visited the grieving family of Jack Pinto, one of the first-graders who died on Dec. 14. He was a Giants fan. The Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL hockey team wore jerseys for a home game with the names of the 20 young victims on their backs. Various NFL teams wore decals. Virginia Tech wore helmets memorializing the tragedy. Landon Donovan and other soccer stars visited and held a clinic here in Newtown. The Providence basketball team wore uniforms of green and white, the Sandy Hook colors, with the name of the village across their chests.

These are ways to pay respects. Even Pat Barry, who knocked out Shane Del Rosario a day after the tragedy, emotionally paid respects to the families.

Was Barry "blindly accepting what he was told," (as Rousey later tweeted) or being a human being? And if you don't want to pay respects, don't say anything at all. What if one of these kids was a fan of Rousey's? What if his or her parents were?

Maybe Rousey came to realize something along these lines, and that's why she deleted the tweet and apologized. Or maybe it was the backlash alone that did it, and she just forgave herself on the spot with an "oops, my bad!" Who knows. But she didn't -- and likely doesn't -- fear the consequences.

And that's a little bit maddening. The UFC doesn't exactly reprimand its professionals for actions such as these. Yes, the UFC cut Miguel Torres for his "rape" tweet, but it seems like window dressing when he ends up on the roster again so quickly thereafter. Forrest Griffin, who made a rape joke of his own, wasn't given much of a slap on the wrist.

More than likely, Rousey won't be either.

She's the first female world champion in the UFC and is about to become the first woman to defend that title in a UFC main event. She's the "big thing" in MMA right now. It's a terrible time for her to dim her own star.

She made a mistake, and mistakes are forgivable. In an ideal world, you’d hope somebody within the company might want to make sure she understands the nature of her mistake.

Then again, in an ideal world, the Sandy Hook massacre would have never happened to begin with. But the truth is, it did.

mawali
01-18-2013, 07:09 PM
That is probably the crowd she is hanging around with and it could be bad for her career. Shejust needs t fight, win and enjoy her wins.

JamesC
01-18-2013, 08:22 PM
Never heard of her until this thread. She's hot

MightyB
01-25-2013, 02:00 PM
She's doing one of my favorite throws! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jF1Q6Hqx5U&feature=em-uploademail) :):):)

GeneChing
02-01-2013, 10:25 AM
As you all weren't mature enough to discuss Gay MMA (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50501) without getting the thread locked down, this will have to sit here.


Liz Carmouche, professional mixed martial artist, and openly gay (video interview) (http://americablog.com/2013/02/liz-carmouche-mma-ufc-women.html)
2/1/2013 7:00am by John Aravosis 2 Comments

I got a chance to sit down yesterday via Skype with Liz Carmouche, 28, a professional mixed martial arts fighter who is openly-gay, and will be competing in the first-ever, women’s UFC title fight against Ronda Rousey on February 23, 2013 on Pay-Per-View (UFC 157: Rousey vs Camouche).

I talked to Liz about being openly-gay and a woman in professional sports, about her nearly six years in the US Marines, and about growing up lesbian.

http://americablog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/liz-carmouche-1-e1359686364247-193x300.png
Liz Carmouche, professional mixed martial artist.

MMA is basically a mix of kickboxing, boxing, martial arts, and jiu jitsu. The thing is, up until now, the premiere MMA organization, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), has only permitted male mixed martial arts fighters. That’s why the upcoming match between Liz and Ronda Rousey is such a big deal. The hope is that the UFC will see merit in women MMA matches, and continue the fights beyond this upcoming one.

Liz is a joy to interview. She’s just so much fun, energetic, smart, thoughtful, and that smile – she has a never-ending smile. If both of us weren’t gay, I’d be in love. Seriously though, she’s quite impressive, and not at all like her scary-faced tough-gal publicity photos. She’s a really smart, interesting woman. I hope she keeps talking about what it’s like to be gay in professional sports, because I think she could really make a difference.

Liz has no problem talking about being gay, and in fact sees it as a bit of a selling point for her career in MMA. Liz’s fans, many of whom are lesbians, but certainly not all, even have a nickname for themselves that Liz laughs about: Lizbos.

http://americablog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/liz-carmouche-small.jpg
Liz Carmouche and her signature smile.

At one point I asked Liz if it made sense to keep male MMA and female MMA competitions separate. She said it did make sense, but she could still beat the guys because she’s so strong. Her extraordinary strength earned her the nickname “Gorilla.” Though it’s spelled: “Girlrilla.”

The interview is around 17 minutes long, so watch at your leisure. It’s fun. Follow the link above for the vid.

sanjuro_ronin
02-01-2013, 10:33 AM
You know how much I care about a fighters sexual orientation?
ZERO.
Know how much I care about a fighters view on sex?
ZERO.
Know how much I care about a fighters view on ANYTHING outside their chosen profession ( fighting)?
ZERO.

Now all we need is for fighters to KNOW that.

GeneChing
02-01-2013, 10:56 AM
If MMA intends to become an accepted professional sport by pop culture along the lines of Football or Baseball, every athlete becomes a celebrity. Pro sports don't exist in a vacuum. Quite the opposite, they can be - and should be - a snapshot of the times. Just look at the Chris Culliver debacle with the Superbowl (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65192). You may not care, s_r, but for pro sports to mean anything at all, they must stay relevant to pop culture topics. I actually commend Carmouche and UFC for coming out about this (like Culliver should have been, that's me repping SF for ya.) If anything, my main criticism of the MMA community on the whole is that they exist in a vacuum. They've literally caged themselves in by their own macho stereotypes. UFC is trying to shift that, not only with this fight, but with things like Here Comes the Boom (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=58403). It's a smart move because it gives the sport more growth opportunity.

sanjuro_ronin
02-01-2013, 11:33 AM
If MMA intends to become an accepted professional sport by pop culture along the lines of Football or Baseball, every athlete becomes a celebrity. Pro sports don't exist in a vacuum. Quite the opposite, they can be - and should be - a snapshot of the times. Just look at the Chris Culliver debacle with the Superbowl (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65192). You may not care, s_r, but for pro sports to mean anything at all, they must stay relevant to pop culture topics. I actually commend Carmouche and UFC for coming out about this (like Culliver should have been, that's me repping SF for ya.) If anything, my main criticism of the MMA community on the whole is that they exist in a vacuum. They've literally caged themselves in by their own macho stereotypes. UFC is trying to shift that, not only with this fight, but with things like Here Comes the Boom (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=58403). It's a smart move because it gives the sport more growth opportunity.

Honestly, I don't care about any athelets opinion on anything outside their sport.
I don't care about a doctors opinion on aircraft mechanics.
I don't care about an engineers opinion on planters warts.
I don't care about a porn stars view on global climate change.
I don't care about an African bushman's view on North Korean heritage issues.

Being some sort of expert on ONE thing gives you NO credentials to comment on something totally unrelated.

Seriously, if i hear one more story about the sexual orientation of someone that just happens to be famous or was famous at one point int time, I think I'll Dim Mak the first ****sexual I see !!
Or Heterosexual !!!
Not that there's anything wrong with it !!

GeneChing
02-01-2013, 12:49 PM
I don't care about a porn stars view on global climate change. Don't be absurd. Nothing could possibly be more important. ;)

Syn7
02-01-2013, 02:30 PM
I think it's great she came out and all that. I have no issue with that whatsoever. My issue is with the maturity of a mostly male audience. If it were men it would be different. Many male jerks have no issue with gay women yet hate on gay men.

Let's not forget that many people think it's a ****erotic sport as it is.

This will be a story worth newslines when somebody like nick diaz agrees to fight an openly gay male. I wanna see a big name come out like Jon Jones, that would really **** some folks off.

Kellen Bassette
02-01-2013, 02:38 PM
Let's not forget that many people think it's a ****erotic sport as it is.


My boxer buddies call it MMGay.

GeneChing
02-01-2013, 05:34 PM
She turns 26 today!

Meanwhile...


Has Cris Cyborg Made an Offer that Ronda Rousey and UFC President Dana White Can't Refuse? (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/cris-cyborg-made-offer-ronda-111920966--mma.html)

Will she or won’t she?

Can the women’s fight everyone most wants to see ever come to fruition?

Is there any way to make the Ronda Rousey vs. Cris Cyborg Santos fight happen?

Cyborg says there is a way, but that UFC president Dana White is just protecting Rousey, trying to make the fight happen with Cyborg going into it handicapped.

“I am not afraid of Ronda Rousey,” Cyborg posted recently via Twitter. “I will fight her anywhere anytime for free.

“Everyone knows I barely make 145 (pounds), but I am willing to sacrifice and meet her halfway at 140.”

White has said over and over again that the UFC instituted a 135-pound women’s division and installed Rousey as the division’s first champion; period. They are not ready to add any other women’s weight classes anytime soon.

“Cyborg either wants to come in and fight for the title and get a big payday and fight the champion or she doesn't,” said White.

Cyborg believes that White is holding his stance because he wants his new champion to have an unfair advantage.

“I can't believe Dana White says I want nothing to do with Ronda Rousey,” she posted.

“What he wants me to do is fight Rhonda with both my hands tied behind my back or comatose, so that she can have a chance, which is what making me fight at 135 is.”

The former Strikeforce featherweight champion, however, says that she is willing to handicap herself, partially, by dropping partway down to make the fight happen.

“To finally shut everyone up, I will fight Rhonda with one hand tied behind my back at 140 pounds and still kick her ass and prove that I'm the real champ not her,” she declared.

“And let the winner take all. Come on Ronda Rousey; step up, *****!”

Brazen words, for sure, but not completely out of the realm of possibility. White appears to be warming to the idea that the fight could happen… even if not on his demand of it being at 135 pounds.

Would he really consider going outside of his only women’s division to put the fight together?

“If that's what (Cyborg) is willing to do, is go to 140, let Rhonda defend her title a few times and see if Rhonda wants to go to 140,” White told MMAWeekly.com on Thursday.

“If I know Rhonda, she probably would anyway. If (Cyborg) wants to fight for a title, she's gotta go to 135 pounds. The fight at 140 would be a fan fight because everybody wants to see it, but it's not one of those fights that makes sense.”

It may not make sense, but White has stated time and again – and he reiterated this on Thursday – he is “in the business of making fights that the fans want to see.”

So if the fans make it clear that they want to see Rhonda Rousey vs. Cris Cyborg, and Rousey agrees, it appears that the fight could eventually take place… even at a catchweight. She should take her up on the one-hand-tied-behind-back offer.

Syn7
02-02-2013, 01:42 PM
Cyborg is a real piece of work. "I'm so awesome you should give me a belt for a division I can't make weight for" WTF right?

It doesn't take a genius to understand why he chose 135 as his initial platform. It also makes sense that she should defend her title a few times before engaging in a catch weight superfight. Don't get me wrong, it would be great to see, but come on... Cyborg gives herself way too much credit. And let's not forget why she has fallen out of favour. She's a cheater, str8 up.

If it was up to me PED's would end in lifetime bans. Use em once, gone. Period. Real PED's, not banned substances. I don't think Nick Diaz should have had such a great win taken away cause he smoked some weed. Saying he had an unfair advantage is ridiculous. IMO, that was no diff than if he got caught shoplifting. Had nada to do with MMA.

But Cyborg?If I ruled the world she would be blackballed.

I'm not even sure she's 51% woman at this point. :p

MightyB
02-02-2013, 07:38 PM
Don't be absurd. Nothing could possibly be more important. ;)

I know... right?

MightyB
02-21-2013, 09:49 AM
This is too funny. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qAHynIa_QZQ)

TaichiMantis
02-22-2013, 05:23 PM
This is too funny. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qAHynIa_QZQ)
Bwahahahaha !

MightyB
02-23-2013, 06:43 PM
Time to go to the pay per view party!

Kellen Bassette
02-23-2013, 08:03 PM
Time to go to the pay per view party!

I want to come! :(

MightyB
02-23-2013, 11:23 PM
Awesome fight. Liz almost had her with a massive neck crank. The armbar prevailed in the end.

I think we almost saw boob twice. The pics will be all over the internet tomorrow.

MightyB
02-24-2013, 12:16 PM
Osu! (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=491602997544107&set=vb.277472782270845&type=2&theater)


It's even better the 2nd time I watch. Man it was close.

Vash
02-24-2013, 12:38 PM
Good fight.

Boobwatch Engaged.

Two very motivated fighters, great skills.

*misogyny sandwich*

18elders
02-25-2013, 12:23 PM
much rather watch 2 chicks roll around on each other than 2 guys. hope dana white keeps the women in the ufc!!!!

MightyB
02-25-2013, 02:57 PM
http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/the_main_event/ufc_analysis_first_women_fight_was_euSSc2BAvnkWSJ2 rowyloO#axzz2LvrOwyA0


The UFC could not have written the script any better.

The organization’s first try at promoting women’s MMA – and on a huge stage – was a rousing success. Or should I say a Rousey success?

Ronda Rousey continued her rise to mainstream stardom at UFC 157 by submitting Liz Carmouche with her trademark armbar at 4:49 of the first round to retain her UFC women’s bantamweight title at the Honda Center in Anaheim. The beautiful blonde simply winning would have been fine. But she showed toughness and resolve in an action-packed fight. It was the longest fight of a career that has featured five fights finished in less than a minute.

Carmouche jumped on her back and threatened with a rear naked choke and a neck crank. Rousey kept her poise and shook Carmouche off despite nearly losing her mouth piece attempting to get free of the submission hold.

“I was more concerned with my sports bra staying on while she was choking me because I felt safe and in control,” Rousey said on the Fuel TV post-fight show. “She squeezed across my face and my mouth, and she almost forced my mouth guard out. I didn’t try to bite her. She put her hand in my mouth. Sorry.”

Carmouche fell to the canvas and Rousey adjusted her top, seemingly saying, “OK, it’s my turn now.” The champion pounced and got into side position, controlling Carmouche’s head and arms. Rousey hammered Carmouche with punch after punch until Carmouche’s forehead turned beat red.

When the moment was right, Rousey swung her hips around and got a hold of Carmouche’s arm. Carmouche fought it better than anyone else has, but with 11 seconds left Rousey torqued the limb and Carmouche was forced to tap. You could see the ligaments in her arm contorting as Rousey pulled on it.

“I knew she was tough and I was expecting to go five rounds,” Rousey said. “Ten seconds difference and it could have gone a different way and we would have been in round two. Much respect to her.”

Rousey won and stayed undefeated at 7-0 with every victory coming inside of one round via armbar. Carmouche looked tough as nails. The first women’s fight in UFC history was a classic. A rematch would be easily marketable.

Nothing is ever perfect, not in this sport and not in real life. But this is exactly what the UFC could have hoped for. This proved that women’s MMA has legs. There’s serious growth potential and the risk the UFC took by putting two women in the main event of a pay per view was well rewarded.


http://www.nypost.com/r/nypost/2013/02/24/sports/web_photos/f133237--415x415.jpg

Vash
02-25-2013, 04:31 PM
What I really like is how much of a fight the women put on versus most of the guys on the card. They wanted to be their, competing, to see who was better. A lot of the other fighters looked to me like they thought they were on a reality show.

Frost
02-26-2013, 06:39 AM
http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/the_main_event/ufc_analysis_first_women_fight_was_euSSc2BAvnkWSJ2 rowyloO#axzz2LvrOwyA0



http://www.nypost.com/r/nypost/2013/02/24/sports/web_photos/f133237--415x415.jpg

and this is why you dont use the head and arm in a gi less enviroment, you get your back taken lol

Two things about ronda: she has a great arm bar, and needs a better stand up coach :)

MightyB
02-26-2013, 02:22 PM
and this is why you dont use the head and arm in a gi less enviroment, you get your back taken lol

Two things about ronda: she has a great arm bar, and needs a better stand up coach :)

Go big or go home. That's the essence of Judo.

Robinhood
02-26-2013, 03:36 PM
much rather watch 2 chicks roll around on each other than 2 guys. hope dana white keeps the women in the ufc!!!!

Ya, cat fight., better than dog fight.

Frost
02-27-2013, 02:14 AM
Go big or go home. That's the essence of Judo.

Yep but it wasnt a judo match :)

taai gihk yahn
02-27-2013, 06:39 AM
anyone ever think we'll see a Rousey v. Cyborg match up?

MightyB
02-27-2013, 06:44 AM
Yep but it wasnt a judo match :)

It wasn't the head an arm toss, if you watch the vid link I posted you'll see that she ended up actually finishing the toss and landed with Liz in a kesa gatame. This is where she screwed up. Liz was incredibly strong and broke the kesa and took her back. Luckily Ronda's tougher. But, if you watch further, after she got Liz off her back and that initial bit of stand up, she went right back to the kesa hold down. It looked like in both instances she was trying to figure 4 Liz's arm. This is where she was over-relying on Judo. Kesa is a great Judo hold down, not so much for BJJ or MMA because there's too much opportunity to escape, which Liz almost did while Ronda was f*cking around trying to establish the figure 4. Watch further and maybe the coach yelled at her, or the Ceaser Gracie training kicked in because you definitely see a light go off in her mind. Because she transitioned from Kesa to side, then to full mount. She got her position and hit the arm lock. The Kesa to Side to mount is pretty standard BJJ.

So to reiterate, it wasn't the takedown, Ronda's bad @ss, and Judo's the strongest. Osu!

Frost
02-27-2013, 06:48 AM
:D
It wasn't the head an arm toss, if you watch the vid link I posted you'll see that she ended up actually finishing the toss and landed with Liz in a . This is where she screwed up. Liz was incredibly strong and broke the kesa and took her back. Luckily Ronda's tougher. But, if you watch further, after she got Liz off her back and that initial bit of stand up, she went right back to the kesa hold down. It looked like in both instances she was trying to figure 4 Liz's arm. This is where she was over-relying on Judo. Kesa is a great Judo hold down, not so much for BJJ or MMA because there's too much opportunity to escape, which Liz almost did while Ronda was f*cking around trying to establish the figure 4. Watch further and maybe the coach yelled at her, or the Carlos Gracie training kicked in because you definitely see a light go off in her mind. Because she transitioned from Kesa to side, then to full mount. She got her position and hit the arm lock. The Kesa to Side to mount is pretty standard BJJ.

So to reiterate, it wasn't the takedown, Ronda's bad @ss, and Judo's the strongest. Osu!
I wasnt talking about the takedown i was taling about the hold :D
i wasnt talking about a throw but scarf hold on the ground (which is head and arm to me as a non judo person :) ) this is where she went wrong and as you say into judo mode

As for judo being the strongest...ummm......

MightyB
02-27-2013, 06:57 AM
:D
As for judo being the strongest...ummm......

Kungfudo is the strongest!!!

http://ummagumma.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/flash-point-01.jpg?w=660

Frost
02-27-2013, 07:45 AM
Kungfudo is the strongest!!!

http://ummagumma.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/flash-point-01.jpg?w=660

arghh takes me back, neil adams is working with the chinese national judo squad this week and just wrote about spending 45 minutes arm barring the whole squad one after another :)

MightyB
02-27-2013, 07:48 AM
arghh takes me back, neil adams is working with the chinese national judo squad this week and just wrote about spending 45 minutes arm barring the whole squad one after another :)

If you get the chance, watch his Newaza video. Guy's amazing. Does a lot of no gi in it so it translates well to MMA.

MightyB
02-27-2013, 07:57 AM
Classic KungFuDo!

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/31477_219982041479607_371976522_n.jpg

Frost
02-27-2013, 08:13 AM
If you get the chance, watch his Newaza video. Guy's amazing. Does a lot of no gi in it so it translates well to MMA.

yep all the work he has done with us has been judo for MMA and Nogi grappling

MightyB
02-27-2013, 08:43 AM
The official Gracie breakdown of the match. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50i_LYf2KAY&feature=youtu.be)

Frost
03-02-2013, 09:27 AM
The official Gracie breakdown of the match. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50i_LYf2KAY&feature=youtu.be)

Jesus i think i prefer listening to rogans breakdowns (and i never thought id say that)
i thought there dad was full of himself lol

why is she still arm barring people 7 times in a row and they cant do anything about it?.......because she is an Olympic calibre judo expert used to arm baring other OL calibre people, doing it to others no here near that level is relatively easy its not rocket science

Syn7
03-02-2013, 05:50 PM
I think her first loss will be by somebody taking her apart in the pocket and avoiding any and all clinches. Most likely somebody who hits hard enough to do it with one clean shot. That's assuming she doesn't make any big mistakes that get her hurt.

Frost
03-03-2013, 12:01 PM
I think her first loss will be by somebody taking her apart in the pocket and avoiding any and all clinches. Most likely somebody who hits hard enough to do it with one clean shot. That's assuming she doesn't make any big mistakes that get her hurt.

the problem is there arent that many hard strikers around in the ladies game, striking wise they havent developed to a similar standard as the grapplers have and they dont have the size and weight behind their traikes that the guys can put behind theirs

woman have been doing OL level judo for decades (basically pro level sports training full time with professional trainers and world class opposition) female striking simply hasn't developed to this level as its only really been around for a few years

LaRoux
03-03-2013, 03:04 PM
Jesus i think i prefer listening to rogans breakdowns (and i never thought id say that)
i thought there dad was full of himself lol

Rener Gracie Secret Lemonade Recipe (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wgxqo48NXM)

GeneChing
03-04-2013, 10:16 AM
This one was inevitable...

UFC’s first female champion signs with talent agency (http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/ufcs_first_female_champion_signs_with_talent_agenc y/)
04 March 2013 | Posted in Agencies, Martial Arts, North America | By David Cushnan

http://www.sportspromedia.com/images/sized/images/uploads/news/ronda_rousey-300x200.jpg

Ronda Rousey, the Ultimate Fighting Championship's first female champion, has joined renowned US talent agency William Morris Endeavour (WME).

Rousey has won all seven of her UFC bouts so far, most recently defeating Liz Carmouche by submission during the UFC pay-per-view event in Anaheim last month.

In joining WME, which specialises in representing film and entertainment talent, she has added to speculation that she may crossover into on-screen roles. The suggestion has divided opinion in mixed martial arts circles.

Rousey, 26, also won a bronze medal in judo at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Lucas
03-04-2013, 10:32 AM
we just need a third hottie that can fight and we can have a revolutionary new set of charlies angels lol

Brule
03-04-2013, 11:16 AM
She's been offered or asked to be in the next Hunger Games. Not sure if she's still interested or not.

GeneChing
03-04-2013, 12:15 PM
we just need a third hottie that can fight and we can have a revolutionary new set of charlies angels lol
Maybe Kyra Gracie or Miesha Tate...

Orion Paximus
03-04-2013, 12:54 PM
It wasn't the head an arm toss, if you watch the vid link I posted you'll see that she ended up actually finishing the toss and landed with Liz in a kesa gatame. This is where she screwed up. Liz was incredibly strong and broke the kesa and took her back. Luckily Ronda's tougher. But, if you watch further, after she got Liz off her back and that initial bit of stand up, she went right back to the kesa hold down. It looked like in both instances she was trying to figure 4 Liz's arm. This is where she was over-relying on Judo. Kesa is a great Judo hold down, not so much for BJJ or MMA because there's too much opportunity to escape, which Liz almost did while Ronda was f*cking around trying to establish the figure 4. Watch further and maybe the coach yelled at her, or the Ceaser Gracie training kicked in because you definitely see a light go off in her mind. Because she transitioned from Kesa to side, then to full mount. She got her position and hit the arm lock. The Kesa to Side to mount is pretty standard BJJ.

So to reiterate, it wasn't the takedown, Ronda's bad @ss, and Judo's the strongest. Osu!

Off topic, but did Hollywood decide that Gina Cerano wasn't cut out for movies?

MightyB
03-04-2013, 01:11 PM
Off topic, but did Hollywood decide that Gina Cerano wasn't cut out for movies?

Apparently they feel she needs voice work. I loved Haywire - but she's not your stereotypical starlet. Twiggy fems who look silly kicking arse all the rage rather than casting a good looking female who definitely can kick arse. They just aren't giving good parts out to the likes of Cerano. I'd rather her play a role like the black widow in the avengers because it'd be more believable.

GeneChing
03-04-2013, 01:23 PM
We've been following that since it was announced last year: F&F6 (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=63556)

Should be a good part for her as she doesn't have to bear the burden of top billing. It drops in two months.

Orion Paximus
03-04-2013, 01:31 PM
lol I guess standing next to all those muscled up dudes will certainly make her look more lady like. Don't get me wrong, I dug haywire.

Lucas
03-04-2013, 03:21 PM
I liked her small part in Blood and Bone. not the best movie, the story was meh...but MJW is a badass i would like to see him as black panther.

Hebrew Hammer
10-17-2013, 01:02 AM
Haven't watched the TUF for the last few seasons but caught an episode last night, I admit I have much more respect for Rhonda as a fighter, an athlete, her hot bod, and genuine down to earth persona. And can she fill out a pair of jeans...Good Lawwwrrrrrddddd!!!

Call me gf....

Syn7
10-18-2013, 07:16 AM
I like how she says "real nasty" is better than "fake nice". I think that's how she said it.

But if you saw the earlier episodes, you may wonder if she isn't a lil bit crazy. Unstable crazy.

Hebrew Hammer
10-18-2013, 09:38 AM
Agreed, the animosity and vitriol between these two ladies is quite genuine, Misha Tate comes across in a bad light.

GeneChing
02-12-2014, 02:14 PM
innerestin'

AnnMaria De Mars, Ronda Rousey + the Art of the Armbar (http://www.ozy.com/rising-stars-and-provocateurs/annmaria-de-mars-ronda-rousey-the-art-of-the-armbar/6415.article)
http://www.ozy.com/pictures/1024xany/9/7/8/11978_deMars-2.jpg
February 12, 2014By Eugene S. Robinson

Why you should care
Because saving all that sugar and spice stuff for someone who could actually use it would be a much better use of your time.

“When I fought a woman from Cuba, I broke her ****ing arm.”

If AnnMaria De Mars cared about us excusing her French, she’d have asked us to excuse her French. But this she did not do as she told us exactly what she said to her Olympic Bronze medalist daughter in an effort to cool a moment of competitive panic before an international match.

That’s right. Those are her gentle words of motherly advice. And they are entirely in keeping with the armbars that the 5-foot-2-inch De Mars used to use to wake the same daughter up for school in the morning — the daughter who became the undefeated Bantamweight Ultimate Fighting Championship belt holder, Ronda Rousey. Rough way to welcome a kid to the day? Well, if winning were going to be easy, everybody would win. Which is not at all how the real world works, really.

Fact File
Armbar: Mixed martial arts technique that involves bending the elbow of your opponent’s arm back against the joint, using a part of your own body as a leverage point.

”It’s rare to see someone get to that level of athletic achievement and be really relaxed about getting there,” said Dallas Winston from the sports commentary site SB Nation. “Or nice. Or friendly,” he laughs.

But De Mars is all those things: nice, friendly and not so relaxed. When we catch her on a rare day off, what we want to know above anything else is this: What happens in the heads of folks for whom winning becomes a kind of addiction? It was something De Mars wondered herself when Ronda, an athlete just like her other three kids, announced that she wanted to be a champion, too. Just like her mom.

http://www.ozy.com/pictures/480xany/9/7/9/11979_140634604.jpg
Source: Esther Lin/Getty
Ronda Rousey greets her mom after beating Miesha Tate at a Strikeforce event on March 3, 2012 in Columbus, Ohio.

”I took it really seriously since I knew exactly what it took to do that. No way was I going to work harder than her for something she said that she wanted,” said De Mars. So she did her due dilligence and rounded up all of the people that she had met on her way up — world team judokas, Olympic champs — and asked them what their parents and coaches did to lay the groundwork for success. It’s that kind of methodical approach that helped her transform from an overweight 12-year-old Air Force brat in Alton, Illinois, born to nonathlete parents, into a national competitor by age 16.

“My mother drove me over to the local Y when I was about 12 and literally pushed me out of the car,” says De Mars. ”And she told me ’GET EXERCISE,’ before she pulled off.” Of the available exercise options — swimming, track and judo — judo seemed to make the most amount of sense “for a short, fat kid who didn’t want to run or put on a swim suit.”

De Mars won her first tournament just six months later, and by her second tournament she took second place competing as a 13-year-old against 16-year-olds. And if it wasn’t clear before now, she was hooked. Hooked and killing it academically, so much so that she got to college at age 16. There, she joined an exchange program and got herself to Japan where she could study business, sure, but also judo. Not so strange when you know that women’s judo began with a competition back in November 1926, and when you know that the inventor of judo, Kano Jigoro, taught it to his wife and daughters.

Still, studying judo in Japan is like studying math at MIT (it was recently made nearly compulsory for school-age kids in Japan). Not only are the coaches tough — and sometimes tougher on Westerners — but the training more than occasionally tips over into brutal.

But De Mars came back in 1978, at the age of 20, to win the U.S. Senior Nationals, U.S. Collegiate Nationals and the U.S. Open. Her academic career continued at the University of Minnesota, where she earned an MBA. But the competitive fire burned hot still, and in 1981 De Mars won bronze in the British Open and Tournoi d’Orleans. The following year saw her ranked No. 1 by the United States Judo, Inc., which she rounded out with wins in 1983 at the Pan American Games, the Austrian Open, the Canada Cup and the 1984 World Judo Championships.

Then, in short order, she had kids, married, was widowed, remarried, earned more degrees (an MA and a PhD in educational psychology), began a 27-year career in IT consultancy and co-founded a company to improve life in disadvantaged communities on Indian reservations. She may not compete any longer, but she’s still teaching judo and staying involved in the U.S. Judo Association. And through it all, she got her kids to that magical place: winning.

“Look, I have coached lots and lots of kids,” De Mars says, and almost on cue we can hear kids laughing and playing in the background of her call from Southern California. ”But with Ronda, I saw a kid that absolutely refused to lose. She wouldn’t give up. She always wanted to practice. She asked a judo champ friend of mine what he would coach his girls to do in order to beat her! And after talking to those champs, we started doing things that other people don’t do. Or what they do, but [we’d] just do more of it. Not just the day of the competition but all the time. To be the best.”

And there it lingers. With four happy kids (one’s an ESPN sportscaster, Maria Burns Ortiz) in wildly different walks of life, this businesswoman and blogger is always willing to scrap online or in person about judo, her kids or just about anything, really.

”To be the best.” **** straight.

GeneChing
02-24-2014, 04:52 PM
As if ring girls are good role models for young girls. :rolleyes:

There's a vid if you follow the link.



Video: Arianny Celeste on Rousey-McMann, 'Overhaulin' and her lone street fight (http://mmajunkie.com/2014/02/video-arianny-celeste-on-rousey-mcmann-overhaulin-and-her-lone-street-fight/)
By MMAjunkie Staff February 22, 2014 4:01 pm

Picks are coming in on both sides of tonight’s UFC 170 main event between Ronda Rousey and Sara McMann – most of them on Rousey, judging from the betting lines.

But without reading too far between the lines, Arianny Celeste might be siding with the underdog.

Rousey has been given ample credit for helping build women’s MMA in a short amount of time. But Celeste, who has been a UFC Octagon Girl for nearly eight years, wouldn’t mind seeing Rousey up her game elsewhere, as well.

“I don’t really like the way she carries herself,” Celeste told MMAjunkie Radio on Friday night, just a half-hour after appearing on stage at the weigh-ins for UFC 170 at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. “I don’t think she’s a good role model for women. I think that women should empower each other and give each other a little pat on the back.”

That pat on the back was what was missing when Rousey was critical of the UFC’s ring-card girls for being “talentless” and criticizing Celeste and Brittney Palmer for appearances in Playboy magazine. Not long after, Rousey appeared mostly nude, but covered up, in ESPN The Magazine’s annual “Body Issue.”

Celeste appears to have kept things from turning into much of a beef between the two by just leaving it alone, for the most part.

“I’ve personally been talked about by her, and I don’t even know her. I’ve met her twice,” Celeste said. “She said a couple things in her Maxim interview. A lot of people pointed it out to me, but I didn’t really acknowledge it.”

Celeste said that regardless of what anyone thinks about what it takes to do her job, hey, give her some credit.

“She’s paving the way for women’s MMA, and I’ve made being a UFC Octagon Girl into a career. She should definitely recognize that and be nice,” she said.

Celeste did say that regardless of any talk, the women’s side of the sport is coming on strong. But tonight, she’ll be interested in seeing how McMann does against Rousey as the underdog.

“They work their tails off and they’re doing it just as good as the boys,” Celeste said. “I really like McMann’s energy. She’s had really good energy, so good for her for being up there and headlining a UFC.”

Celeste has parlayed her UFC job into other gigs, as well. Beyond regular modeling shoots around the world, she’ll return in March to “Overhaulin’” on the Velocity cable network, a show that takes unsuspecting car owners by surprise when their vehicles are turned into their dream machines. That show airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET.

And while jobs like that are no doubt a continued part of her future, don’t expect to see Celeste stepping into the octagon any time soon – despite apparently having some chops if it ever came down to that. She’s not afraid to drop some bombs if she’s put in that position.

“It was after I’d been with the UFC a couple years. I didn’t have any kind of name or anything, but some girl was picking on me and I had to defend myself,” Celeste said. “She physically tried to attack me, so I had to defend myself – and I ended up hurting her pretty bad because I learned a lot of things like hammer punches and kicks to the stomach. That was pretty dirty, but I had to do it.

“I’m not too proud of it, but I had to defend myself. I’m a very non-violent person.”

For the latest on UFC 170, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

MMAjunkie Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by “Gorgeous” George Garcia, MMAjunkie lead staff reporter John Morgan and producer Brian “Goze” Garcia. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

GeneChing
07-07-2014, 12:37 PM
That was a lot of UFC foreplay for just 16 seconds. :rolleyes:

http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1856654.1404663855!/img/httpImage/animation-67.gif


Rousey continues reign of destruction, but now what? (http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2014/07/06/ufc-champ-ronda-rousey-continues-reign-of-destruction-but-now-what/12273499/)
Ben Fowlkes , USA TODAY Sports 12:47 p.m. EDT July 7, 2014
2014-07-06 Ronda Rousey
http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/5d6b2a4f7342f117cd9fa38d52a00d62ac1006f2/c=0-139-1670-1397&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2014/07/06/1404700900000-2014-07-06-Ronda-Rousey.jpg
(Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie, USA TODAY Sports)

Ask Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White who could possibly beat undefeated women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, and the answer is a perplexing mix of anybody and nobody.

"This is a chick that could leave this building, walk down the Las Vegas Strip and wreck every guy on the Strip," White said after Rousey's 16-second destruction of Canadian challenger Alexis Davis at UFC 175 on Saturday night.

White added later, "Anybody on any given day can beat anybody if they're on the top of their game. ... You never know what can happen when two people start throwing punches and putting their hands on each other."

FOR THE WIN

Dana White was furious with UFC announcer Joe Rogan over a question he asked Ronda Rousey

That about sums it up with the most dominant champion women's mixed martial arts has known. Her greatest, and maybe only, adversary within the current UFC is the inherent uncertainty of human events.

She could lose because, hey, anybody could lose. If you're playing the odds, however — and the oddmakers pegged Rousey (10-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) a 20-1 favorite over Davis at one point — you'd be a fool to bet against her.

That leaves the UFC with a vexing proposition: Now what?

While it might be fun on occasion to see Rousey dispatch challengers in less time than it takes to microwave a Hot Pocket, it's doubtful fans will keep paying for it indefinitely.

What Rousey needs is a challenge worthy of her abilities.

MMAJUNKIE

UFC 175 results, photos: Ronda Rousey destroys Alexis Davis in 16 seconds

The best bet on the current roster is Cat Zingano (8-0, 1-0), who became the top contender with a TKO victory over former Strikeforce champion Miesha Tate in April 2013. But before Zingano could cash in on her title shot, a knee injury sidelined her. According to White, she might need to win another fight once she returns in order to reclaim her spot in line.

That leaves the UFC with two viable options outside the organization. The first is former boxing champion and bantamweight sensation Holly Holm (7-0), with whom the UFC is said to be finally making progress after difficult contract negotiations. Holm has the striking skills to exploit the weakest area of Rousey's game, though that doesn't necessarily mean she'll be able to keep the Olympic judoka at bay long enough to exploit the advantage.

Then there's Cristiane "Cyborg" Justino (12-1), a hulking Brazilian buzzsaw who carries her own baggage. There are questions about whether she could drop down to 135 pounds from her usual fighting weight of 145 pounds, or how long she'd be able to sustain such a dramatic physical change. There's her failed drug test for steroids in 2011, which gives White pause, especially at a time when the UFC has come under the microscope after a string of high-profile doping controversies.

There's also the fact that, according to White, the UFC already offered Justino a contract once, and was turned down.

"You either want to try and come in and be the world champion or you don't," White said after UFC 175. "I mean, it's fun to talk about all this stuff, but the reality is a whole other ballgame."

The reality is also that the UFC has a breakout star in Rousey, but it's rapidly running out of contenders who can put up a fight worth seeing. While she might be the greatest thing to happen to the female side of the sport, even Rousey can only get by for so long as a one-woman show.

TaichiMantis
07-07-2014, 03:42 PM
Bwahahahaha!
8833

Stickgrappler
07-08-2014, 09:28 AM
I made 11 animated GIF’s of the UFC 175 - Ronda Rousey X Alexis Davis fight.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BqmUONEoHPk/U7qL75wxSNI/AAAAAAAAG2M/oL7eW6hWJM0/s1600/UFC175-RondaRouseyXAlexisDavis-2-400-sg.gif
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HRFqycsFlRg/U7qSyFTxeVI/AAAAAAAAG2s/vgJu5wPhIlI/s1600/UFC175-RondaRouseyXAlexisDavis-7-superslomothrow400-sg.gif
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6vzzyjv0Cq8/U7viPBmjo3I/AAAAAAAAG4A/qocijg9YqKs/s1600/UFC175-RondaRouseyXAlexisDavis-11-haraigoshi-400-sg.gif

Enjoy 8 more GIF’s here:

http://www.stickgrappler.net/2014/07/ufc-175-ronda-rousey-x-alexis-davis.html

TaichiMantis
07-16-2014, 08:01 PM
She just won an ESPY for best female athlete...but was not there to accept the award because she had surgery yesterday. Hmmmmm....

Earlier, she was dissed by thug Mayweather:
Whether offensively sincere or simply uninformed, Floyd Mayweather Jr. doesn't think much of the UFC's Ronda Rousey.

Ronda Rousey is 10-0 fighting in the UFC. She knocked out No. 1 contender Alexis Davis in 16 seconds at UFC 175 in early July.
Mayweather, speaking Tuesday during a stop on his media tour to promote a September rematch with Marcos Maidana, said he "didn't know who he is" when asked about Rousey, repeating it when a reporter sought to clarify what Mayweather had said.

The media exchange was videotaped and published online by BoxingScene.com.

Rousey has said she thinks she could take Mayweather in a no-holds-barred MMA-style street fight. And UFC president Dana White has agreed, saying Rousey "wins that fight and hurts him badly."

But Mayweather wasn't biting beyond his referring to Rousey as a man, instead staying on message about his fight with Maidana, which reprises their May bout in which Mayweather won a majority decision...


I'd love to see her rip him a new one..

GeneChing
07-23-2014, 08:15 AM
She made WSJ. Wonder how many people Sly & Dana had to pay off to make that happen? :p


Female Fighter 'Rowdy Ronda' Rousey Takes on Hollywood (http://online.wsj.com/articles/female-fighter-rowdy-ronda-rousey-takes-on-hollywood-1405713458?mod=_newsreel_1)
Ronda Rousey, the first female UFC fighter, will star in 'The Expendables 3' and 'Entourage'

By Erich Schwartzel
July 18, 2014 3:57 p.m. ET

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Ronda Rousey in Las Vegas earlier this month. Associated Press

Ronda Rousey joined the Ultimate Fighting Championship less than two years ago and hasn't lost a match since. The 27-year-old mixed-martial arts star carries a perfect record of 10-0, and quickly subdues female opponents with moves like a swift kick to the liver or an arm restraint that leaves opponents yelping in pain.

But over the next year, Ms. Rousey—called "Rowdy Ronda" for her style inside and outside the UFC cage—is taking on a new challenger: Hollywood.

It hasn't always been an even match. As Dana White, the president of the UFC, put it: "Our people have starred in a lot of bad movies." (Some forgettable examples: "The A-Team" and "Cyborg Soldier.")

Ms. Rousey's multi-chaptered career has taken her from teenage Olympian to mixed-martial arts fighter to trailblazer: She's the first woman allowed to fight in the previously male-only UFC, a fast-growing fighting league marked by no-holds-barred matches in octagonal pens where the mats get covered in sweat, saliva and blood. Now, a new cast of trainers—from acting coaches to Hollywood agents—is set on helping her punch through another glass ceiling and become a viable female action star.

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Ms. Rousey on a movie poster promoting 'The Expendables 3' Lionsgate

Her first test comes next month with "The Expendables 3," where she'll join muscled 1990s action stars like Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger in the sequel about a team of mercenaries. It's the kick-off in a flurry of roles that include appearances in the coming film adaptation of "Entourage"—the HBO show about a young actor navigating his own Hollywood stardom—and a part in "Fast & Furious 7," the 2015 installment of the car-chase franchise known for its diverse, big-tent casts.

Ms. Rousey's possible crossover appeal speaks to the UFC's evolution since the early 2000s, from one of gimmick-driven backyard brawls to a multimillion-dollar industry with a Fox Network deal trying to break into the mainstream. Still, while the UFC has a devoted following, it doesn't command the ratings that translate into automatic recognition among general audiences. Ms. Rousey is getting help from agents at the William Morris Endeavor Entertainment LLC talent agency, eager to help her juggle both careers—as they did with former WWE wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The agency is also aiming to show Hollywood it can manage athletes as well as movie stars since purchasing the IMG Worldwide Inc. sports and marketing agency for $2.4 billion last December.

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Ms. Rousey in the ring Associated Press

Ms. Rousey's supporting parts are a run-up to a planned starring role in "The Athena Project," a movie about a team of female counterterrorism agents. The film is in the early stages of development with Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros. Producers cast her after one sit-down meeting and are working on the script now.

That film "is what I would really like to make into my franchise," Ms. Rousey said. "Like Stallone has his 'Rambo' and Schwarzenegger has his 'Terminator' and Bruce Willis has his 'Die Hard.'"

Hollywood has certainly tried to find a female action star before, from Milla Jovovich in the "Resident Evil" series to Angelina Jolie's turns as Lara Croft in the "Tomb Raider" adaptations and Sigourney Weaver in the "Alien" franchise. The film industry has even drafted from the mixed-martial arts world, when Steven Soderbergh cast fighter Gina Carano in the 2011 action film "Haywire." The movie bombed, grossing $18.9 million, but notices for Ms. Carano were strong and she has continued acting.

Ms. Rousey says she has something most other actresses do not: credibility as a fighter. She's not "some teeny-tiny little actress who spent the whole day getting her face exfoliated," she said. "I see some of these chicks doing these action roles and I'm like, what is she doing? She looked ridiculous even running on a treadmill!"

It remains to be seen if audiences will take to Hollywood's typecasting of a real-life fighter. Until now, Ms. Rousey has been best known in the UFC world, where her brutal and efficient style makes her a top-billing attraction. On Wednesday it helped her win the Best Female Athlete award at the ESPY Awards, a top sports accolade given by the ESPN network. A recent three-hour signing in Dallas attracted so many people that Ms. Rousey could only meet with fans who stayed overnight for a place in line.

Ms. Rousey comes by her fighting nature honestly: Her mother, AnnMaria De Mars, was the first American to win a match at the World Judo Championships in 1984. Ms. Rousey's childhood, split between California and North Dakota, was spent undergoing hard-core training with her mom from an early age. Ms. Rousey's athletic career began as a swimmer before moving on as a teenager to the judo world.

Ms. Rousey's father committed suicide when she was a child, and she can stiffen when fans feel so familiar with her story that they greet her as "Ronnie"—the nickname he gave her as a child.

Ms. Rousey turned to mixed-martial arts, or MMA, fighting after winning a bronze medal in judo at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 at age 21. She has been famous since the first UFC match in early 2013, as the female fighter who convinced Mr. White to let women into the highest level of MMA fighting after he repeatedly said it would never happen. That decision is still met with backlash from some viewers, but for Mr. White, the move has expanded his organization's customer base and retail opportunities considerably. At Ms. Rousey's bouts, pink toddler-sized T-shirts sell for $20.

The UFC doesn't break out merchandising or audience figures for Ms. Rousey's pay-per-view bouts, but she has quickly become a top draw for the organization, filling Nevada's 12,000-seat Mandalay Bay Events Center with tickets that can sell for several hundred dollars. Her fan base is more diverse than the typical young male crowd seen at UFC events: At a recent match, a 9-year-old boy and a group of eight lesbians from Seattle were among those attending.

http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/BN-DT384_0718ro_G_20140718113456.jpg
From left, Glen Powell, Antonio Banderas, Kelsey Grammer, Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ms. Rousey promoted 'The Expendables 3' in Cannes in May. Getty Images for Millennium Film

She was a muse to some in Hollywood before the UFC came calling. Screenwriter David Franzoni, who co-wrote "Gladiator" starring Russell Crowe, saw her winning her Olympic medal on television while he was writing at home. "She looked charming and brilliant and then beat the crap out of people," he said.

Several years later, Mr. Franzoni, who still looks at photos of Ms. Rousey for inspiration when writing female action roles, mentioned her to Doug Ellin, the creator and director of "Entourage."

"My only hesitation was—how do I know she can act?" said Mr. Ellin.

To that end, Ms. Rousey, now based in Los Angeles, has been using Skype to work with an acting coach while training for fights and getting pointers from co-stars like Mr. Stallone. The "Rambo" star told her, "Don't be afraid to go over the top, because it's easier to scale it down than to rev it up."

One thing she doesn't seem keen on scaling down in Hollywood: the pull-no-punches style that's endeared her to fighting fans.

"If Natalie Portman said any one of the crazy things that I say all f------ day long, it would be all over [the news]," she said. "But everyone's used to me."

GeneChing
07-23-2014, 08:21 AM
July 28, 2014 Issue
Mean Girl (http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/07/28/mean-girl)
Why the world’s best female fighter loves to be hated.
By Kelefa Sanneh

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“Somebody told me once that it’s the pretty fighters you have to watch out for,” Ronda Rousey says. “If someone’s all gnarled and mangled up, obviously they’ve been getting hit a lot.” “Somebody told me once that it’s the pretty fighters you have to watch out for,” Ronda Rousey says. “If someone’s all gnarled and mangled up, obviously they’ve been getting hit a lot.” Credit Photograph by Pari Dukovic.

When Ronda Rousey is training for a fight, she spends a week eating nothing but salty food. She wants to get bloated, so that when she eliminates salt from her diet, in the final days, her body expels all the fluid it can find. After a couple of steam baths, what remains of her weighs almost exactly a hundred and thirty-five pounds, the limit for the women’s bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. In the sport once known as cage fighting and now known as mixed martial arts, the U.F.C. is the dominant company, and she has become its dominant personality, despite the fact that not long ago its president was promising never to promote a fight between women. Rousey is a former judo champion, and she won her first eight M.M.A. fights with a move known in judo as juji gatame, which can be painful to contemplate, let alone receive: it is a type of arm bar designed to hyperextend an opponent’s elbow, stretching ligaments, tearing the articular capsule, and even grinding away the bone if the opponent doesn’t concede quickly enough. Outside the cage, Rousey is genial but unapologetic about her capacity to inflict harm. When, recently, she submitted to a brief interview on “American Idol,” Ryan Seacrest jokingly flinched as she greeted him. “I don’t fight for free,” she said. “Don’t worry.”

Although the U.F.C. packs arenas all over the world, it still isn’t quite mainstream, which means it is only an occasional presence on “SportsCenter” or sports radio. Its most important chroniclers can be found at the monomaniacal Web sites that keep track of its proliferating story lines: upsets and comebacks, crackups and busts, idle threats and infelicitous tweets. In this small world, Rousey’s ascent hasn’t been uniformly celebrated. In 2011, the editors of an irreverent blog called CagePotato declared Rousey their “new obsession.” These days, she is so polarizing that they can joke about “the M.M.A. commentsphere’s seething hatred of all things Ronda Rousey.” For her part, Rousey says she isn’t bothered by the evidence, online and in arenas, that many of the people who pay to watch her fight are hoping to see her lose. “I’m the heel, I’m the antihero,” she says. “And I like it that way.”

This February in Venice, California, it was still chilly when Rousey woke up, at four-fifteen, and made herself some eggs: spinach, turkey bacon, lots of pink Himalayan salt. She lives in a comfortably unkempt house, not far from the boardwalk, that she shares with three other female fighters—they call themselves the Four Horsewomen, in tribute to an old professional wrestling team—and a ninety-pound Argentinian hunting dog named Mochi. Her roommates were still asleep when she left to begin her daily commute: thirty miles across Los Angeles to the Glendale Fighting Club, a one-story anomaly on South Brand Boulevard, which is otherwise lined with luxury-car dealerships. She had to be there early for a series of live interviews with KTLA, which was interrupting its morning show to give viewers a preview of Rousey’s upcoming fight, her ninth, against a talented but relatively unknown wrestler named Sara McMann. The crew was setting up when Rousey walked in, wearing dark-blue stretch pants, a wide-neck teal top, and a black blazer—she had dressed in the dark, and she worried aloud that her outfit didn’t match. Her trainer, Edmond Tarverdyan, was more interested in talking about McMann. “You always look beautiful, and all that matters is you’re going to kick her ****in’ ass,” he said.

Rousey smirked back. “Notice he didn’t say, ‘No, you match!’ ”

In M.M.A., more than in most sports, athletes must be promoters, too. Rousey is smart enough to know that one of her promotional assets is the way she looks—she has appeared on the cover of not only ESPN the Magazine but also Maxim, which called her “Badass & Blonde,” and photographed her in a garment that seemed highly unsuitable for combat. Of course, this asset can be a liability, too, especially for a female fighter seeking the same respect given her male counterparts. Rousey is five feet six, and even someone who didn’t recognize her might guess, glancing at her powerful arms and shoulders, that she was some sort of athlete. But while some fighters strike an impassive pose, shrugging off questions the way they shrug off the dangers of the cage, Rousey is nothing if not expressive. She smiles often, squinting so tightly that her eyes disappear. She cries easily, a girlhood habit she never outgrew. And before each fight she glares at her opponent as if she were getting ready to put a permanent end to a lifelong feud. After the fight, she is all smiles again, and usually unblemished. “Somebody told me once that it’s the pretty fighters you have to watch out for,” she says, slyly. “If someone’s all gnarled and mangled up, obviously they’ve been getting hit a lot.”

Rousey speaks more or less the way she fights: in measured provocations, never committing herself to a gambit that she can’t defend. When KTLA cut to her in the gym, she talked politely about McMann’s wrestling achievements, and about their parallel careers: McMann won a silver medal in wrestling at the Athens Olympics, while Rousey took bronze in judo at Beijing. The goal, after all, was to persuade fans to pay $54.99 to watch the two women fight, live from Las Vegas, on pay-per-view. But once the cameras left she assessed her chances more candidly. She predicted that McMann would fall back on her old wrestling moves for fear of Rousey’s brutal arm bar. “I don’t think that this matches up well for her,” she said. “I wouldn’t say that in a pre-fight interview, and I haven’t. Because it doesn’t make sense in order to sell it. I need people to doubt me.” She laughed. “And, besides, these guys”—she nodded toward Tarverdyan and his assistants—“put large sums of money on me winning, and they always get ****ty odds. So I want to help them out.” She looked up. “Edmond, do you know the Vegas odds for this fight?”

“Three-ninety-five,” he called back. A bettor would have had to lay three hundred and ninety-five dollars on Rousey in order to make a hundred if she won. Still, that meant the oddsmakers were giving McMann a better chance than they had given many of Rousey’s previous opponents.

Perhaps the observers in Las Vegas were impressed by McMann’s wrestling pedigree, or perhaps they were taking note of the events of 2013, a year when Rousey’s growing celebrity interfered with her training schedule. She took a ten-month break between fights, during which she acted in a pair of film sequels: “Fast & Furious 7,” which is due out next year, and “The Expendables 3,” with Sylvester Stallone leading a team of VHS-era action heroes (Arnold Schwarzenegger, Wesley Snipes, Dolph Lundgren). Rousey also served as a head coach on the eighteenth season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” the U.F.C.’s reality show, in which up-and-coming fighters live together while competing in a tournament to win a U.F.C. contract. She loved her team—two of its members are now her roommates—and hated everything else, especially the rival coach, Miesha Tate, whom she considers a phony. Rousey had fought Tate and beat her, two years earlier, in a short, devastating bout that did more than any other to make Rousey a star. When they fought again, last December, after the show’s conclusion, Rousey didn’t look quite so sharp: for the first time, she allowed a fight to progress beyond the first round. She was into the third when she finally isolated Tate’s left arm and bent it backward, at which point Tate used her free hand to tap lightly on Rousey’s leg, signalling submission and ending the fight. As they stood up, Tate offered Rousey a handshake and Rousey refused. “A handshake means something to me, and she hasn’t earned it,” Rousey explained in a post-fight interview. The arena booed her, confirming her paradoxical status as a popular heel.

The U.F.C. asked Rousey to fight again, on February 22nd—only eight weeks later. (Members of the U.F.C. élite typically fight about twice a year.) Rousey agreed, partly because, after a chaotic year, she liked the idea of sticking to her training routine for two more months. Tarverdyan liked it, too. He is an Armenian-born kickboxer, not quite retired, and his normal posture is a fighter’s crouch. “She would beat some of the one-thirty-five guys,” he says, with a shrug, as if to imply that listeners could disbelieve him at their own risk. He was preparing to supervise her afternoon sparring session, the last before the fight. The first opponent was Shayna Baszler, one of the Horsewomen, who is also a pioneer of women’s M.M.A.; her first fight was in 2003.





Continued next post

GeneChing
07-23-2014, 08:23 AM
In the cage, Rousey stood straight and maintained eye contact, like an attentive yoga teacher. As soon as the timer chimed, she rushed in, pushing Baszler back with punches to the stomach. For a moment, Rousey paused and reëstablished eye contact with Baszler, as if to remind her that this was what they had agreed to. Then she started again, and by the end of three rounds Baszler’s headgear had been knocked around so much she could barely see, and her nose was dripping blood onto the mat. A gym worker arrived with a roll of paper towels, and Baszler staggered off as Tarverdyan unlaced Rousey’s gloves to inspect her fists, in preparation for the next session.

In some ways, the word “fight” is misleading: a mixed-martial-arts match is an athletic event and a brainteaser. Rousey says her job is to figure out how to respond to her opponent’s attacks and lapses, and then train until those responses become reflexes. But she also knows that M.M.A. wouldn’t be so popular if its matches didn’t provide a rough facsimile of street-corner fistfights, and if even the most erudite fans didn’t find themselves, at least once or twice a night, howling for violence. Rousey herself isn’t immune to this temptation to confuse a fight with a fight, and she says that, inevitably, there comes a time in training camp where mere technical superiority doesn’t seem like enough. She says, “I always think to myself, If I ran into them in a parking lot and they slapped my little sister, would I be able to beat the hell out of them? And the answer is always Yes, I would.”

The U.F.C. has its headquarters in Las Vegas, one of the biggest cities in the country without a major professional sports franchise. In the week before Rousey’s match, Las Vegas seemed like a company town, purpose-built to host not just a big fight but also the weeklong festival of hype and speculation that precedes it. On Wednesday, the main fighters held light training sessions on the floor of the Mandalay Bay arena, so the press corps could gather B-roll footage and specious insights about their health and strategy. After McMann’s workout, she ascended to a chair on a small platform, ringed by digital voice recorders. She seemed to shrink, answering softly and honestly when a reporter asked whether, if she were caught in one of Rousey’s arm bars, she would quickly submit in order to avoid injury. “If somebody catches you and they get the better of you, I don’t feel like there’s any need to be an idiot,” she said. This was sensible, but also worrying—confident fighters don’t typically allow themselves to talk about how they might lose. Fifty or so spectators had wandered over from the adjoining casino, and they let out a cheer when Rousey and her crew took their place on the arena floor. She did some mitt work with Tarverdyan, concentrating on her left hook, and when she was finished she tossed her hand wraps into the crowd and sat for the media. Although she meant to praise McMann’s skill, Rousey couldn’t resist criticizing her attitude, too. “I’m more of a fighter than she is,” Rousey said. “She has a kid at home, and she has to go home to that kid. I can afford to be selfish, where she can’t. I’m willing to die in there.” This last vow is a ludicrous pre-fight cliché, but Rousey’s blank expression made it seem almost believable—a useful skill, no doubt, for anyone who seeks work alongside Sylvester Stallone. By the end of the day, the phrase “willing to die” had appeared in headlines on all the important blogs.

The U.F.C. now presents about one pay-per-view fight every month, averaging hundreds of thousands of buys per fight—an enviable business model but a hungry one, since it requires that fans be convinced anew, every month, not just to watch but to buy. The company also broadcasts dozens more events on Fox channels and through an online subscription service, sometimes threatening to exhaust the pool of fighters whom people actually want to watch. A week before Rousey’s appearance, a popular light heavyweight named Rashad Evans had injured his leg and pulled out of his fight against Daniel Cormier, who was quickly ascending the U.F.C. rankings. The company, scrambling for a replacement, found Patrick Cummins, a former collegiate wrestler who had been working at a coffee shop; some fans called him the Brawling Barista. One reporter mentioned that Cummins was a fifteen-to-one underdog, and suggested that he should bet on himself. “I would love to,” Cummins said, grinning. “I just don’t have any money.” Dana White, the president of the U.F.C., tried a stratagem familiar to fight promoters everywhere. “This is the real ‘Rocky’ story,” he said, deploying the long odds as reason to watch, rather than reason not to.

White looks and talks a bit like a fighter. He is forty-four, bald and stocky and sarcastic; on M.M.A. blogs and sports-talk shows, he often outshines the athletes, most of whom are less famous than he is. Rousey is one of the exceptions, and the previous week White had called her “the biggest star we’ve ever had”—an encomium shrewdly calculated to keep fans arguing until fight night. Of course, M.M.A. fans hardly needed extra encouragement to argue about Rousey, who is marketable partly because of her willingness to play the heel, or maybe her inability not to. When people ask her why she didn’t shake Tate’s hand, she likes to respond by reminding them of Muhammad Ali, the ultimate heel-turned-hero, and the classic photograph of him in 1965, roaring at the crumpled body of Sonny Liston. She says, “How unsportsmanlike is that? But everybody loves it, don’t they?”

The Ultimate Fighting Championship began with the sort of question a ten-year-old boy might ask: What kind of martial arts is the best? A Brazilian-born fighter and teacher named Rorion Gracie thought he knew. His father, Hélio, had helped create a technique known as Brazilian jiu-jitsu, or B.J.J., a quick and fluid style in which the fighters spend much of their time on the mat, scrambling for position, tangling and untangling their limbs as each tries to make the other submit. For the first Ultimate Fighting Championship, in 1993, Rorion Gracie and his partners summoned entrants from around the world: a karate-trained kickboxer from the Netherlands, a professional wrestler from Georgia, a sumo wrestler from Hawaii, a boxer from St. Louis, and, naturally, a B.J.J. specialist, who also happened to be Rorion Gracie’s younger brother, Royce. This was a one-night, eight-man tournament, held in an arena in Denver and broadcast live on pay-per-view, and it was advertised with a promise that was neither true nor, in the long run, helpful: “There are no rules!”

One of the announcers was Jim Brown, the legendary football player, who began by paying tribute to the athletes. “These guys are experts in what they do—they’ve trained for years,” he said. In fact, many of them didn’t know quite what to expect. They were to fight in an octagonal cage surrounded by a chain-link fence, monitored by a referee but not by judges; the contest would end only when one participant was unwilling or unable to continue. The first fight matched Gerard Gordeau, the Dutch kickboxer, against Taylor Wily, the Hawaiian sumo wrestler. Wily ran at Gordeau, who sidestepped him, shoved him to the ground, and kicked him in the face, ending the fight and proving definitively that sumo wrestlers are best suited to sumo wrestling. (For the rest of the night, Gordeau fought with a painful disadvantage: fragments of Wily’s teeth lodged in his right foot, too deep to be immediately retrieved.) The tournament winner, as might have been predicted, was Royce Gracie, who choked Gordeau into submission.

Almost ninety thousand people bought the first U.F.C. on pay-per-view; four months later, the sequel, U.F.C. 2, attracted more than a hundred and twenty thousand, and a growing backlash. Bill (Superfoot) Wallace, a karate champion who had been part of the original broadcast team, used his column in the magazine Black Belt to point out that these “no holds barred” fights didn’t quite live up to their billing. “I don’t see why they couldn’t allow groin kicks,” he wrote. Those with more delicate sensibilities had different objections. The American Medical Association warned that M.M.A. was “even more physically dangerous and morally abhorrent” than boxing, and called the matches “blood-filled brawls” that deserved to be banned; Senator John McCain denounced M.M.A. as “human ****fighting.” This was excellent publicity, but it started to threaten the U.F.C.’s business. State athletic commissions moved to prohibit M.M.A., and by the late nineteen-nineties the major cable companies were refusing to carry the U.F.C.’s pay-per-view broadcasts.


continued next post

GeneChing
07-23-2014, 08:25 AM
In an effort to improve its reputation, the U.F.C. adopted a number of rules. It imposed time limits on fights (three five-minute rounds, or five, if a championship was at stake), and installed judges to determine a winner if both fighters endured. Knees and kicks to the head of a downed opponent became illegal (though too late for poor Taylor Wily), and so did strikes to the back of the head or to the spine. Fighters were required to wear lightweight fingerless boxing gloves, and they were separated into weight classes, the way boxers are. But the cable companies were reluctant to bring back M.M.A., because it wasn’t sanctioned in Nevada, the state with the most influential athletic commission. In 2001, the owners of the U.F.C. sold the company to a pair of casino owners, Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, who had a better relationship with Nevada’s athletic commission. (Lorenzo had been a member until six months before.) The sport gained Nevada approval and returned to cable, just as the Fertitta brothers began a years-long marketing campaign that succeeded in making the U.F.C. seem fun, instead of scary—a more exciting version of professional wrestling. In 2006, according to estimates, a U.F.C. pay-per-view event drew more than a million buyers for the first time.

Some viewers will inevitably be disturbed by a sport in which fighters who knock down their opponents are expected to dive onto the mat and keep punching until the referee intervenes. But this sequence is generally quicker and quite possibly less harmful than what happens in boxing, where a downed fighter who rises before the count of ten receives a cursory examination and gets sent wobbling back to absorb more punches. “Quite possibly less harmful than boxing” is, no doubt, a faint endorsement for any human endeavor, but, considering the reputation M.M.A. developed in the nineties, this mixed verdict represents a distinct improvement. No fighter has ever died from a U.F.C. fight, and M.M.A. events are now legal everywhere except New York, where the sport has been stymied by union groups seeking to organize the Fertittas’ casinos. Today, a viewer who tunes in to the U.F.C. expecting carnage might be surprised to see something that looks recognizably like athletic activity: often, the fighters spend much of their time feinting and striking, or else wrestling on the ground; from time to time, fans complain that too many fights end, anticlimactically, with the judges’ decision.

The new U.F.C. minted stars like Chuck Liddell, known as the Iceman, a blunt-spoken kickboxer and folk hero with a mohawk and a reputation for conviviality. (Once, when White called Liddell a few hours before a championship fight, he answered the phone with a brusque valediction: “Can’t talk now, I’ve got two girls in the shower, gotta go.”) And starting in 2005 the U.F.C. began producing its cable reality show, “The Ultimate Fighter,” which reached casual viewers who weren’t yet ready to invest in pay-per-view. All along, there were competing promotions, but most struggled to build a stable business in a sport as unstable as professional fighting, where months of planning can be ruined by a single pre-fight injury or contractual dispute. Right now, the U.F.C.’s chief competitor is Bellator, owned by Viacom. But Bellator remains a minor league, and it hasn’t done much to change the perception that the U.F.C. is something of a monopsony; for an ambitious fighter, a U.F.C. contract is the only one that really matters.

Of course, most popular sports are virtual monopsonies: a football player seeking employment has few options besides the N.F.L. But those sports have competing teams, and labor unions that resist efforts to limit pay. In boxing, which has no real structure, fighters get whatever promoters think they’re worth, which can be a lot. Floyd Mayweather earned at least thirty-two million dollars for his last fight, and three other boxers on the bill earned more than a million apiece. By comparison, pay in the U.F.C. can be surprisingly modest. According to the contract filed with the Nevada commission, Rousey’s guaranteed compensation for the McMann fight was only fifty-five thousand dollars, although she stood to earn double that if she won. The official, public contract is only a baseline; after each fight, the U.F.C. hands out extra payments, some of which are publicized—both the winner and the loser of the most entertaining match get fifty-thousand-dollar “fight of the night” bonuses—and some of which are kept confidential. (Top fighters can also earn seven-figure signing bonuses, shares of pay-per-view revenue, and other incentives. The U.F.C. bought Rousey a BMW X6 M, to replace her beat-up Honda Accord.) White likes to say that the U.F.C. takes good care of all of its fighters, but there’s no way to know for sure, especially since few of them have anything to gain by complaining publicly. Rousey says that she has maintained a good relationship with the U.F.C. by taking the long view. “I’m not going to throw a fit over a little bit of money now, when I feel like letting that slide and just putting out good performances will pay off way more in the future,” she says.

In many martial arts, the idea of fighting for money is new, or newly rediscovered. Rousey is a second-generation judo player, or judoka: in 1984, in Vienna, her mother, AnnMaria De Mars, became the first American, man or woman, to win gold at the World Judo Championship. These days, De Mars is a cheerful presence at her daughter’s fights (especially once they are over), but she remembers herself as an angry young woman. Before more than one match, De Mars accosted her opponent, shoving her and snarling, “*****, I’m going to break your ****ing arm today!” Women’s judo didn’t become a full-fledged Olympic sport until 1992, so there wasn’t an obvious next step for a world-champion female judoka. By the time Rousey was born, in 1987, De Mars was working toward a Ph.D. in educational psychology at the University of California, Riverside. “I never wanted to do judo as a career,” De Mars says. “I figured there’s a lot of things in life, and I had done that part of it.”

Rousey’s birth was eventful: she was choked out by the umbilical cord, which wrapped around her neck and deprived her of oxygen long enough to damage her brain. She didn’t speak her first sentence until she was six, and even then she was difficult to understand. (She speaks clearly—and quickly—now.) The family moved to North Dakota, where Rousey’s father, Ronald, practiced pronunciation with her and encouraged a growing interest in competitive swimming. In 1995, suffering from a degenerative spine injury caused by a sledding accident, Ronald Rousey committed suicide. Rousey still struggles to explain how his death affected her, and wonders if it’s even right to mention it. “I feel like I’m prostituting his memory for my own career gain,” she said, sobbing, during a U.F.C. special. “And it makes me feel like a ****ing *******.”

Three years after his death, when she was eleven, Rousey quit swimming and took up her mother’s sport, which also meant submitting to her mother’s ruthless training methods. At home, De Mars sometimes woke Rousey up in the morning by trying to catch her in an arm bar—the lesson was to always be prepared. When Rousey tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee, another parent at the dojo had to persuade De Mars to take her to a hospital. Once, during a mother-daughter workout, Rousey fractured De Mars’s wrist, but De Mars didn’t tell her until years later, when Rousey asked why they no longer trained together. All this toughness transferred to Rousey, but the stoicism didn’t: for years, she cried at nearly every practice, and sometimes she would cry in competition, too, even when she won, passing seamlessly through stages of anxiety, frustration, and relief. During her judo years, Rousey kept a blog, now deleted, which provided a vivid chronicle of her single-minded life. “I can’t describe the way losing hurts,” she wrote, after an overtime defeat in the final round of a prestigious tournament in Tokyo. “The whole time I’m crying the salt from it stings every bit of matburn on my face and I just wanna curl up and disappear.”

Rousey ascended fast—at sixteen, she was ranked No. 1 in America—but she never quite resigned herself to the life of a full-time judoka. She dropped out of high school (she eventually earned a G.E.D.) and travelled constantly, spending unhappy years based in Wakefield, Massachusetts, where many top judokas trained for the Olympics. The constant pressure to make weight exacerbated her insecurity about her thick, muscular body; she became bulimic, obsessing over her appearance as she struggled desperately to qualify for her weight division, which was sixty-three kilograms, or just under a hundred and thirty-nine pounds. (At twenty, she moved up to fight at seventy kilograms, which is just over a hundred and fifty-four pounds—twenty pounds higher than the weight she competes at now, with the help of a nutritionist and the occasional salty meal.) “Whenever people talk about how ****y and arrogant I am, it blows me away, because I worked so hard to develop self-confidence,” she says. She recently held a fund-raiser for Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, which treats eating disorders. And when she was photographed for Maxim she intentionally arrived sixteen pounds over her fighting weight, because, she says, she didn’t want to glamorize her body in an “unhealthy” state.




continued next post

GeneChing
07-23-2014, 08:26 AM
In 2008, in Beijing, Rousey lost a close decision in the semifinals, then won the next two matches to win a bronze medal—the first time an American woman had medalled in judo. A week later, Rousey was suffering from a feeling of disenchantment that is common to Olympians, especially successful ones, who must suddenly confront the formlessness of post-Olympic life. “I dunno, maybe I’m just stressing about nothing,” she wrote, on her blog. “I’m at the Olympic village, have finished fighting, have no responsibilities, waking up at 2pm and not the slightest clue of what day or date it is.” She was also starting to worry about the blog itself, which was avidly read and debated in the insular judo world, where some considered Rousey a loudmouth and a brat. “I really do try to be a good person,” she wrote, “but sometimes I just feel like deep down I’m a selfish egomaniac and there’s nothing I can do to make up for it.”

For a while, Rousey considered training for the 2012 Games: she would have been twenty-five, prime age for a judoka of her size. Yet she was starting to realize that being an Olympian was a distinction but not a career—her reward for winning bronze in Beijing had been, in her words, “ten grand and a handshake.” She eventually decided that a chance at gold wasn’t worth four years of misery, so she entertained other options. Her mother wanted her to go to college, and she thought she might enjoy becoming a helicopter rescue swimmer for the Coast Guard. The third choice, and the riskiest, was professional M.M.A., which would give her a chance to get paid for her judo skills—but only a chance. De Mars remembers her reaction: “I told Ronda, ‘That’s the most stupid-ass thing I ever heard!’ ” She was skeptical that women’s M.M.A. would ever be a viable business, but she gave Rousey a year to make some progress, and let her move back into the family house, in Santa Monica, while she looked for an apartment. On May 9, 2010, Rousey took to her blog to issue a formal proclamation: “I finally feel like I’ve realized what I want to accomplish next and made the decision to f**k all and go for it.”

In judo, punches and kicks are banned. Players score points by throwing or tripping their opponents or, less often, with a pin or a submission hold. But most of the time the two judokas stand and face each other, grappling for position. A judoka must wear an outfit known as a gi, which comprises pajama trousers, a cotton belt, and a thick, wide-sleeved jacket, designed to endure rough treatment. A strong grip is one of a judoka’s most important assets, and as the players push and pull, each clutching fistfuls of lapel, they can resemble two drunks having a spirited debate.

In order to escape judo, Rousey would have to learn how to grapple without having a gi to grab hold of. She trained with Manny Gamburyan, a fellow judo competitor who had earned a U.F.C. contract. Gamburyan was part of a tight-knit society of Armenian-American fighters clustered around the Valley, who were known for their toughness and for their loyalty to one another. They adopted Rousey, who is affectionately known as the “white girl” of the crew. (In fact, though Rousey is fair, her ancestry, on her mother’s side, is Venezuelan and Caribbean; one of her great-grandfathers was a pioneering black doctor in Canada.) She also started learning the basics of boxing, and how to throw knee and elbow strikes using techniques borrowed from a Thai discipline called muay thai. Because her judo skills were so imposing, she didn’t need to be a great striker right away, though she is proving herself a fast learner—her left hook, which Tarverdyan says is less than a year old, is now one of her most effective weapons. “I know she wanted to punch those girls, lots of days,” De Mars says, thinking of Rousey’s judo career. “Now she gets to.”

Rousey began her career with some amateur M.M.A. fights, and immediately ran into a problem: promoters had a hard time finding opponents eager to test themselves against an Olympic medallist who could hold her own with guys from the Armenian gyms. For her professional début, with a regional promotion called King of the Cage, the matchmaker, Shawn Ramage, had to import an opponent, Ediane Gomes, from Brazil by way of Florida. “I tried to be up front with people,” Ramage says. “I just let them know, this girl beats up guys.” The fight lasted less than thirty seconds: Rousey grabbed Gomes, pushed her to the ground, straddled her, punched her in the head, and, as Gomes rolled away to avoid further punishment, isolated her right arm and pulled it straight, then beyond straight. Gomes ceded immediately, and Rousey had the first professional victory of her thirteen-year career in martial arts. Her payment was eight hundred dollars.

At the time, the U.F.C. had never put on female fights, and even now White is inclined to defend his initial reluctance. The night of Rousey’s fight in Las Vegas, billed as U.F.C. 170, White was sitting in a cinder-block dressing room at the MGM Grand, waiting for the main show to begin. “I went to a fight up in Northern California about eight or nine years ago, and I saw this woman that looked like Chuck Liddell fight this girl who looked like she had about five Tae Bo classes,” he said. “And I said, ‘I’m never going to be in this business, man.’ ” For years, the only prominent women in the U.F.C. were the Octagon Girls, in little shorts and littler tops, whose job is to hold up giant cards identifying each round. None of them bear even a faint resemblance to Chuck Liddell.

Women’s M.M.A. first started to build momentum less than a decade ago. In 2007, Showtime broadcast a fight card that included a telegenic rising star named Gina Carano, who pummelled her opponent while three male announcers provided commentary. (They were mainly respectful, though at one point they disagreed, chucklingly, about whether a female fighter could beat them up.) Two years later, Carano fought for the first time as a headliner, again on Showtime, at an event promoted by Strikeforce, which was then the U.F.C.’s main rival; her opponent was Cristiane Justino, a brawny Brazilian known as Cris Cyborg. The referee stopped the fight in the closing seconds of the first round, as Carano, curled in the fetal position, absorbed a series of thudding punches to the head. Despite the loss, Carano was becoming M.M.A.’s first woman crossover star. A week after the fight, she met with Steven Soderbergh, who had evidently been more impressed by the loser than by the winner: he cast Carano in the lead role of his 2011 action movie “Haywire.”

In 2011, though, Strikeforce was struggling; by the time Rousey joined its roster, that summer, Strikeforce had been acquired by Zuffa, the holding company through which the Fertittas control the U.F.C. Everyone knew that the most promising men would eventually be boosted into the bigger league, but no one could say what would become of the women. Rousey viewed her Strikeforce fights as auditions—chances to convince the U.F.C. that there was money to be made from female fighters. When she fought Miesha Tate for the first time, early in 2012, the two women built anticipation for the fight by sniping at each other through interviews and social media. Tate asserted that Rousey hadn’t yet earned the right to fight her; Rousey replied that she was a lifelong athlete, while Tate was “just some chick who decided in high school it’d be cool to wrestle, and a few years later decided it’d be cool to do M.M.A.” Perhaps more relevant, Rousey acknowledged that she found Tate “more annoying than chewing tinfoil”—she seemed to view Tate’s professedly “fun” persona (her nickname is Cupcake) as an affront to the sport.




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GeneChing
07-23-2014, 08:28 AM
After all the buildup, followed by Rousey’s dominant victory, the owners of the U.F.C. were forced to pay attention. In late 2012, they finally announced that they were signing Rousey and building a women’s bantamweight division for her to rule over. The battle between her growing fame and White’s stubborn skepticism was a mismatch, and in her first U.F.C. fight, which she won with yet another arm-bar submission, Rousey was the main attraction on a successful pay-per-view card. By drafting her as a coach for “The Ultimate Fighter,” the company hoped to increase her exposure, while also underscoring its commitment to women fighters: for the first time, the contestants were divided evenly between women and men, competing for two separate U.F.C. contracts.

“The Ultimate Fighter” proved to be a defining moment for Rousey, although not the way she or the U.F.C. might have imagined. The bad feelings began in the first episode, when the opposing coach suffered an injury and producers decided not to tell Rousey; instead, they lured her to the gym, where the new coach—Tate—was waiting, with a cold smile. For a moment, Rousey thought that Tate was replacing her, and even after she learned the truth she was angry about the setup. “I was directly lied to for the sake of them getting some juicy footage,” she says now. The show depicted Rousey in one extended sulk, finding new ways to clash with Tate and her team in every episode. Wrestling fans talk about the “heel turn,” the moment when a fan favorite is revealed to be a villain, and for Rousey “The Ultimate Fighter” functioned as her heel turn. Especially in the context of a rather inane reality show, her unstinting intensity made her seem slightly scary. When Rousey beat Tate in a rock-climbing contest, she celebrated by extending a middle finger and shouting, “**** you, *****!” And when Baszler, one of her team’s top-ranked fighters, lost her first match, Rousey was inconsolable. “I ****ing failed today,” she said, sobbing. Then, instantly, her mood changed and she accused Tate of taking pleasure in Baszler’s disappointment. “She’s going to pay for every ****ing smile she smirks today,” Rousey said, scowling through tears. Can you blame those of us who paid our sixty dollars, two months later, to watch it happen?

When Rousey talks about her reputation, she often uses the language of professional wrestling, as if her heel turn were merely a ploy to drum up interest. “If you’re cheering and the person next to you is booing, you’re going to cheer louder,” she says. “I love that. I love creating conflict within the audience.” But at her most compelling she sounds less like a sly provocateur and more like a sensitive soul, deeply offended by those she feels have wronged her. During her judo days, crowds usually rooted against her, maybe just because she was an American, in a sport typically dominated by Asians and Europeans. “I’ve been booed in over thirty countries,” she says, and some part of her still seems surprised, and perhaps a little hurt, that stardom hasn’t eliminated this phenomenon.

Great fighters are supposed to be at once humble athletes, who fight for sport, and fearsome warriors, who fight for cause. Rousey excels at making each match feel like a grudge match, even if her only grudge is with the recalcitrant fans who still won’t cheer for her. A number of top U.F.C. stars have similarly complex relationships with their paying customers. Jon (Bones) Jones, a dazzling light heavyweight, may be the most talented and dominant male fighter in the sport, but some find him arrogant and petulant; CagePotato has branded him “catty” and compared him to “a child.” Even so, as Rousey built her public persona, she faced hurdles that her male counterparts surely didn’t. When she and Tate exchanged insults in 2012, each implied that the other didn’t belong in the cage, as if conscious of the discomfiting possibility that fans might not take either of them seriously. And although Georges St. Pierre, the former champion from Canada, has plenty of fans who view him as a heartthrob, his beauty isn’t typically discussed as an essential part of his career. There is now, thanks to Rousey, a space for women in the U.F.C., but it’s a narrow space; even the woman who created it doesn’t quite fit.

One hope is that, as the women’s division expands, the novelty of seeing women in the cage will fade. The U.F.C. recently added a second women’s division—strawweight, with a limit of a hundred and fifteen pounds—in response to the growing number of female fighters and fans. And Rousey’s success has buoyed the success of Invicta, an upstart all-female promotion, which may help fans appreciate women’s M.M.A. on its own terms, much the way tennis fans find different things to love in the men’s and women’s games. Marina Shafir—one of Rousey’s roommates, a fellow-judoka turned M.M.A. fighter—says that Rousey’s elegant, protean grappling style is a good example of the difference between men’s and women’s styles. “She’s got this weird shoulder-neck flexibility thing that you would never see out of a guy,” Shafir says. White’s verdict is just as enthusiastic, though considerably less nuanced. “Women are crazier than we are,” he says. “They fight, man.”

U.F.C. events are neatly stage-managed, with video introductions for each of the main fighters, and no long waits between fights. In Las Vegas, Patrick Cummins, the underdog who had given up a life of coffee, strutted into the cage looking relaxed and confident. Daniel Cormier knocked him down and kept knocking, while Cummins crawled around seeking safe harbor, which was eventually provided by the referee. He had lost in a washout, but he had made a name for himself and a small amount of money: his announced payday was eight thousand dollars. When the ring was cleared, it was time for video introductions. Joe Rogan, the commentator, cast Rousey once more as the heel. “Ronda Rousey plays for keeps,” he intoned. “She’s not trying to earn P.R. points. She’s not trying to get you to like her.” But as she began her walk to the ring no dislike was audible. Surely no one who chooses to spend a Saturday night at the fights can be unhappy to see Rousey, in a black hooded sweatshirt, striding purposefully toward the cage, as Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation” plays over the P.A.

continued next post

GeneChing
07-23-2014, 08:29 AM
After weeks of hearing every M.M.A. analyst explain why Rousey would win, it was slightly startling, once the fight began, to be reminded that its outcome hadn’t actually been determined yet. The two fighters drew close, and McMann swung her right fist into Rousey’s left temple. Rousey stiffened, more annoyed than afraid, but McMann kept swinging and kept connecting. From a table next to the cage, Rogan was shouting, “She got tagged!” Rousey pushed McMann back into the fence, and they grappled for position. Rousey looked stronger, but she also looked as if she were trying to figure out what to do with her strength—she fights so hotly that she can sometimes seem frantic, although her moves tend to be the result of cool analysis. She planted her left leg for a judo throw, trying to flip McMann onto the mat, and McMann blocked it—she was said to have the best takedown defense of any opponent Rousey had faced. But this was a trap: now McMann was thinking more about preventing being taken down and less about Rousey’s left knee, which happened to be plunging toward her liver. The moment Rousey connected, McMann collapsed on all fours, and the referee rushed over to declare her defenseless and award Rousey the victory. Rousey never shows self-doubt, but you can detect a trace of it in the joy and disbelief that transform her face after she wins. As the crowd began to boo, she took out her mouthguard and beamed.

When the arena had cleared, Rousey disappeared to a nearby hotel lounge with De Mars and her team, where she ate her traditional post-fight feast of hot wings with blue-cheese dip. Then, for the first time in nearly a year, she took a vacation, going to Costa Rica with Brendan Schaub, a genial—and much less prominent—U.F.C. heavyweight who was her boyfriend at the time. But within a few weeks Rousey was starting to miss her old training routine, so she asked to fight again, and a match was scheduled for July 5th. She was assigned Alexis Davis, who was a sturdy opponent—or might have been, against somebody else. Rousey punched her in the head, kneed her in the gut, threw her onto the mat, and punched her nine times in the face before the referee intervened. The match lasted sixteen seconds, although longer for Davis: dazed and disoriented, she continued to grapple with the referee until he managed to convince her that the fight was over.

Part of the problem with being a dominant champion, like Rousey, is that fans are never satisfied with mere dominance. We want to see a great fighter tested and possibly hurt—at which point we reserve the right to start muttering that the great fighter might not have been so great after all. In order to keep the attention of a restless audience, Rousey needs to find another Rousey. She has talked about wanting to lure Carano, her old hero, out of retirement, which would be a popular match, but likely a brutal one: nothing in Carano’s résumé suggests that she could keep pace with Rousey, especially after five years away. The fight most fans want is Rousey versus Cyborg, although there are some obstacles. Two and a half years ago, Cyborg tested positive for a steroid called stanozolol, and was suspended for a year; skeptical fans thought they had found an explanation for her enviably well-defined musculature. (Cyborg says she used the substance unwittingly, as part of her effort to cut weight, and she points out that she hasn’t failed any other drug tests.) In M.M.A., fighters are typically allowed to return after a banned-substance suspension, but Rousey argues that Cyborg’s positive test should be permanently disqualifying.

“In a perfect world, she wouldn’t have been taking all those steroids and hormones for so many years that she ceased to be a woman anymore,” Rousey said one afternoon, when Cyborg’s name was mentioned—she was driving back to the gym from a nearby juice bar, and her sunny mood suddenly darkened. “In a perfect world, she would be a girl and not an it.” This sounded more like passionate indignation than like idle pre-fight trash talk. Beneath Rousey’s anti-drug message, you could also hear echoes of the old insistence that women fighters take pains to be scrupulously feminine, lest the spectre of manliness turn the fledgling sport into a freak show.

Rousey is struggling to make women’s M.M.A. more established, although in a sense her own struggle has already been won. Last week, ESPN named her the female athlete of the year. On the U.F.C.’s list of its best fighters, she ranks No. 9—she is the only woman on the list, and by just about any measure she is a bigger name than the eight men ahead of her. The flyweight Demetrious (Mighty Mouse) Johnson, No. 4, is known for his dazzling versatility and his quick feet, but he is hardly a celebrity. In fact, he has recently talked about trying to break into Hollywood—hoping, he admits, to follow the trail blazed by Rousey.

One day, the same qualities that make her controversial within M.M.A.—her unwillingness to be ignored, her ferocity, her confidence, her gender—may help her to leave it behind. Not long after she returned to Los Angeles, she spent a few weeks shooting her third acting role: a part in “Entourage,” the movie based on the HBO series. When she read the script, Rousey was pleased to see that she hadn’t been cast for her fighting. The director, Doug Ellin, says he had never seen her act when he cast her, and although he had watched her matches, he was more taken by her demonstrative and engaging performances in interviews. “She’s not playing a tough-guy character in this—she’s playing the nice side of her,” he says. “People who aren’t fight fans who watch this will go, ‘Wait a second—she’s a fighter? I don’t get it.’ ”

If fans once worried that Rousey didn’t really belong in the U.F.C., now they worry that she might not stay. Carano, for instance, devoted herself to acting after her 2009 defeat. (She recently starred in an unpretentious kidnapping movie called “In the Blood,” playing, essentially, Liam Neeson.) Rousey says that she considered retirement after her traumatic experience with reality television. “I figured that if people are going to treat me like that then they didn’t deserve to work with me,” she says. Her agent, Brad Slater, also represents Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson, the former professional wrestler who is now one of Hollywood’s most reliable stars, and also one of Rousey’s role models. Slater is working to put together her first starring role, in an adaptation of “The Athena Project,” a Brad Thor novel about a pack of glamorous but lethal female counterterrorism agents. Compared with the cramped and punishing world of M.M.A., Hollywood can seem relatively civilized. Rousey wasn’t nervous on the “Entourage” set. “It’s not like I could die if I say it wrong,” she says.

But she has been feeling more excited about M.M.A. lately, and she has been enthusiastically helping the other Horsewomen train. On a recent afternoon, she worked with one of them, a relatively inexperienced fighter named Jessamyn Duke, to prepare for an upcoming bout. She had stitches in her right hand, so she was fighting one-handed, throwing only left hooks. They put on boxing gloves and headgear, and for three rounds Rousey buffeted Duke. By the end, Duke was red-faced and teary, heaving from exhaustion and frustration. Rousey frowned at her. “Don’t show it,” she shouted, repeating a command she has heard, and ignored, all her life. ♦

Kelefa Sanneh joined The New Yorker as a staff writer in 2008.


A freaking long article but an excellent read. We'd expect no less from the New Yorker.

Orion Paximus
07-23-2014, 10:57 AM
I want to have Rousey's babies.

GeneChing
08-07-2014, 11:38 AM
Well, she knows how to generate buzz. Several web news have picked up on her comment "I want to be the highest-grossing actor in the world someday." Ambitious for sure. Good luck with that.



Rousey takes on Hollywood (http://espn.go.com/mma/story/_/id/11307681/mma-star-ronda-rousey-takes-hollywood-espn-magazine)
MMA star Ronda Rousey's next challenge is the big screen
Updated: August 5, 2014, 3:13 PM ET
By Sam Alipour | ESPN The Magazine

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2014/0804/mag_ronda01_lg_576x324.jpg
Ronda Rousey Courtesy Lionsgate
Rousey's Hollywood career kicks off with a role in "The Expendables 3."

This story appears in ESPN The Magazine's August 18 College Preview Issue. Subscribe today!

Ronda Rousey needed just 16 seconds to trounce her last opponent, Alexis Davis, for her fourth straight UFC title defense. But the acting newbie will need a few more rounds to earn her Hollywood bona fides. Of course, roles in "The Expendables 3" (Aug. 15) and next year's "Fast & Furious 7" and "Entourage" aren't a bad opening combination.

Alipour: I don't have backup for this claim, but I'd bet $10 that you're the first active athlete to unspool three movies in an 11-month period. How did you pull it off?

Rousey: A lot of coffee. Actually, I'm drinking coffee right now as I pace around my house.

Are you nervous? I'm the one who has to interview a lethal weapon.

[Laughs] Not at all. I'm just addicted to caffeine, and I have a problem with resting. I'm back in the gym two days after a fight. I'd rather fill my calendar in between fights than go on vacation.

Did you actively seek out an acting career, or did Hollywood come to you?

I didn't grow up wanting to be an action star. I just didn't think it was in the cards. Now that it's a possibility, I'm like, "Screw it, I don't give a s---, if The Rock can become the world's highest-grossing actor, I can have that same goal." I want to be the highest-grossing actor in the world someday.

That's your goal? To top Dwayne Johnson?

I never aspired to be second. I was taught as a kid that you can do whatever you want in this world, so why not be the best in the world at it? Even when I was bartending, I wanted to be the world's best, most efficient and charming bartender. That's how I do things.

Your first step in that pursuit: "The Expendables 3." After Sly Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, Jason Statham, Wesley Snipes, Jet Li and Dolph Lundgren, was there any ass kicking left over for you?

[Laughs] There's plenty of action to go around, but there are so many stars in this franchise, you have to share space. Everybody gets their moment. Stallone is the star, and we're the characters around him. My character is part of the new generation they brought in.

Who left you the most starstruck?

Harrison Ford, by far. Nobody has affected me like Harrison. I was obsessed with "Star Wars" as a kid. I'd watch it, rewind it, then watch it again. Han Solo was my guy, and "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" was actually the first action movie I watched, so I was super starstruck. When I saw him, I was like, "Do I introduce myself? Do I go out of my way to do it? Do I pretend to not notice him?" I just lost it. I'm sure I made a total **** out of myself. But he was so nice. Very, very cool.

Upon first meet, do you think any of those tough guys sized you up and thought, "Yeah, she's a pro fighter, but she's a woman -- I can take her"?

If they did think that, they didn't mention it to me. [Laughs] Actually, they made jokes all the time about how I could beat them up. Everybody on set was really respectful.

During filming, did you ever slip up and smack one of those stars in the head -- and is that person still alive?

[Laughs] No, but there was this one stunt guy -- our timing was off. At one point, he stopped, I kept going and I hurt my back picking him up. Nice guy, but a couple of days later, I was off balance, wearing heels in a fight scene, so he really took it in the head. It's in the trailer: The guy that I smashed in the face with a bottle was bleeding all over the place after that. I felt bad, but what did they expect? They had me doing a fight scene with heels and fragile glass.

So they let you do your own stunts?

I did all of my own stunts, except for a couple of falls. I had a fight that December, so Dana White wouldn't let me do anything too dangerous, but nobody else could do a lot of those fight scenes, so it fell to me. I'm an adrenaline junkie, and I love jumping off of stuff, so they promised to let me do my own falls if I don't have a fight next time.

What's the best piece of advice you got from one of those action-movie legends?

Stallone really pulled for me and took me under his wing. The best advice he gave me was to never be embarrassed. He said, "Start out over-the-top because it's a lot easier to tone it down than to rev it up."

Next April we'll see you in "Fast & Furious 7." The action in that series mostly happens on wheels. How are your skills as a wheelwoman?

Honestly, I can't even drive an automatic. I'm not very convincing in a car. But tell you what, if I ever have to learn how to drive an automatic for a scene, I'd be the most amazing race car driver ever. There's no way I'd let myself look bad at anything.

Then in June, you'll appear as yourself in "Entourage." Some actors feel that's more difficult than playing a character.

I think it's easier. If anybody tells me, "You're doing it wrong," I'm like, "What the f--- are you talking about? How are you gonna tell me that my 'Ronda' is terrible? I'm the world's top expert in being Ronda, so you can't tell me s---."

Once you got up close and personal with the cast, what surprised you the most about the people we'd been watching on TV for so long?

When I got there, I was expecting that I'd get a lukewarm reception. I thought I'd be the new kid who nobody wants to sit with in the cafeteria. But everybody was so welcoming, kind and genuinely interested in me. I was so surprised. Hollywood is a lot nicer than I was led to believe.

All three films are guy movies. What are the chances we'll see you in a rom-com smooching Ryan Gosling someday?

[Laughs] You never know. At first, I leaned toward what I knew I could do well: the physical stuff. Then "Entourage" had me doing comedy -- now I have to walk and talk and have timing and be articulate. It's a bit more difficult. Maybe next time I can take a baby step to a more female-oriented movie. After that, maybe I'll do the romantic comedy thing. It's about progression. No rush.

Both in the ring and on screen, your career runs parallel to Gina Carano's. As an actress, do you see her as a competitor?

Not at all. I see her as a pioneer who really opened doors for me. She embodies qualities that people want to see, even if they didn't know that they wanted to see it. Until Gina came around, people didn't know that they wanted to see a full-bodied, tough girl who actually knows how to be feminine. No, I don't see her as a competitor at all. I see her as a partner in all of this.

If Gina signs with UFC, Dana White has pegged you two for a December bout. But there might be a scheduling conflict, as this year she's planning to film a movie, "The Opium War," which could interfere with training. Do you empathize with her and her dueling ambitions, or should she put a fight with you before her acting career?

I know how hard it is to juggle a schedule of fights and movies. If she wants to delay the fight a couple of months for a movie, I'd totally understand. If I had a similar situation, I'd hope she'd do the same for me. I take both careers extremely seriously. I don't see why she shouldn't.

You'd be the favorite in that fight. How would Rousey vs. Carano go down?

Well, I want to win, of course. That's how every fight goes down. But my coach said from the start that Gina is the worst style matchup for me. I'm not just saying that. I don't have to worry about fighters outmuscling or overwhelming me or catching me on the mat. The only thing I have to worry about is the one-punch knockout. And out of all of the women in MMA, Gina has the best feel for distance and timing. That's not something you lose because you made a couple of movies. You'll always have that. And she was the first girl I ever saw that had a one-punch standing knockout. The other chicks who are known for knocking people out, those are really TKOs: They got overwhelmed on the ground, and then the ref stopped them. She's the one who can knock you out while standing on her feet with one punch. That's what makes her the most dangerous.

I really do believe that she's the hardest competitor I could ever find to fight. Even if you don't believe that, even if you think she took too much time off and it'd be a quick fight, to be honest, that fight would be too hot not to watch. It doesn't really matter if it'll be competitive or not. And if you do watch it, you're going to be surprised: It'll be one of greatest fights to ever happen in the history of women's MMA.

Even as your star rises, Floyd Mayweather recently said he doesn't know who "he" is, and "he" is you. Do you feel he was talking trash or just terribly misinformed?

I'm not going to make any assumptions. He said he really didn't know, and he apologized if I was offended. I thought that was sweet of him.

So what's next? I bet you're ready for a vacation.

Well, I'm taking a forced vacation. I've been putting off arthroscopic knee surgery for years now, and I finally let myself believe that I've had enough. So I took care of my knee, and I'm doing amazing at my therapy. I should be 100 percent in two more weeks. And I've got a lot of time until my next fight, so I'm ready to take a rest. Well, maybe. Knowing me, I'll find more work to do.

GeneChing
12-10-2014, 10:01 AM
27 is a little young for an 'official' memoir. Most celebrities get an unauthorized one done first.


Ronda Rousey memoir set for '15 (http://espn.go.com/mma/story/_/id/12005133/ronda-rousey-memoir-coming-2015)
Updated: December 9, 2014, 3:10 PM ET
Associated Press

Nine for IX Shorts: Rowdy Ronda Rousey (http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:11259744)
On Feb. 23, 2013, Ronda "Rowdy" Rousey became UFC's first female bantamweight champion. With an inside look at her record-breaking fight, the film looks at how Rousey has paved the way for women in UFC and how her rough childhood shaped her career.

NEW YORK -- Actress and martial arts champion Ronda Rousey is ready to share some war stories.

Rousey's memoir "My Fight/Your Fight" has been acquired by Regan Arts, the publisher announced Tuesday. The memoir is scheduled to come out in May and will be co-written by Rousey's sister, Maria Burns Ortiz, a sports journalist who contributes to Fox News Latino and ESPN.com.

Known for her brash, trash-talking style, the 27-year-old Rousey was the first American woman to win an Olympic bronze medal in judo and she currently holds the women's bantamweight title for the mixed martial arts organization Ultimate Fighting Championship. She was seen last summer in "The Expendables 3" and is scheduled to appear in "Furious 7" and "Entourage," a feature film based on the HBO series.

GeneChing
02-09-2015, 02:59 PM
There's a vid of Ronda's swimsuit shoot embedded on the SI page (http://www.si.com/swimsuit/2015/models/ronda-rousey/videos/on-location-captiva-island). :D

A gallery (http://www.si.com/swimsuit/2015/models/ronda-rousey/photos/1) too.

http://cdn-jpg.si.com/sites/default/files/images/X158908_TK1_01616-rawMasterWMsm.JPG
http://cdn-jpg.si.com/sites/default/files/images/X158908_TK1_01422-rawMasterWMsm_0.JPG
http://cdn-jpg.si.com/sites/default/files/images/X158908_TK1_00735-rawMasterWMsm.JPG
http://cdn-jpg.si.com/sites/default/files/images/X158908_TK1_00426-rawMasterWMsm.JPG

sanjuro_ronin
02-10-2015, 08:31 AM
Dddrrrooollllll

GeneChing
02-10-2015, 09:11 AM
Strangely, my dad has a subscription. I say 'strangely' because my dad passed away last year and for a decade prior to that, he was crippled by a major stroke so probably couldn't enjoy the SI swimsuit issue. Anyway, all the hullabaloo about the plus-size model was silly. I've c&ped an interview below on , but as you can see, she's not that major of a plus-size. Ronda actually looks bigger, or perhaps thicker is a better word. Obviously Ronda has some meat on her bones. There's a cover blurb on Ronda, but there are only a few pix. If you go to the hyperlink above, there are a lot more.


Robyn Lawley on Being the First ‘Plus-Size’ Model in SI Swimsuit Issue History (http://nymag.com/thecut/2015/02/qa-the-first-plus-size-model-in-si-history.html)
By Kathleen Hou Follow @kathleenhou
Photo: James Macari/Sports Illustrated

http://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/fashion/daily/2015/02/09/09-robyn-lawley-sports-illustrated.w631.h946.2x.jpg

This year's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue brought the introduction of the groin V and more Chrissy Teigen. But it also featured a spread of body-image advocate and "plus-size" model Robyn Lawley — the first time in history a model beyond a traditional sample size has appeared in the swimsuit issue. Calling while nine months pregnant from a tent in California, Lawley spoke to the Cut about shooting the issue during her first trimester, the Calvin Klein plus-size model scandal, and why designers need to bring about a change for body diversity in the fashion industry.

What was the casting process like?
In 2013, I met all the [casting] girls and they seemed really interested. It didn’t happen that year. And then the next year, I thought I could maybe go to them and be like, "So, I have this swimwear line you guys didn't know about ..." And instead, they were like, No, we really want to use you and have been trying to get you in and booked. And then it happened! It was almost a year ago.

Were you surprised by the timing?
MJ [Day, assistant managing editor of Sports Illustrated] said it was like the Kate Upton effect. Everything happened in a flow and is finally happening, but my agents at Wilhelmina have been working at this for years, trying to even get us in the door to see people. At the end of the day, I’m a size that they’re not used to. It’s quite a process and I am quite stoked they were really willing to go down that route. A lot of magazines are not inclusive of my size.

Did you do anything special to prepare for the shoot?
I love sports. I was a sports captain in high school. I took up yoga because I have a terrible lower back and am very inflexible. I’ve been doing kickboxing the last year and a half. Because I was going to be in SI and they love sporty, healthy girls, I did up my workouts but nothing crazy. I was pregnant and sleeping all the time. Even now, I’m doing yoga and am nine months pregnant. I love sports, and exercising is essential, especially if it means I can eat however I want.

Every time a plus-size model is featured in a magazine, it seems like the media and consumer response is overwhelmingly positive. Yet, plus-size models are still rarely featured. Why do you think that is?
I don’t really understand why. I used to think sample sizes were made into a 0. But as a designer myself, I make the sample sizes whatever I want. Why are we so focused on having the girl fit the clothes rather than the clothes fit the girls? I wish it were completely different and women didn’t worry about other bodies. I just want it to be a regular thing. I want Vogue to be regularly featuring curvy or plus-size or size-8 models. At the end of the day, I (and other girls) look up to these magazines. If you just see one consistent body type, you’re going to hate your body. I don’t want girls to feel like that.

You've disavowed the term "plus-size." Is there another term that you prefer?
Well, I like "curvy." Unfortunately, I have to be differentiated for castings. SI never once called me a plus-size model. If you actually look back, they haven’t said anything, but everyone loves a story. I agree with people when designers think I’m plus-size. But my size is just a number.

There was a lot of controversy this year over Calvin Klein's first plus-size model, who was a size 10. Do you think size-ism is an important discussion?
To me, it’s a necessary evil we need to get through right now. The change has been happening for a long time. We weren’t even getting looked at. When I did the Steven Meisel cover, all these designers booked me without even looking at my size. My agency was like, Do they know her size? And once they did, everyone dropped. People don’t know how hard it is to break a mold. It’s a step in the right direction — I’m proud of Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Sports Illustrated — and it needs to happen faster. We’re hoping it does.

Designers need to not be so fearful of using a few models that are a different size on the catwalk. They expect you just to fit into these sample sizes. They say, Yeah, you don’t look like a size 12. I’ve got a 42-inch hip, my friend; this is not going to fit. I can’t get clothes for events. I’m very excluded from a lot of that, and it sucks. If designers had more sample sizes, they would make the magazines shoot size 8 on a size 8.

This interview has been condensed and edited.

The ads were great - better than this year's stuporbowl. Below is the back cover; the Direct TV ads are awesome too.


Snickers Took Over the Back of SI's Swimsuit Issue With a Ssssplendid 'You're Not You' Ad Model becomes Medusa By Tim Nudd (http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/snickers-took-over-back-sis-swimsuit-issue-ssssplendid-youre-not-you-ad-162873)
February 9, 2015, 5:28 PM EST

http://www.adweek.com/files/imagecache/node-blog/blogs/sports-illustrated-medusa-hed-2015.jpg
Snickers and BBDO New York have followed up their brilliant "Brady Bunch" Super Bowl ad with an inspired print piece—taking over the back cover of Sports Illustrated's new Swimsuit Issue with this fantastic "You're not your when you hungry" ad.

Hannah Davis, of course, is on the front cover of the magazine. But on the back is a much less traditionally attractive female—Medusa, in fact, whom models apparently act like when they haven't had a Snickers in a while.

Cynics will suggest models are always hungry, and wouldn't be caught dead rectifying that fact by wolfing down a Snickers bar in public. But leaving aside the issues of verisimilitude, this is a pretty great ad and media placement. The recasting of Sports Illustrated as "Super Irritated" is a particularly nice touch.

See the front cover, and credits for the Snickers ad, below.

Front cover:
http://www.adweek.com/files/imagecache/node-detail/sports-illustrated-front-cover.jpg

CREDITS
Client: Snickers
Ad: Medusa

Agency: BBDO New York
Chief Creative Office, Worldwide: David Lubars
Chief Creative Officer, New York: Greg Hahn
Executive Creative Director: Gianfranco Arena
Executive Creative Director: Peter Kain
Senior Creative Director: Danilo Boer
Senior Creative Director: Grant Smith
Executive Art Producer: Betsy Jablow
Account Director: Josh Steinman
Account Manager: Dylan Green
Planner: Alaina Crystal

Photographer: Vincent Dixon

CGI: Parker & Biley
Production Company: Jake Mills Production

sanjuro_ronin
02-11-2015, 08:25 AM
Wow, they are getting more riskee with their covers.
That one is leaving very little to the imagination and we know for sure that she has hardwood flooring :)

David Jamieson
02-11-2015, 12:48 PM
Wow, they are getting more riskee with their covers.
That one is leaving very little to the imagination and we know for sure that she has hardwood flooring :)

Just wait until athletic sex is a sport.

Full penetration on every cover with commentary like : "Watch him go deep on this play!" and "She stuffed it!" and so on ...

It will happen I think. I mean, stuff from that movie idiocracy is already starting to happen!

PS: wow! I like that cover... lol

GeneChing
02-12-2015, 09:06 AM
Here's a brilliant article by Mark Heisler on the SI2015 Swimsuit issue. Actually, the small section with Ronda and Caroline Wozniacki (currently ranked as the No. 5 women's tennis) are the only real sports part of this issue.


2/09/2015 @ 10:17PM
What Swimsuit Issue Really Shows: The Decline of Sports Illustrated (http://www.forbes.com/sites/markheisler/2015/02/09/what-swimsuit-issue-really-shows-the-decline-of-sports-illustrated/)
Mark Heisler Contributor

For those who believe in coincidences, the fact that Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue shrank to 220 pages from last year’s 252 may have nothing to do with its most risque cover in 51 years of pushing the envelope and lowering bikini bottoms.

With model Hannah Davis (see obligatory picture) hooking her’s lower than even SI had gone before, the world broke out in the (expected) horror.

Of course, SI was counting on that with an unprecedented launch, noting that it expects to more than make up for lost advertising and revenue with live events like the two-day festival in New York’s Herald Square, followed by the one in Nashville with 13 live bands!

Davis, who is Derek Jeter’s girl friend, showed how wholesome she is in an interview with Matt Lauer on “The Today Show.” If her photo wasn’t appropriate for children, the producers thought that their mothers would be interested.

This isn’t France. Sex not only sells, it’s as if we’re always discovering it anew.

Shocking, soft-core porn, my kids see this, please cancel my subscription…

You’d think that everyone who hated it would already have cancelled. If the objections may be merited, they have been since the first swimsuit issue in 1964 when the same ones resounded as copies flew off the newstand.

Significantly, there’s one objection you no longer hear: Why does SI do a swimsuit issue?

Everyone knows that answer. It’s the same reasons anybody does anything in journalism, to be noticed. Otherwise, with people reading less, and getting more of what they do read online, your particular medium may not remain in the business of journalism.

http://blogs-images.forbes.com/markheisler/files/2015/02/B9HBOCLIIAAB_zf.jpg
Sports Illustrated, 2015 (Sports Illustrated photo)

Controversies over racy covers of mainstream magazines has gotten so 2014. That’s when GQ mailed its issue with a provocative cover shot of nearly nude Emily Ratajkowski to Lands End subscribers who flipped out, all but en masse.

Oops! Sports Ilustrated just got everyone again!

It doesn’t matter if SI’s drop in pages from last year’s 50th anniversary issue, the loss of revenue and/or the fear of no longer being hot, prompted this photo. The swimsuit issue remains its most eagerly awaited one of the year.

SI’s problem is everything else. Once the king of sports journalism, the magazine that no real sports fan could miss, it’s now merely preeminent in a–sadly–fading business with its subscriber base down 5% since 2008, according to the Alliance for Audited Media.

In a crushing irony, this dazzling visual exercise comes two weeks after laying off its entire photo staff, entrusting the Illustrated part of SI’s mission to freelancers working on assignment, without benefits. The move, prompted by Time CEO Joe Ripp’s “re-engineering” of the company, was the latest in a years-long series of SI layoffs which, the survivors were told in 2012, had ended.

I grew up reading SI. I had the first issue in 1954 at 10 with the Milwaukee Braves’ Eddie Matthews swinging from the heels on the cover, a wonder of four-color full-bleed photography that covered the entire page without margins, turning sports into a kind of art form overnight.

I can remember pieces I read from the ’50s, like “Orange Hell on Piety Hill,” an account of Syracuse University’s football victory over West Virginia with a full-page picture of Ernie Davis following a lineman around right end, so real it seemed they were going to thunder through the living room.

http://blogs-images.forbes.com/markheisler/files/2015/02/syracuse-1959-vs-WVU.jpg
Sports Illustrated, 1959 (Sports Illustrated photo)

SI’s best writers like Roy Blount, Dan Jenkins, Curry Kirkpatrick and Frank Deford, showed the rest of the business what we should be doing and how we should be doing it.

I copied their format, in which writers covering games broke away in the middle of the piece, going back in time, setting up the event with local color and things the teams said about each other, adding depth, context and perspective, the best thing in journalism of any kind. Before that, gamers had only been simple accounts comprised of play-by-play with perhaps a quote or two.

I applied there more than once. I subscribed for more than 30 years, but let it go in the mid-1990s. It still does as many or more good things on sports than anyone in dead-tree media, like Lee Jenkins’ scoop on LeBron James’ decision to return to Cleveland, but it’s nothing I can’t catch up with online.

Aside from putting out ever-more-daring swimsuit issues, SI’s experience has been standard among traditional publishers, who always find themselves pushing the boulder back up the hill.

ESPN started its own magazine to snip away around SI’s margins, publishing every two weeks, rather than challenge it head-on. I get “ESPN, the Magazine,” but only because they give it away to anyone who subscribes to their expanded “Insider” coverage online.

All that counts now is ESPN, the network. It is to sports what the New York Times is to the wider world, setting the agenda for what people will talk about and other media platforms will follow up on. If it’s not on “SportsCenter,” it may as well be a dead tree falling in the forest.

Dazzlingly inappropriate as the swimsuit issue is, all it ever had to do with the rest of the magazine was its state-of-the-art photography, and hardly represents the best of SI.

So here it is, the sexiest, the most controversial and the saddest.

GeneChing
02-19-2015, 11:50 AM
Did you know there were articles in the SI issue? Well, they aren't really articles. Just little Q&As with the models. Here's the one for A Pair of Knockouts featuring Ronda and Caroline Wozniacki. I'm quoting this from page 184 at the end of the photo spread.


WHAT DID WE BRING HOME? A few tennis pointers from Caroline and some Wushu (a Chinese martial art) tips from Ronda.

Wushu tips from Ronda.

In the SI 2015 issue.

:D

In honor of SNL40, I have only one thing to say...

'scwhing!'


:eek:

;)

GeneChing
02-20-2015, 09:59 AM
Anyone catch Ronda on Conan last night? I made it through Conan's monologue but then fell asleep. It's been a long week and I was exhausted.



UFC's Ronda Rousey discusses her Sports Illustrated swimsuit appearance (http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-ufc-ronda-rousey-swimsuit-zingano-20150219-story.html)

http://www.trbimg.com/img-54e67ebb/turbine/la-sp-ronda-rousey-wre0015211054-20130305/750/750x422
MMA fighter Ronda Rousey attends the 2013 Fox Sports Media Group Upfront after-party in New York City. (Theo Wargo / Getty Images)
By Lance Pugmire

Ronda Rousey says she was stoked to work with photographer Walter Iooss Jr. for SI swimsuit issue

Fighters throughout the years have found unique ways to promote a coming bout, but Ronda Rousey’s turn inside the pages of Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue is a new standard.

Rousey, 28, of Venice, appeared in a four-page SI spread earlier this month. That package was supplemented by more photos on the magazine’s website shot by well-known photographer Walter Iooss Jr.

The photos precede by weeks Rousey’s Feb. 28 Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s bantamweight title defense against No. 1-ranked contender Cat Zingano at Staples Center.

“There wasn’t any hesitation at all,” Rousey said. “I was stoked from the very beginning. Why would I hesitate? … Walter Iooss is a genius.”

Why? Well, Rousey (10-0) didn’t grow up as a girly girl. She admitted to a gathering of reporters this week at her gym in Glendale that she didn’t wear makeup until she was 21.

“Because I was bartending and I needed tips,” Rousey said.

She’s talked about being tomboy-ish as a youth, developing combat skills that would make her an Olympic bronze medalist in judo in 2008, while showing past disdain around the UFC octagon for ring card girl and Maxim magazine cover girl Arianny Celeste.

“I couldn’t even smile not awkwardly for a photo” as a child, Rousey said. “I had that Chandler Bing smile. I couldn’t do it right. You had to surprise me.

“You never know. I just followed where everything went. I’m really happy with where I am now, and I’m glad I had no clue growing up, and I’m happy that I grew up a little slower and wasn’t into that stuff in high school. I wouldn’t change anything.”

Now, Rousey is a veteran of three major films, including “The Expendables 3,” and the coming “The Fast and the Furious 7,” and “Entourage.”

She graced the SI pages under the headline, “A Pair of Knockouts,” with tennis champion Caroline Wozniacki.

“If you were asked to be in Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue, I bet you’d do it,” Rousey said to The Times’ male UFC reporter. “Don’t blush. I don’t know, Walter Iooss is a genius, I think he could make you look rockin’.”

As she braces for the main event at Staples Center, Rousey said she remains driven while relishing the trappings of her success.

“I’m happy to have been one of the unpopular kids back then, because it makes everything so much more satisfying now,” she said.

Before participating in the shoot, Rousey fell back on an agreement she had made previously with her mother about such pictorials.

“Whatever you’re not willing to show in public, you won’t show in a magazine,” Rousey said. “If I’m going to tan on a beach with my top on, or top off face down, how is that different?”

She was happy with the finished product, joking that readers couldn’t see her “cash and prizes.”

“I try to promote a healthier body image,” Rousey said. “I think that does a lot more to change what women expect of themselves than not doing anything at all. Changing the media images at men changes what women expect of themselves.”



Ronda Rousey: 'Fighters should get paid more than ring-card girls' (http://www.foxsports.com/ufc/story/ronda-rousey-fighters-should-get-paid-more-than-ring-card-girls-022015)
Elias Cepeda
FOX Sports
FEB 20, 2015 10:17a ET

http://a1.fssta.com/content/dam/fsdigital/fscom/UFC/images/2015/02/20/022015-UFC-Ronda-Rousey-and-Arianny-Celeste-JW-PI.vadapt.955.high.0.jpg
Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC,Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC

Ronda Rousey believes that fighters like her should always make more money than UFC ring-card engineers like Arianny Celeste.

Bantamweight world champion Ronda Rousey isn't usually one to criticize her promoter, the UFC, but during a media day this week the two-time judo Olympian did criticize one aspect of fighter pay. "I think that they should get paid more than the ring girls," she said.

How much Octagon card holders like Arianny Celeste and Brittney Palmer get paid isn't publicly known. Then again, neither is how much UFC fighters are paid, since fight purses are often just the tip of the iceberg with regards to pay, at least for big names like Rousey.

In any case, Rousey seemed to be suggesting that many UFC fighters get paid less than the models who sit in bikinis nearby as they fight, which is not hard to believe. The UFC's "Octagon girls" usually work far more dates than a fighter has fights, in any given year, and are pretty heavily promoted.

"I don't know if the ring girls get paid too much or the fighters don't get paid enough," the UFC 184 headliner continued.

"But yeah. There's definitely a lot more in what the fighters do than what they do. So, I think that's one thing that's unfair."

Rousey isn't complaining about her own compensation, however. She says that the UFC has gone above and beyond in what they pay her.

"There's times where they give me more than they're contractually obligated to or more than I even expect. That's why I always trust them so much. Even if they didn't ever give me anything extra, I would still be happy, because you know what I made as an Olympian? Nothing. It cost me money," she explained.

"I got my first house, I got a car, what else do I need?" Rousey said. "I don't need a private island. My house is paid off. My car is paid off. I just need to buy dog food and pay my taxes and that's pretty much it. I have no need to want. The only thing I want to do now is fight and they made that possible for me and I'm eternally grateful."

GeneChing
03-04-2015, 10:06 AM
After all, Rousey vs Zingano (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?68463-UFC-184-Rousey-vs-Zingano-FEB-28-2015-Staples-Center-Los-Angeles) was shorter than a movie trailer, and we need more Ronda.

We've seen her in Expendables 3 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=1171) last year already.

Coming soon:
Furious 7 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?66507-Fast-and-Furious-7) April 3, 2015
Entourage (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?67258-Entourage) June 5, 20915
Mile 22 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?68475-Mile-22) Just announced

GeneChing
03-04-2015, 03:28 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OARa6KXur0

Ronda isn't really sorry, nor should she be. This is what is called "dojo justice".

sanjuro_ronin
03-05-2015, 09:21 AM
LMAO, classic.

GeneChing
04-06-2015, 02:38 PM
Walmart -- Yes, Walmart -- Deems Ronda Rousey's Memoir Too Violent To Sell In Stores (http://espn.go.com/espnw/athletes-life/the-buzz/article/12619711/walmart-yes-walmart-deems-ronda-rousey-memoir-too-violent-sell-stores)
By D'Arcy Maine | Apr 5, 2015
espnW.com

http://a3.espncdn.com/media/motion/2015/0325/dm_150325_mma_rousey_his_hers_interview/dm_150325_mma_rousey_his_hers_interview.jpg
UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey discusses the progress made in women's mixed martial arts, her belief in herself, and a comment made by former boxer Laila Ali that she could beat Rousey.

Between her dominance in the Octagon, her Hollywood turn in "Furious 7" and the upcoming "Entourage" movie and her WWE WrestleMania appearance, Ronda Rousey is clearly the "It Girl" of the moment. However, it seems like one major corporation is firmly not on #TeamRousey.

With her memoir "My Fight/Your Fight" set to be released next month, Walmart has announced it will not be selling the book because it's too violent. If you're currently muttering to yourself "Doesn't Walmart sell guns in its stores?" know you're not alone in your thinking. Rousey's sister Maria Burns Ortiz, who co-authored the book, posted a similar sentiment on Twitter.


Maria Burns Ortiz @BurnsOrtiz
Follow

Wal-Mart will sell guns, but not a book. Taking that whole pen is mightier than the sword thing seriously. #myfightyourfight
11:51 AM - 4 Apr 2015


To recap: According to Walmart, Ronda Rousey is too violent but guns are totally cool. OK then.

Alas...Walmart. When they cut our magazine from their newsstands, it cut nearly a quarter of our newsstand distribution. :mad:

GeneChing
04-23-2015, 09:09 AM
Yes, That Is Ronda Rousey Dressed Up Like A Pirate Wench (http://espn.go.com/espnw/athletes-life/the-buzz/article/12728225/yes-ronda-rousey-dressed-pirate-wench)
By D'Arcy Maine | Apr 20, 2015
espnW.com

The best moments from Ronda Rousey's SportsCenter 14-Second Challenges are highlighted.

Ronda Rousey is a UFC champion, Olympic medalist, movie star, author, all-around badass and now ... a pirate wench.

Yes, you read that correctly. Her words, not mine.

Rousey, her sister Jen and a friend went to a Renaissance fair over the weekend, donning their best period costumes and carrying drinking horns. Of course. It was apparently so much fun that Rousey went ahead and volunteered their services for future fairs and events.


rondarousey(Verified)3 days ago
Time travel renaissance pleasure faire! with my amazing sister Jen (the genius photographer) and @qosbaszler - any time someone needs a pirate wench, we're officially prepared (and yes, we DO have drinking horns;)
https://igcdn-photos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/t51.2885-15/10632266_755047687942799_856476222_n.jpg

75.9k likes445 comments

Nothing says "middle ages" quite like a Batman corset.

See something entertaining on social media that you think deserves to be shared? Let me know on Twitter, @darcymaine_espn.

Ronda would make a better ninjette.

GeneChing
05-12-2015, 09:22 AM
Hope her book does well.


SI cover: The Unbreakable Ronda Rousey (http://www.si.com/mma/2015/05/12/ronda-rousey-mma-sports-illustrated-cover)
by SI Wire
Posted: Tue May. 12, 2015

http://cdn-jpg.si.com/sites/default/files/2015/05/12/rousey11.jpg
Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images
UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey has been everywhere in 2015, and now she can add the cover of Sports Illustrated to that list.

The 28-year-old stands atop SI.com's latest pound for pound rankings, an honor that can point to the fact that she has won her last two fights by a combined 30 seconds. First there was her 16-second victory over Alexis Davis by KO in July 2014, prompting UFC president Dana White to say Rousey doesn't earn the respect she deserves because of her gender.

In February, Rousey became the first MMA fighter to appear in the SI Swimsuit Issue. Later that month, she continued her reign with a 14-second armbar takedown of Cat Zingano, the fastest finish of any kind in a UFC championship fight (you can even watch it in claymation). It upped Rousey's career MMA record to 11–0 and marked the ninth time she has won by armbar.

Since the swift victory over Zingano, Rousey has been on a bit of a whirlwind tour as her fame only continues to grow. She stopped by The Tonight Show and demonstrated her famous armbar move on an unlucky yet thoroughly impressed Jimmy Fallon.

She was even challenged by a Houston Texans cheerleader who was a state champion boxer and thinks she has a plan that could stymie Rousey. And of course there was Rousey's memorable appearance at WresleMania 31, when she teamed up with The Rock.

But Rousey knows that with fame, there comes a price.

She tried to use an alter ego - Brynn Campbell - on the dating app Tinder, to no avail. Instead, she says she mostly hangs out with her dog Mochi.

“S---,” she says, “the only person I'm making out with is my dog.”

Rousey says she has the support of her family and friends to help navigate her through the rough waters of being a celebrity.

"What I realized is once you become socially unhealthy, it’s impossible to stay psychologically healthy,” she says. “[Celebrities] get surrounded by people that benefit off of them in some way. Every single person that they see in the day either gains financial stability, status, something from that person. And so the people around you reflect reality back to you."

When she's not appearing in Fast and Furious 7 or the upcoming Entourage, Rousey even found time to write a book.

The book, entitled My Fight/Your Fight, hits shelves Tuesday and recounts career moments such as her one-armed judo victory at the 2007 World Championships.

Could Rousey be on the way to retiring from the MMA? Only time will tell. “The shorter my fights are, the longer I can fight.” Rousey says...."I want to stop before it really erodes me.”

For more on Rousey, check out L. Jon Wertheim's story in this week's Sports Illustrated (subscribe here).

Also in this issue: More on the Deflategate fallout, and features on Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin, the new look San Diego Padres and the 1985 NBA draft.

Subscribers and newsstands not in Michigan, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Eastern Missouri will receive this cover.

Jimbo
05-16-2015, 09:19 AM
I highly recommend Ronda's new book, My Fight, Your Fight. I'm generally not much into reading autobiographies of MMA fighters, having read or browsed a few of them. But since Ronda's my current favorite fighter, I was definitely going to read this. I received it yesterday and am half-done with it already. The book is VERY well-written and is difficult to put down. I really do not understand Wal-Mart's refusal to carry it.

GeneChing
05-28-2015, 04:35 PM
This gal is on FIRE!


Ronda Rousey: The World's Most Dangerous Woman (http://www.rollingstone.com/sports/features/ronda-rousey-the-worlds-most-dangerous-woman-20150528)
How did Ronda Rousey go from living in her car to being MMA's most unstoppable force?
By Erik Hedegaard May 28, 2015

http://assets.rollingstone.com/assets/2015/article/ronda-rousey-the-worlds-most-dangerous-woman-20150528/197610/large_narrow_rect/1432825538/1035x376-GettyImages-464591070.jpg
Ronda Rousey, the most dominant female fighter on Earth. Bret Harman/Washington Post/Getty

Ronda Rousey is peacefully asleep inside her wee Venice Beach, California, bungalow, her breathing rhythmic, only one of her feet stirring. She's naked, because that's how she sleeps, not much of a threat to anyone and so unlike how she is when she's in the Ultimate Fighting Championship's Octagon. At times like those, she's a broad-shouldered, evil-eyed fighting fury, capable of wicked overhand rights, various elbow strikes, thudding head punches, an entire panoply of judo throws, mounts, tosses and sweeps, and, of course, her signature fight-ending killer move, the armbar submission.

Not that the world has gotten a chance to see all of this mayhem yet. Her fights, three amateur and 11 pro, with not a single loss among them, tend to end in less than 60 seconds. At the age of 28, she has in four years become the most dominant mixed-martial-arts fighter in the sport's history and was in fact recently named "the most dominant athlete alive," beating out names like LeBron and Mayweather. On the fight scene, there's never, ever really been anyone quite like her. "She's a beast, man," says UFC president Dana White. "She's the greatest athlete I've ever worked with. With her, it's like the Tyson era, like, how fast is she gonna destroy somebody, and in what manner? Ronda's one in a million."

Up in her bedroom, inside her bungalow, at a few minutes before nine, Rousey's right foot has begun to stir a little more, maybe even twitch a few times. She's alone there, no one to bother her, but she still needs to sleep. Her next fight, in August against Bethe Correia, is not that far off. She has to train, loves to train, never wants to stop training. Plus, whereas five years ago, after taking time off from her early career as a bronze-medal-winning Olympic judoka, she was a booze-swilling, pot-smoking ****tail waitress who was so hard up for cash that she lived out of her cheapo Honda Accord for a spell, she now has her days filled with all kinds of celebrity-type obligations, interviews, photo shoots and various calls from movie people.

Her right foot is jerking around, and her eyelids begin to flutter. The alarm clock next to her is set to go off at nine.

It is now one minute until, and suddenly, in bed, her eyes pop open. Silence surrounds her. She looks at her clock, and all she can think is "Yes! Yeah!" By way of explanation, an hour later — after she's thrown on an old Misfits T-shirt and sweatpants, slurped down a chia-bowl breakfast ("I love the bowl! I crave it!"), said good morning to her big-galoot Argentinian mastiff, Mochi, wandered around her messy, clothing-cluttered living room, looking for stuff to throw in her backpack, and at no time giving any thought whatsoever to putting on makeup — she says to a visiting reporter, "See, for some reason, I feel like it's a victory if I wake up one minute before the alarm. It's like I'm in a contest with myself, with my foot kicking around until it wakes up the rest of my body. It's the stupidest thing. But it makes me feel like I've already won something."

And so this is how she lives, all day, every day, 24 hours a day, for days and days on end. It's all about winning, in any way that she can.

Until Rousey, the UFC didn't even have a women's division. The very idea of two girls going at it made White uncomfortable. "I don't want to see two women beatin' on each other," he told Time in 2007.

Back then, the most desirable place for MMA women was in a much smaller organization called Strikeforce. It's where all the early great pros fought, including Gina Carano, who retired to go into movies, and Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos, who would later be stripped of her championship title for a steroid violation, and where Rousey first came on the scene, in 2011.

At the time, Rousey had an amateur MMA record of 3-0, her wins accomplished in less than two minutes total. After two equally quick victories in Strikeforce, she was given the chance to take on bantamweight titleholder Miesha Tate. This led to a nasty rivalry that continues to this day. Rousey wrote Tate off thusly: "I don't have respect for Miesha's inconsistency. One minute it's about the sport, the next she is wearing booty shorts." And later snorting, "I'm gonna talk a bunch of ****. And I'm gonna break a couple of girls' arms, and I'm not gonna feel the least bit sorry about it."

This got her lots of bad press, but in their early 2012 contest, she backed up her words. At 4:27 in the first round, she hyperextended Tate's elbow with an armbar, ripping through ligaments and forcing her to tap out. Strikeforce later labeled it the Submission of the Year.

Like everyone else, however, it wasn't just Rousey's fight skills that caught White's attention. "She's beautiful, intelligent and very pro-women, which I respect," he says. "And she is psychotically competitive." Which is true. Take the book tour for her new autobiography, My Fight/Your Fight. She'd been dreading it, until she read some report about Kim Kardashian's crazy new book tour and suddenly changed her mind: "I was like, 'Hell, no! I need mine to be crazier than that! Mine's going to be the best book tour that ever happened! Kim Kardashian, I will beat your book tour!' "

In this, as in all things, she will not fail, because she cannot fail, and she cannot fail because she's a winner. It's an unassailable logic that was first drilled into her by her mom, AnnMaria De Mars, herself a former judo champion, who, if she saw her teenage daughter relaxing in bed, say, would jump on her and attempt to get her in an armbar, the message being: Never let your guard down.

All these things made Rousey the kind of complete package and talent that convinced White and the UFC that women at a fight could be more than card-girl eye candy. In late 2012, he announced the formation of a women's division, installing Rousey as its bantamweight champion. Her record now stands at 5-0. Most recently, she took on Cat Zingano, a match that ended with an armbar in 14 seconds, making it the fastest title fight in the UFC's 21-year history. Rousey reportedly got $130,000 for the win, after which she renegotiated her contract for an undisclosed but presumably far grander amount and one better suited to her new role as the UFC's biggest star.

continued next post

GeneChing
05-28-2015, 04:36 PM
http://assets.rollingstone.com/assets/2015/media/196702/_original/1432064251/1035x833-R1236_FEA_Rousey_lay_A.jpg
Rousey needed just 14 seconds to beat her last opponent. "She's the greatest athlete I've worked with," says the UFC's White. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Getty

Along the way, the only fighter to get past the first round with Rousey in the UFC has been Tate, who during their 2013 rematch managed to make it to the third round before once again finding herself on the mat, with Rousey bending her elbow back against the joint until she tapped out rather than have it broken. It was another winning armbar. Afterward, she offered her hand to Rousey, but Rousey refused to shake it. The blood between them was that bad, a situation that had been compounded when they faced off as opposing coaches on Fox Sports' UFC reality show The Ultimate Fighter, with Rousey constantly giving Tate the finger and snarling stuff like, "**** you, *****!" The end result of all this has been to turn Rousey into what the pro-wrestling world calls a heel, the fighter everyone loves to hate. Rousey's response has always been, "I like it that way."

"There are certain things I admire about her as an athlete and a fighter," says Tate, "but I don't respect her as a person. There's an ugly side to her. Yeah, she's just nasty."

Zipping along the highway in her messy white Range Rover toward her gym today, the hard-case Rousey is not exactly the one on display. She's laughing loudly and talking about her 2013 fight with Liz Carmouche and how at one point, her bra nearly got tugged aside. "I have a weigh-in bra that's smaller and lighter and I'm a girl, so it's cuter, too, and I wanna look cute," she says. "But on fight night, who cares about looking cute? It needs to be effective, only on that particular fight night, I didn't have an effective bra. I just had two cute bras, so I had to wear one of them." She laughs again, thinking about what could have happened had some quick rearranging during the fight gone wrong. "At one point, I was perilously close to showing everyone my nipples, so the second I got her off my back, my mind shifted to 'Cover yourself up, girl!' And when Liz saw that, she kicked me right in the chest. Which she was entirely right to do. I would have done it if I was her."

And then there are the shorts the girls wear, just the way they ride up. "The first Miesha fight, she got her hooks in from behind, and I was like, 'Oh, I can get out of here easy.' But if I did, I would flash everyone, so I had to figure out a way to pull her feet out where my business was facing down, not facing the world." She giggles. "And then I have a phobia about camel toe. I swear to God, every time after I win, even before I take my mouth guard out, I pull my shorts down, and it's because I have a phobia of high-def camel toe, people zooming in on the Internet and everything. It's always, first thing, fix the camel toe!"

Such problems. The guys don't have such problems. Good thing Rousey says Reebok is working with her on an anti-camel-toe design.

Regarding makeup, there's a number of reasons why she doesn't wear it. Firstly, her mom never wore it, and until recently, what with her media appearances and all, she thought it was stupid too. Also, she says, "I don't feel the need to be the hot chick every second of the day." And finally, she says, "I like to be able to surprise people when I turn it on. I want it to be like the movie She's All That, when they unveil her. I mean, if you try all the time, there's no unveiling: The veil has already dropped, and that's who the **** you are, and I still want the veil." She pauses, gooses the gas, switches lanes with hardly a look. "And, you know, being hard to figure out helps keep people interested."

And yet, after a while, hanging out with her, she eventually returns to form and starts happily bashing her opponents, past, future and potential. On Correia, her upcoming challenger in UFC 190, which figures to be a rout, with Vegas bookmakers making Rousey the 1250 favorite (i.e., a $1,250 successful bet gets you only $100 in winnings): "She started talking **** about how I look, like, 'I'm gonna do her a favor and punch that wart off her face.' I'm like, 'A, it's a beauty mark — go ask Cindy Crawford about that.' And B, she's dumb." On Tate: "She's dumb too. She's made a whole career out of getting her ass kicked by me."

When she gets going like this, it's almost like she can't help it, like the way her foot twitches unbidden to wake her up in the morning and beat the alarm. It's just the way she is. She has no regrets about it, either. "I don't believe too much in regretting ****," she says. "It's a very wasteful use of energy." In her eyes, all these things she says about the other girls, they should weep with gratitude. "This chick I'm fighting next will never know how many things I've done for her to make sure I could personally kick her ass and people would be entertained by it. See, you let the plant grow and then you **** the plant up. If only they knew how much I do for them."

She pulls into a Starbucks, runs inside, grabs iced coffees for herself and her trainer, darts back to her car, hops inside, and off she goes again.

"I like quoting Lord of the Rings," she says along the way. " 'My list of allies grows thin! My list of enemies grows long!' " And, brother, does she ever seem pleased.

How she got this way, she can't really say, but maybe it has something to do with the circumstances of her birth and upbringing. In her first six years, nobody knew whether she'd ever speak an intelligent sentence, such were the aftereffects of being born with an umbilical cord wrapped around her neck. It could be that her gibberish and mumblings were signs of brain damage. No one knew, and her parents — Ron, an aerospace-industry executive, and De Mars, an educational psychologist and statistician — moved when she was three from Riverside, California, to Jamestown, North Dakota, in part to be near the Minot State University speech therapists, who set about bringing her vocal cords to their senses. It wasn't easy, and it took time. And it was especially frustrating for Ronda given how advanced her sisters were. "I'm dumb, Mom," she once said. "Maria and Jennifer have the words. I don't have the words." "No, you're not, you're very smart," her mother told her. Which, later on in high school, proved to be true, especially in nonverbal areas of study like math, science and art, where she excelled.

She was a daddy's girl, loved fishing with her dad and learned how to hunt at his knee. When Ronda was four, however, he broke his back in a sledding accident, which was complicated by a rare blood disorder that prevented his injuries from healing. Four years later, he committed suicide rather than put his family through what doctors told him would be a painful and inevitable decline.

"He was gone," says Rousey, "and we slowly got used to it. Athletics were the thing that I had, yeah, and, um, I'm still doing that."

continued next post

GeneChing
05-28-2015, 04:37 PM
http://assets.rollingstone.com/assets/2015/media/196703/_original/1432064503/1035x776-R1236_FEA_Rousey_lay_B.jpg
Rousey throwing her mother, AnnMaria De Mars, a judo champion in her own right, in 2001. Courtesy of Ronda Rousey

The family returned to California and settled in Santa Monica, where De Mars worked three jobs to support her kids, which now included yet another daughter, Julia. The kids all had to give judo a try — in 1984, De Mars was the first American ever to win at the World Judo Championships, so she had certain expectations — but Ronda was the only one to keep at it. And she did so, monomaniacally. In school, she didn't go to a single party or dance and never went out on a date. All she did in her spare time was train. By age 16, she was so thickly muscled that the other kids called her Savage or Miss Man. They'd grab at her arms and yell, "Flex, flex, flex!" — so humiliating her that she started wearing a long-sleeve hoodie year-round. "Eighty-five degrees out, I wouldn't take it off," she says. "I wouldn't let anybody see my arms." Even today, when most fighters flex their muscles during weigh-ins, she rarely does, keeping them to her side instead, or curling them behind her back.

Her ears, too, were a problem. They'd get pulpy and swollen after a fight; one ear had to be cut open and drained, Ronda just wanted to go home, but her mom — who was as hard on Ronda as Ronda was on herself — made her train instead, and the drained ear bled all over the place, leaving it permanently cauliflowered and another source of embarrassment at school.

Then again, those arms did have their uses. When she was 14, she and her friend Jackie would go down to the Third Street Promenade, where Jackie acted as her Don King, sidling up to delinquent toughs and saying, "I bet my friend can beat you up for $10.'' They'd all then retire to a park, where Ronda would take the hapless kid down in a chokehold or armbar, relieve him of his money, split the proceeds with her friend and go buy a couple of Frappuccinos.

During her sop****re year, she dropped out to concentrate on judo. One day, her mom sat her down for a talk. The Olympic trials were coming up. "If you don't want to go to the Olympics," her mom said, "I have no problem telling everyone to go **** themselves." "No, this is what I want to do," Ronda said. "OK," her mom said, "because if you want to be top in the world, it's going to take a lot of gut-wrenching, balls-to-the-wall work, and that's it." Undeterred, at the age of 17, Ronda became the youngest judoka in the world to qualify for the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

It was not a pleasant experience. For one thing, she became bulimic while constantly struggling to make her weight class. Nor was she really allowed to vent any of her feelings or frustrations. At the time, she hadn't perfected her trash-talking skill set. Her mom, during her competing years, used to push opponents and say stuff like, "*****, I'm going to break your ****ing arm today." But that was before women's judo was introduced to the Olympics, where such talk is not tolerated, and until entering MMA, Ronda had to stifle herself and just carry on. Or cry, which she did often. In fact, almost every time she made even the slightest mistake in a practice session, or lost a fight, or came close to losing a fight, or sometimes even when she won a fight, she would break down in tears, an uncomfortable but uncontrollable reaction that has never gone away. It used to humiliate her, but she's come to accept it as just one of those things left over from her early, nonspeaking years, when, she says, "crying was the only way I could tell people I was upset." No matter what, though, she has always refused to submit in a fight, even if it meant her elbow would get broken. "Anytime anyone ever got me in an armbar, I'm like, 'Well, I guess it's going.' Yeah. I never tapped out in judo."
continued next post

GeneChing
05-28-2015, 04:37 PM
http://assets.rollingstone.com/assets/2015/media/196706/_original/1432064607/1035x1309-R1236_FEA_Rousey_lay_C.jpg
Rousey won the bronze in 2008, but afterward quit the sport and fell into a depression before taking up MMA. Toshifumi Kitamura/AFP/Getty

Four years after Athens came her big win at the Beijing Olympics. She was unhappy that it was only for a bronze medal, however, even though it made her the first American woman judoka to ever even place in the Games. Shortly thereafter, she went into a tailspin and quit her sport. She just didn't want to fight anymore. It ****ed her off to no end that, after all her hard work, her only reward from the U.S. Olympic Committee was "10 grand and a handshake." She spent the next year living like lots of regular people do. She worked at a bar. She held down the graveyard shift at a 24 Hour Fitness. Drank, smoked weed, caroused, lived in her Honda for a while, went out with another guy who was just plain bad, and put up with her mom, who called every guy she dated Bob, even to their face, never bothering to learn their real names, since they were all jerks and wouldn't be around for long, so why should she bother?

Eventually, she decided to give professional MMA a shot, which turned out to be exactly the thing to do. "Right now, I'm the baddest chick on the planet," she says. "And no matter what else happens to me, I have that. If I don't, I'm just a loser and I'm back in 2008, a drunk bartender living off of french fries and smoking menthols. And no one wants to smoke menthols. Menthols are disgusting."

Inside the Glendale Fighting Club, Rousey's head trainer, Edmond Tarverdyan, the club's wiry, smooth-tempered owner and a champion Muay Thai fighter from Armenia who has been working with Rousey since 2010, is out on the floor holding up a pair of mitts. Rousey stands facing him, feet planted, head down, gloved hands up. On the walls surrounding her are posters from her fights. On another wall, De Mars, who continues to give her daughter advice ("If she wants to take it, fine, and if she doesn't, she doesn't"), has in large letters scrawled some of her sayings, or "mom-isms," as Rousey calls them: "Winning is a habit." "Nobody's easy until after you beat them."

"We did a lot of straight shots, now we need to do angles," Tarverdyan tells Rousey. She nods, strikes.

"Beautiful," he says. "All right, great. Stay in place. No extra. That's good. OK, now, your right hand. Yeah, feel the shadow. Go jab and then go. OK, now you're out there, you're not afraid, you were never afraid. Beautiful, look at that!"

This dance goes on for almost an hour, with Rousey trying to do everything Tarverdyan asks, her eyes following him with nearly solicitous affection.

When the session is over, he says, "She's a born fighter. Here, we feel bad for her sparring partners. She knocks everybody out, so we hire female world boxing champions because they can take the punishment."

Rousey is nodding and beaming. Their relationship is oddly intimate. Every day, when Rousey buys him an iced coffee, she takes a straw and removes the paper up to the tip before inserting it into the cup. "Edmond's little straw," she will say. "I know there's extra love on that straw, even if he never notices it and never will." For his part, when Rousey was poor, Tarverdyan would order a ton of food at restaurants, telling her it was the Armenian way, just so she could get it to go at the end, never knowing it was his gift to her.

"The master plan is to retire undefeated," she says, "and walk away and not have anything left to prove. It'll be hard to know when it's time, but it'll help to have something else to get into, which is why I'm putting time into acting and the book and buying properties."

"I'll know when it's time," says Tarverdyan.

"Yeah," says Rousey. "I trust you. I only have so much ring time that my body can endure. I've had four surgeries on my knees, arthritis in my neck, separated my shoulders, broken my nose. I'm just gonna hope that science advances faster than I can deteriorate. Because what am I gonna do? Put a perfect body into the ground? What's the point of that?"

A while later, she's telling what it's like for her right after winning a fight and she's in the shower. "I start to giggle my ass off," she says. "It's my first time alone. And for some reason, right then in the shower, it takes over, how happy I am, and I laugh my ass off. I mean, when was the last time you laughed like that at nothing that was funny?" She pauses. "I need to feel pressure. I need to feel like winning is the biggest deal in the ****ing universe. I wouldn't do as well without people watching. I'd still win. But I wouldn't do it with such pizazz."

Pizazz?

"Yeah, that's it. I fight with pizazz. It's a different sound from everyone else. It's the sound of pizazz."

Later in the afternoon, on the way home, Rousey says, "I think it's funny when people think that because I'm a female athlete that I must be a lesbian, and I'm like, 'No, I love men so much that I beat the **** out of girls for a living just to take them all out.' " She's joking, of course, but at the moment, she doesn't have a boyfriend. There are various reasons for that, though. For one, she's too busy. For another, she says, "the kind of guys I'm into have lots of desirable women willing to do backflips for them — and, I mean, if you can look like a man standing next to me, then you're a real ****ing man — but I'm just not doing any backflips."

http://assets.rollingstone.com/assets/2015/media/197622/_original/1432830381/1035x703-R1236_FEA_Rousey_lay_D.jpg
Rousey photographed in Santa Monica, California. Peggy Sirota

And then there's the third and biggest reason. Rousey isn't scared of much, but she is scared of men she likes.

"This one guy, he's pretty well-known, he keeps texting me to go do this or that, and I'm such a *****, I won't say yes. And I want to. But I just ***** out. And then I met this guy at a gas station the other day — we had a moment with our credit cards not working right — and he asked me out. He was cute, but I was just a big ol' *****. I was like, 'I don't know. I gotta lot of ****, bro.' I bro'd him, and I didn't want to." She sighs. "I don't know what my problem is, and why I get so shy that I have trouble speaking, when I'm so bold in other areas." She pops her hand on the steering wheel. "I have an actual issue, I do believe."

Rousey really is complex, maybe even bordering on an amusingly appealing weirdo. She suffers from constant nightmares about zombie attacks. Is "deathly ticklish. I will turn into a ****ing ninja if you try to tickle me." Steals spoons from restaurants and in so doing is overjoyed. Worries what you will think if you look closely at the panties on the floor in her place, as in, "He probably thinks I got raped by Wolverine last night because my dog munches on the crotch of all my underwear, and they have teeth marks in them and, like, yeah, I don't have a weird fetish or stainless-steel anything going on down there."

She pulls over into the passing lane, where a car already is, and when that driver honks, she yells, "What are you honking at? You're the one that's an *******!"

Rousey says she doesn't care about not having a boyfriend. "If it's just about sex, I could get laid any old time. It's not about that. It's not like I have this fleeting window of time where I can have a sex life, whereas I do have this fleeting window of time where I can accomplish all these other things. If anything, it'll be better for my sex life if I get all this other **** done, because I'll be more durable afterward."

Back inside her place, she greets Mochi, then takes a request and goes to stand in front of a full-length mirror to display the face she puts on during every fight right before the referee claps his hands and bellows, "Let's get it on!" Her fight face. "I call it mean mugging," she says, dropping into it, almost shyly. "You're staring at your opponent through your eyebrows."

She backs away from the mirror and says people who think she's impassive at such moments have it wrong. "I'm not looking blankly," she says. "You have to have intent, because people can read what you're thinking, and so I'm thinking of all the things I'm gonna do. Like with Cat Zingano. She's a sweet girl, super-awesome chick. But every single time I looked at her, I thought, 'I'm gonna send her home unrecognizable to her own child.' My mind just goes there. To terrible things. But then when the fight's over, I go from the most dangerous woman on the planet to the most cuddly, happy thing ever. I fall in love with everybody, even the person I just beat. I love that person for giving me that moment. I'll never hate them for wanting the same thing I do. I love them for it. Because I need them in order to be able to do what I do for myself."

But then, of course, there's always the next fight and the next opponent to hate, and hate them she will, because that's how she wins, and she will do anything to win. "I love heights, love bugs, loved to dig up earthworms, like snakes and slimy things, jumping off things, fire," she says. "I'm fine with all of it, always thought I'd be great on Fear Factor, because I'd eat that goat **** just like that. It's the thought of failing. That is my one and only big fear."
From The Archives Issue 1236: June 4, 2015

RS long form journalism is still good.

GeneChing
06-02-2015, 05:29 PM
She lived in it for a while.


UFC Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey's Honda Accord LX 2005
This is the car that Ronda lived in with her dog Mochi

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/Njc1WDEyMDA=/z/8EUAAOSwKrhVa7qs/$_57.JPG
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/Njc1WDEyMDA=/z/ueIAAOSwNSxVa7q4/$_57.JPG
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/Njc1WDEyMDA=/z/IkoAAOSwZd1Va7qm/$_57.JPG
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/OTYwWDU0MA==/z/7BMAAOSwBLlVa9ZT/$_57.JPG
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/Njc1WDEyMDA=/z/CF4AAOSwstxVa7qk/$_57.JPG
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFg2NzU=/z/8Z0AAOSweW5Va7qu/$_57.JPG

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Want to own Ronda Rousey's 2005 Honda Accord LX? Here's your chance!
There are many of Ronda's personal belongings inside the car including medals, UFC programs from past events, patches, hats, and all kinds of random Ronda items. You can see from the eBay photos what all the items are that are located in the car. We (Ronda's family) like to joke about all of the cool things you find in Ronda's car. Every time you open the door, it's is like an archeological dig! Also, Ronda did glue a few medals, patches, coins, and figurines to the inside of her car which probably aren't going to come off.

Below you can also view two YouTube videos of Ronda dancing, singing, and having fun in her 2005 Honda Accord.

This car has 156,098 miles on it as of 5/31/15. Ronda's mom might drive it to the grocery store or to the 7 Generation Games office once or twice before the car is sold, so the car might have about 10 additional miles on it before the new owner picks the car up.

The car runs fine, but does need a new transmission. The new owner will need to pick the car up in Los Angeles, or make their own shipping arrangement.

http://armbarnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/ronda-rousey-wallpaper3-1920x1080.png


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgtMuvFnm28

On May-31-15 at 22:12:46 PDT, seller added the following information:

We received a few questions from potential buyers asking if Ronda will be present at the time of pick-up. Please note that Ronda will not be available at the time of pickup for of the vehicle.

David Jamieson
06-03-2015, 07:30 AM
I think it will be pretty cool when other women can get to the level of determination of Ronda.
That will be game changing when people of all stripes are going out to pay and see a girl fight for real.

GeneChing
06-05-2015, 08:12 AM
Ronda vs Hollywood: Ronda Rousey's Plan for World Domination Continues in ENTOURAGE (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=1227)by Lori Ann White

GeneChing
07-02-2015, 01:52 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pLnLVs2zOc

PalmStriker
07-02-2015, 09:08 PM
:D Rhonda looks MARVELOUS! Love those arms!

GeneChing
08-04-2015, 06:19 PM
Ronda Rousey to Star in Film Based on Her Autobiography (EXCLUSIVE) (http://variety.com/2015/film/news/ronda-rousey-biopic-autobiography-my-fight-your-fight-1201553460/)

https://pmcvariety.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/ronda-rousey.jpg?w=670&h=377&crop=1
Jeff Gross/Getty Images
August 3, 2015 | 10:00AM PT
Justin Kroll
Film Reporter @krolljvar

Following her dominating win Saturday night in Brazil, where she knocked out Bethe Correia in 34 seconds, UFC fighter Ronda Rousey is making moves for her film career, and this latest project hits close to home.

Paramount Pictures has secured the rights to Rousey’s New York Times bestselling autobiography “My Fight/Your Fight,” with Rousey playing herself.

Mark Bomback on board to adapt the book, while Mary Parent is producing along with Rousey, with Bomback serving as exec producer.

“It’s a real honor to be a part of bringing Ronda’s incredible story to the bigscreen,” Parent said.

Written by Rousey with her sister Maria Burns Ortiz, “My Fight/Your Fight” is an inspirational story celebrating the accomplishments of Rousey, who faced extraordinary challenges on her path to glory. The book was published in spring by Regan Arts.

No date has been set yet on when the project will go into production as Bomback has just begun adapting the book. Rousey is expected to fight one more time before the end of the year and will then shoot the Pete Berg-directed action pic “Mile 22″ in January.

It’s not very often that a notable individual stars in her own biopic, but Rousey is one of those rare cases of an athlete who has seamlessly transitioned from fighting in the Octagon to appearing on screen in such films as “The Expendables 3,” “Furious 7″ and most recently, “Entourage,” in which she also appeared as herself.

From appearing in films and penning New York Times bestsellers to endorsement deals with Reebok, Buffalo Jeans and DraftKings, Rousey’s brand outside the ring has continued to expand over the past few years.

Insiders say that Rousey showed interest in appearing in the film and wanted to be sure Paramount was on board as soon as the rights to the book were put on the market. Paramount execs were impressed by her ability to balance a film career while staying in top fighting shape.

Ever since breaking out in “Expendables 3,” Rousey has made it clear that she does not discuss outside business while training. With the fight behind her, she can now develop the project with Bomback in a way she feels will paint the best portrait of her life.

Besides “Mile 22,” Rousey is also attached to Warner Bros. action pic “The Athena Project.” She is repped by WME and attorney Dave Feldman.

Bomback’s recent credits include “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” and “The Wolverine.” He most recently penned “War of the Planet of the Apes,” due out in 2017. Prior to that, he wrote “Unstoppable.” He is represented by WME and Anonymous Content.

Parent’s recent credits include “Godzilla” and “Pacific Rim.”

So Ronda is a Kaiju (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=1100)? That sort of works.... ;)

GeneChing
08-05-2015, 08:51 AM
Because nothing says 'superstardom' like a Carls Jr ad. As soon as someone finds that, please post it here. ;)


Wednesday, Aug 5, 2015
Martial Arts: Rousey eyes global superstardom (http://news.asiaone.com/news/sports/martial-arts-rousey-eyes-global-superstardom)

http://news.asiaone.com/sites/default/files/styles/w641/public/original_images/Aug2015/20150805_reuters_rondarousey.jpg?itok=hVKNfpGR
Photo: Reuters

LOS ANGELES - From Hollywood to hamburgers, Ronda Rousey's cage-fighting exploits are propelling the ferocious former Olympic judoka further towards global superstardom.

The 28-year-old martial artist from California completed the latest in a series of devastating knockouts on Saturday, demolishing Brazilian opponent Bethe Correia in just 34 seconds in Rio de Janeiro.

The quickfire defeat cemented Rousey's reputation as arguably the most exciting fighter in any combat sport - she has taken a total of just one minute, four seconds to dispatch her last three opponents.

It's the sort of record which has helped build a buzz around Rousey and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) that has been compared to the rise of Mike Tyson in heavyweight boxing during the 1980s.

"She has that killer aura, meaning anything is capable of happening," Tyson said during a recent visit to watch a Rousey workout at her base in Los Angeles.

Rousey was already a household name in the United States before her latest win. Two more significant deals announced in the aftermath of victory this week will raise her profile even further.

On Monday, Paramount Pictures confirmed they had secured the rights to Rousey's bestselling autobiography "My Fight/Your Fight," the story of the fighter's remarkable rise through the ranks.

Unusually, Rousey will play herself in the Hollywood adaptation. She has already demonstrated a flair for the big-screen, appearing in the recent action movies "The Expendables 3," "Furious 7" and the comedy film "Entourage." On Tuesday, Rousey was named by US burger chain "Carls Jr" as the face of its latest campaign, following in the footsteps of the likes of Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, Heidi Klum and Kate Upton.

"Aside from a variety of other factors, (Ronda) was chosen because she is loved and respected so much by both men and women," a spokesperson from Carl's Jr said.

Compelling life story

While it's Rousey's fearless performances inside the UFC octagon that have won her fame and fortune, her back story is, in its own way, just as compelling.

After a childhood upturned by family tragedy - her father committed suicide when she was eight - she set about emulating her mother, the first American woman to win a judo world title, as a champion judoka.

Rousey took up the sport at 11 and at the age of just 17 qualified for the 2004 Athens Olympics. Four years later, she won a bronze medal in Beijing.

She was working in a bar when she saw the UFC for the first time and decided it was something she could thrive in.

UFC chief Dana White had initially said women would never take part in the sport but was ultimately persuaded by Rousey.

"She absolutely brings in a different audience," White said in a recent interview.

"She brings in an audience of people who don't normally buy every fight. And she brings in a lot of women." For now, however, the biggest challenge might be finding an opponent capable of giving Rousey a match.

Many hope to see Rousey face another Brazilian, Cris "Cyborg" Justino.

The South American, however, would have to come down in weight to face the American, usually fighting at the featherweight limit of 145 pounds rather than Rousey's bantamweight 135 pounds.

Rousey, who has ruled out a bout at a compromise weight of 140 pounds, appeared to be goading Justino into accepting a challenge, referencing the Brazilian's recent drug ban for testing positive for steroids.

"I fight in the UFC, in the 135-pound division," Rousey told ESPN following her latest win.

"(Justino) can fight at 145 pumped full of steroids or she can make the weight just like everybody else without them."

GeneChing
08-07-2015, 03:19 PM
Ronda Rousey sells over 13,000 'DNB' shirts in first 24 hours for charity (http://www.foxsports.com/ufc/haymaker/ufc-ronda-rousey-sells-over-13-000-dnb-shirts-in-first-24-hours-for-charity-080715)
5:04p ET
Posted by Damon Martin

With apologies to Floyd Mayweather, there are no longer questions surrounding the drawing power of UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.

Not only did she garner nearly a million tweets during UFC 190 last Saturday night while apparently bringing in some of the highest pay-per-view numbers for all of 2015, Rousey also manages to do great things for charity just by attaching her name to a product.

The latest instance was Rousey's “DNB” shirts fashioned after her quote from prior to the fight at UFC 190 against Bethe Correia when the former Olympian said she wasn't a "Do-nothing b***h", which she explained was someone "who just tries to be pretty and be taken care of by someone else".


danawhiteufc (https://instagram.com/p/6DqAv-vA0G/?taken-by=danawhiteufc)
12.6k likes
https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xaf1/t51.2885-15/11420775_574483036024142_470183931_n.jpg
danawhiteufc
Ronda has teamed up with Didi Hirsch Foundation to support Women's Body Image Issues. #DNB Link in bio

Rousey leant her image to a T-shirt sold online for $24.99, with part of the proceeds going to a charity, Didi Hirsch 501c3, "for their work in mental health services & for women with body image issues."

The goal for the campaign was to sell 1,000 shirts within two weeks.

In less than 24 hours, Rousey has already sold more than 13,000 shirts with more numbers being added every minute.

With 13 days still to go on the project, chances are Rousey will have plenty of people standing up against being a “DNB” and representing it with the new shirts.

Cool shirt. Get them here:


Ronda Rousey's "No D.N.Bs" Apparel (https://represent.com/ronda)

https://d2v48i7nl75u94.cloudfront.net/uploads/957f1e118c6be6c37d6aca3182b585f1.png

$24.99

"There’s not a single muscle on my body that isn’t for a purpose, because I’m not a Do Nothing *****.”– Ronda

A portion of proceeds goes to Didi Hirsch 501c3 for their work in mental health services & for women with body image Issues.

Female, Hoodie & Tank styles in drop-down
SHIPS WORLDWIDE

GeneChing
08-10-2015, 09:08 AM
I don't care about a porn stars view on global climate change.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTo1UtUzFG0

sanjuro_ronin
08-10-2015, 09:47 AM
Porn parady?
Know it is confirmed, Rhonda has made the big time.

David Jamieson
08-11-2015, 06:14 AM
Porn parady?
Know it is confirmed, Rhonda has made the big time.

Rule #34 dudebro.

Rule # 34

GeneChing
08-11-2015, 10:48 AM
Porn parady?
Know it is confirmed, Rhonda has made the big time.
We look forward to your review of Ronda Arousme on this forum somewhere soon. :cool:

GeneChing
08-28-2015, 03:08 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qI2YwwTDr5w

PalmStriker
08-29-2015, 02:47 PM
:D That's one hellova breakfast sandwich dripping with syrup.

GeneChing
08-31-2015, 02:14 PM
More on Ronda's porn parodies (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?63565-Ronda-Rousey&p=1285744#post1285744).



Ronda Rousey Gets First Shot to Be a Superhero ... But It's in a Porno (http://www.tmz.com/2015/08/24/ronda-rousey-super-hero-porn-movie-offer/)
8/24/2015 12:50 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF
EXCLUSIVE

http://ll-media.tmz.com/2015/08/21/0821-ronda-rousey-fun-art-getty-4.jpg

Ronda Rousey is finally getting a chance to put on spandex tights and a bustier to bring a comic book badass to life -- but she won't be in the outfit too long, since the movie is a XXX film.

TMZ Sports has learned Rousey just got an offer to star in "Captain Marvel XXX: An Axel Braun Parody." The offer's short on details -- like her character's name or powers -- but it's a lucrative deal. Braun says he'll pay Ronda $5 mil for 3 sex scenes.

Here's what's odd -- he says she'll need to shoot for 2 weeks! Sounds like way more dialogue than the average porno. As we reported, Braun made a similar offer to Ben Affleck's ex-nanny.

This isn't the first time Rousey has been linked to the adult film industry ... there is already an XXX parody about her called "Ronda ArouseMe."

Axel asks for forgiveness in the offer letter, in case Ronda's offended. Wisely, he doesn't want to end up on the business end of an armbar -- which seems likely since there's no way in hell she's accepting.




Rule #34 dudebro.

Rule # 34 I just googed this. Very funny. :p

PalmStriker
08-31-2015, 07:52 PM
:D She is fast becoming the 8th Wonder of the World.

GeneChing
10-05-2015, 08:19 AM
Queen Ronda Rousey Is the First Woman to Cover Aussie Men’s Fitness (http://nymag.com/thecut/2015/10/rousey-first-woman-to-cover-aussie-mens-fitness.html#)
By Dayna Evans

http://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/fashion/daily/2015/10/05/05-ronda-rousey-mens-fitness.w631.h947.jpg
We're not worthy. Photo: Men's Fitness

If the thought had crossed anyone's mind that Ronda "Never a Do-Nothing *****™" Rousey might slow down anytime soon, the UFC Bantamweight champion is here to prove that person very, very wrong.

In advance of Rousey's next big fight, which is taking place in Melbourne, the boss woman is on the cover of Men's Fitness Australia, the first woman to ever appear there. (The accompanying line — "WTF? Ronda Rousey on the cover?" leaves a little to be desired.)

Rousey posted the image to her Instagram on Sunday, captioned appropriately with the arm-flex emoji. While editions of Men's Fitness in other countries have flaunted the likes of Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra, and Stacy Keibler on their covers, there's no doubt that Rousey could take every former cover star to task — man or woman. Kapow.

The good ol' arm-flex emoji

David Jamieson
10-07-2015, 07:09 AM
:D She is fast becoming the 8th Wonder of the World.

Women that can fight and fight well are an oddity.

She deserves her propers though. So far, I like her a lot! :)

Jimbo
10-07-2015, 07:37 AM
Women that can fight and fight well are an oddity.

She deserves her propers though. So far, I like her a lot! :)

True, but in my experience and observation, those women who can fight well tend to fight VERY well.

GeneChing
10-08-2015, 08:42 AM
Ronda has her own section (http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/guest/ronda-rousey/115401) there now. I guess all the big celebs do.

RONDA ROUSEY ADDRESSES HER FLOYD MAYWEATHER REMARKS (http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/ronda-rousey-addresses-her-floyd-mayweather-remarks/2917793)

RONDA ROUSEY DEMANDS HER HOT WINGS AFTER A FIGHT (http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/ronda-rousey-demands-her-hot-wings-after-a-fight/2917794)

Check out the web exclusive GEEKING OUT: RONDA ROUSEY TALKS VIDEO GAMES (http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/geeking-out-ronda-rousey-talks-video-games/2917744). She's slinging Tai Chi Panda (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?68851-Ronda-Rousey-and-Tai-Chi-Panda).


Watch Ronda Rousey Challenge Jimmy Fallon to a 'Mario Kart' Rematch (http://www.rollingstone.com/sports/videos/watch-ronda-rousey-challenge-jimmy-fallon-to-a-mario-kart-rematch-20151007)
"I heard that your finger almost fell off, and I was like, 'Thank God,'" UFC champ tells 'Tonight Show' host ahead of video game battle

BY SCOTT RAFFERTY October 7, 2015


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hmfzFh56Vo

At this point, we're reasonably sure Floyd Mayweather knows who Ronda Rousey is – after all, how can he be so sure he makes more money than her? But just in case the recently retired boxing champ ever forgets, Ronda has a plan to refresh his memory, as she explained to Jimmy Fallon during a Tuesday night appearance on The Tonight Show.

"I haven't got any like texts or calls [from him], nothing like that," she said. "I mean, he still maintains that he has no clue who I am, so every time I run into him I'm gonna reintroduce myself. Maybe one day he'll actually remember me."

Rousey stopped by to promote her upcoming fight with Holly Holm at UFC 193, and perhaps even reveal a kinder, gentler side. Because while her recent bouts have been heavy on the trash talk, the lead-up to this one has been remarkably different. When Fallon asked Rousey about Holm, she was effusive with the compliments, talking up Holm's boxing credentials and calling her "an amazing athlete," and even went so far as to call her opponent "a nice chick," before adding, "a nice chick who's going to lose."

Of course, all the pleasantries went out the window when Fallon brought up his recent rout of Rousey at Mario Kart 8.

"I mopped the floor with you," he joked.

"I never played that version ever before! When I left I was so upset I went and bought a Wii, I was like 'I'm going to Mario Kart camp! I'm going to be ready,'" Rousey said. "And then I heard that your finger almost fell off, and I was like, 'Thank God.' You're going to be out of practice, and I'm going to be training, but when you heal up – it's on!"


That dress. Wow. :cool:

sanjuro_ronin
10-09-2015, 05:11 AM
Yeah, she can certainly rock the decolletage !
LOL
It seems that everywhere you go, She is there and I am getting a bit worried about that. There is such a thing as too much press.
Still, always nice to see her.
That said, I do miss the times when fighters used to let their fighting to the talking.

mickey
10-09-2015, 05:24 AM
Greetings,

If she is receiving a percentage of the pay per view, then I understand her TV appearances. If she isn't, then she is being pimped.

mickey

Jimbo
10-09-2015, 03:46 PM
According to Ronda, she is the highest-paid UFC fighter, and she's almost certainly correct. There are no other current MMA fighters, male or female, who are in such demand as she is right now. She is everywhere. So I seriously doubt she's being pimped. If it were a male fighter in the same position, I don't think anyone would even use the word pimped.

*edit to add:
I think Ronda is making some very smart business moves. She's fully aware that a fighting career is very brief, and is taking full advantage of the opportunities coming her way.

mickey
10-10-2015, 11:59 AM
Greetings,

I would actually use that word regardless of gender if the fighter in not getting a piece of the pay per view and is going around promoting the fight. There is soooo much money to be made with these events. I wish the fighters get their fair share. Whatever Rhonda gets will, for the most part, get eaten up by her team. I hope she has negotiated well for herself.

mickey

GeneChing
10-20-2015, 06:31 PM
http://media4.popsugar-assets.com/files/2015/10/20/649/n/1922398/8dab191d_edit_img_cover_file_845321_1445350942_SEL F_November_204jSNRp.xxxlarge/i/Ronda-Rousey-Self-Magazine.jpg



Ronda Rousey Shares Why She’s The Best Fighter In The World (http://www.self.com/fashion/celebrity/2015/10/ufc-champion-ronda-rousey-best-fighter-world/)
"And I don't want the word woman to be in front of champion ."

http://www.self.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/ronda-rousey-ufc-champion-ninja-1068.jpg

“I love feeling like I’m inhabiting the body of a ninja,” Rousey says, “like I could rob a liquor store with my bare hands if I wanted to.”

UFC champion Ronda Rousey is, pound for pound, the best fighter in the world—male or female. Her record is 12–0, and every few months a chiseled contender dashes in for a shot at glory, or at least headlines. The foolish ones spend the lead-up to the main event yapping about how she is beatable. The wise pray for divine intervention (A leg cramp? A power outage?), then collect their paychecks in defeat with a shrug of the shoulders—if they’re still able to move them. A jab to the face, a knee to the liver and her signature arm bar move to end it: Rousey once won a fight in 14 seconds flat. And when she retires, years from now, she will go out as one of the greatest athletes in any sport.

But Rousey’s utter dominance of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is not why she’s been cast in Furious 7, Entourage and the upcoming remake of Road House, in which she will reimagine Patrick Swayze’s iconic role. It’s not why Ellen DeGeneres invites her onto her talk show for a girls’ gabfest, or why her memoir, My Fight/Your Fight, has become a national best seller. Millions of people who are put off by blood sports find themselves strangely captivated by her. “It’s about more than just fighting,” she says. Indeed.

Rousey, 28, is beloved because she’s the ultimate underdog—her toughness, heart and epic backstory have turned her into a symbol of strength. After a traumatic birth that deprived her of oxygen and caused brain damage, she suffered from a speech impediment so severe that she could not form a coherent sentence until she was 6. But she fought through that hell, and perhaps because of it her words are now as sharp as her jabs. “Even if they don’t know it, everyone has the instinct to survive,” she says.

That kind of grit comes from her mother, AnnMaria De Mars, a world judo champion turned psychology professor. (Her father committed suicide when she was 8; she fought and survived that loss, too.)

As an adult, she’s gone to the Olympics twice, winning a bronze in judo in Beijing in 2008. She’s also skewered critics who say her figure is too manly by pointing out that every muscle in her body has a purpose, none of which involves attracting a guy. This attitude has earned her legions of fans, including one named Beyoncé, who played an audio clip of Rousey riffing on the virtues of female independence at a sold-out concert in Philadelphia in September. Rousey says, “That she would use my words is the highest compliment I could possibly be paid by somebody I respect.”

At one point, Rousey was so broke that she slept in her car. She now lives in Venice, California, and is most likely (there are no official numbers) the highest-paid fighter in her sport, with endorsements from fast food chains, shoe companies and more. “I want my name to be mentioned along with Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali,” she says. “And I don’t want the word woman to be in front of champion.”
UFC champion Ronda Rousey

http://www.self.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/ronda-rousey-ufc-champion-barbells-1068.jpg
“You have to have a big heart and be so full of love that you fight for it,” Rousey says.

Comedian Chelsea Peretti considers herself a Rousey superfan. “Ronda fearlessly speaks her mind,” she says. “I can see how her physical strength is powered by mental strength.” Peretti, 37, is known for her role on Brooklyn Nine-Nine—and for her no-holds-barred sense of humor. “We both dislike being typified by our gender,” she says. “Plus, we’re both beautiful blondes! Just kidding—I’m not blonde.” The duo talked about what it means to be a strong woman in 2015.

CHELSEA PERETTI  How does it feel to be the most famous badass in America?
RONDA ROUSEY  I like being given that label, but I wouldn’t give it to myself.

CP  What’s your definition of a badass?
RR  Someone who’s willing to do what needs to be done. There are plenty of times where people know and they don’t do it—because it’s not comfortable or easy. If you do what’s right regardless of how it’s going to make you look, then you’re really a badass.

CP  You’re objectively the best in your sport—how does that make you feel?
RR  It’s motivating, because it’s something I have to keep earning. When I was a kid, all I did was train. I never went to a dance, I never had a date, I never went to a single party. Training was my whole life, and it was because I wanted to be able to win the Olympics more than I wanted to go to the movies with my friends. It’s funny, because people get offended by the mind-set that it takes to be the best.

CP  What do you mean?
RR  If I say that I’m the best in the world, sometimes people think that’s really ****y and arrogant, but I had to work hard to be able to believe in myself. In your teens, you start to become super self-conscious. I had to build that up.

CP  Did you ever get in street fights as a teen?
RR  Yes. Santa Monica didn’t used to be so nice! After school, my friend and I would go to the Promenade, where a lot of shady characters hung out. I loved Frappuccinos, but I only got $5 a day for lunch. If I ate, that meant I didn’t have enough money for a Frappuccino. So we would go over to these kids and say, “I bet you $10 I could beat up any one of you.” There were always some guys who could use the money. We’d fight and I’d do something to get them to give up, and they’d give us $10 and we’d go get Frappuccinos…. That was, like, my side gig for a little while.

CP  I don’t think anyone would take that $10 today.
RR  Well, I don’t fight for Frappuccinos anymore, either.

CP  Do any fighting strategies carry over into daily life?
RR  The one that really sticks out in my mind comes from my mom. She’d always tell me that you have to be your best on your worst day, because what if the Olympics fall on a bad day?

CP  What else did you learn from her? A lot of girls aren’t brought up to fight.
RR  Well, my mom never forced us to do anything. I fight, but my three sisters don’t. What she really taught me was the value of giving up what you want now for what you want most. My sisters were taught that, too, and they carried it through the professions they decided to pursue.

CP  How do you wind down after a fight?
RR  I eat about 50 hot wings. I love hot wings. After my last fight, one of the UFC owners flew in a private chef from São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro so that he could make me hot wings, because there are no hot wings in Rio! That’s how important they are to me.

CP  Those were some expensive hot wings.
RR  They were really good, though.

CP  Do you let other people eat them, too?
RR  The thing is, you’ve got to let me eat a couple before anyone else has any, because otherwise I’ll start eating faster. It’s a race to see who can eat the most. I’m so competitive, I even compete with hot wings.

CP  What’s downtime like for you?
RR  I’ll wake up, eat my little chia bowl, train. Then get a sandwich, go home and make out with my dog, watch TV shows about how the universe was made while playing Taichi Panda. If you have crazy, crazy days, doing nothing is such a luxury.

Read the rest of the interview by downloading SELF’s digital edition now.


Top: Top; PrabalGurung.com for similar styles. Bra, $62; BaseRange.net. Briefs, $234 for set; CaffeSwimwear.com. On ninja: Sweatshirt, Calvin Klein Jeans; CalvinKlein.com for similar styles. Pants, $190; NormaKamali.com. Shoes, Feiyue, $65; Feiyue-Shoes.com

Center: Swimsuit, $475; ProenzaSchouler.com

Styled by Melissa Ventosa Martin. Hair, Charles McNair for Kérastase; makeup, Carola Gonzales for Sisley Paris; manicure, Lisa Pena-Wong for Dior Vernis; prop styling, Anthony Asaro for 11th St Workshop; production, Brandon Zagha for Brachfeld.

Holy Cats! She's wearing Feiyues (http://www.martialartsmart.com/45-35k.html)!

GeneChing
10-27-2015, 08:36 AM
I haven't read The Ring (http://ringtv.craveonline.com/) in years. Maybe I'll have to pick this one up.



Rousey becomes first MMA fighter to land Ring Magazine cover (http://www.foxsports.com/ufc/story/ufc-ronda-rousey-becomes-first-mma-fighter-to-land-ring-magazine-cover-boxing-102615)
Ronda Rousey will grace the cover of the January 2016 issue of Ring Magazine, becoming the first ever MMA fighter to be featured on the cover of the historic boxing magazine not to mention only the second time in history a woman has been featured on the cover.

http://a2.fssta.com/content/dam/fsdigital/fscom/UFC/images/2015/10/26/102615-UFC-Bantamweight-champion-Ronda-Rousey-works-out-PI.vadapt.955.high.0.jpg
Ronda Rousey adds another accolade to her growing resume
Robert Laberge/Zuffa LLC
By Damon Martin
Oct 26, 2015 at 6:31p ET

The lists of firsts for Ronda Rousey continues to grow, with the UFC bantamweight champion landing the cover of Ring Magazine's January 2016 issue.

Rousey becomes the first mixed martial artist to ever grace the cover of the boxing magazine that debuted in 1922, but she also becomes only the second woman to ever score the cover as well.

Cathy “Cat” Davis was the last woman to get featured on the cover of Ring Magazine back in 1978.


ringtv
2,024 likes 20h

https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xaf1/t51.2885-15/e35/12107403_536937543147943_821583947_n.jpg

SHE CONQUERED MMA. IS BOXING NEXT?: Check out the latest issue of The Ring featuring @rondarousey on the cover, along with our exclusive rankings— THE RING 100 WORLD’S BEST FIGHTERS. ON NEWSSTANDS NOVEMBER 15!! (Rousey 📷 by @ewillphoto) Also, see Ronda Rousey in the first episode of #InTheRing featured on the RINGTV/FACEBOOK page


Rousey has exploded onto the combat sports scene over the last few years and her crossover appeal with boxing fans is undeniable, especially considering her friendship with fighters like Manny Pacquiao.

While Rousey's own martial arts history started with judo when she was a kid, she's fallen in love with boxing over the years working with her coach Edmond Tarverdyan, who has worked with several notable boxers over the years, including Vic Darchinyan.

The cover states “she conquered MMA, is boxing next?” and while that scenario is highly unlikely to ever happen, the fact that Rousey landed the cover of the most prestigious magazine covering the sport says a lot.

When it came down to her own love of the sweet science, Rousey admitted that she's a huge fan of undefeated knockout artist Gennady Golovkin, who just recently scored his 20th consecutive finish when he put away David Lemieux on Oct. 17.

"Gennady Golovkin," Rousey answered when asked about her favorite boxer. "I can't believe I'm one of those people who are like 'before everybody knew I thought he was going to be cool' but I'm totally one of those guys. I'm like 'I knew Gennady was going to show everyone!' Just everything about who he is as a fighter and who he is as a person and it's hard to find somebody that impresses you in both areas."

Rousey's issue lands in stores on Nov. 15 -- the day after she defends her UFC bantamweight title against Holly Holm, who just happened to be a two-time Ring Magazine female fighter of the year winner.

sanjuro_ronin
10-27-2015, 10:27 AM
Like a nice fitting thong, Rhonda is everywhere she needs to be :)

GeneChing
11-05-2015, 10:31 AM
http://www.maxim.com/sites/default/files/styles/custom_crop/public/editor/2015/11/helpmeronda_sex_article.jpg?itok=iz3phoGP

UFC Queen Ronda Rousey Reveals the Secret to Great Sex (http://www.maxim.com/entertainment/sports/article/ufc-queen-ronda-rousey-reveals-secret-great-sex-2015-11)

Everybody's favorite MMA superstar explains why you should never use lube, the perfect morning-after meal and her biggest turn-off.
ENTERTAINMENT November 3, 2015 By Chris Wilson

Ronda Rousey is more than just the "world's most dominant athlete", a stone-cold babe, and a budding action star who will reprise Patrick Swayze's iconic role in the upcoming Road House remake. Rousey also kicks butt when it comes to dispensing advice.

The UFC goddess answered Maxim readers' questions about the perfect date, the secret to great sex, and the one thing you should never do in bed.

Dear Ronda: What's the best thing to wear on a first date?
- Bill, 31, Chicago

Well, I'll tell you what you shouldn't wear, and that's really tight, skinny jeans. Not a fan. If they’re so tight that you have to stand up to put something in your pocket? They're too skinny. If it seems like it would be really difficult to get in them, that's not good. If you're trying to take your pants off, and they turn inside out in the process? They’re too skinny. I just like when a guy dresses for comfort, to be honest. If he takes longer to get ready than I do, that's a deal breaker.

Dear Ronda: What is the sexiest date a guy can plan that's guaranteed to win her over? And while you're at it, what's the one present that no woman can resist?
- Vince, 26, Atlanta

Seriously, if a guy had a pick-up truck and took me out to the Malibu mountains out here in L.A., that's the perfect date for me. Even if we just had a cooler full of cider beer and an air mattress. I just want to tailgate, drink beer, and hang out in the middle of nowhere in a pick-up truck. That's my ideal date. As far as the best present, If a guy showed up at my door with some buffalo wings and cider beer, that’d be it for me. Because I have all the stuff that I want. Buffalo wings and cider is all I need.

Dear Ronda: What is the one essential meal every guy should know how to make?
- Adam, 33, Philadelphia

I love waking up to Sunday morning pancakes. The whole process of making them, just out in the kitchen together making pancakes on a Sunday morning, that’s an experience every girl should have.

Dear Ronda: What should a guy NEVER do in bed? What should a guy ALWAYS do in bed? (Asking for a friend.)
- Jack, 36, Los Angeles

For what you should never do: Don’t bite my teeth! If my teeth are repeatedly hitting your teeth, then there’s a problem with what you’re doing. That freaks me out. I don’t like it. It’s terrible. I have a thing about my teeth. Even though I do a sport where I get punched in the face for a living, if your teeth hit my teeth more than a few times, I’m over it already. What should a guy always do? Take his time. In general, a girl takes a minute. He needs to get her ready. You should never need lube in your life. If you need lube, than you’re being lazy...and you’re not taking your time.

Got a burning question for Ronda Rousey? Email HelpMeRonda@maxim.com, and stay tuned for future installments.

Oh crap. I'm wearing skinny jeans now. My wife gave them to me. I bet she did that just to mess up my chances with Ronda. :mad:

;)

cranefly
11-06-2015, 12:07 PM
Who the heck cares what Ronda Rousey likes to eat, or how she prefers men to dress, or what her sex advice is?

I've got better things to do, like eat dinner (pancakes), take out the garbage (lots of lube), put on some baggy clothes, and go to bed.

Hopefully to dream...

GeneChing
12-14-2015, 02:54 PM
RONDA ROUSEY Back from Marine Corp Ball ... AND SHE'S BACK! (http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2015/12/14/ronda-rouseys-real-sweetheart-date-mma)
12/13/2015 6:38 AM PST BY TMZ STAFF
HE WAS A SWEETHEART TMZsports.com

Ronda Rousey was her old self Saturday at LAX, after her big date at the Marine Corp Ball.
The only hint she's still struggling with her loss to Holly Holm was an off-handed comment about smiling.
She kept her promise to escort Lance Corporal Jarrod Haschert to the big event in South Carolina.
We got Ronda before the Connor McGregor fight, so no word there. And she had few words about her boss, Dana White, endorsing Donald Trump for President.

http://ll-media.tmz.com/2015/12/13/1212-ronda-rousey-main-gallery-launch-5.jpg


Is it just me or does her face look...improved?

GeneChing
01-08-2016, 09:59 AM
A fine piece of long form journalism from Ramona Shelburne.


EXCLUSIVE:
ROUSEY SAYS SHE’S DOWN BUT NOT OUT (http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/story/_/page/espnwrousey/in-exclusive-interview-ronda-rousey-says-not-losing-holly-holm)
12/08/15 • ESPN THE MAGAZINE

In the days after her stunning defeat, Ronda Rousey says that she's ready to fight again.
BY RAMONA SHELBURNE
PHOTOGRAPHED IN 2014 BY PARI DUKOVIC/TRUNK ARCHIVE
Editor's note: This story contains explicit language.

She isn't ready to talk yet. The stitches in her lip are still dissolving. The side of her face was kicked so hard, a few of her teeth still feel unstable. "It might be three to six months before I can eat an apple, let alone take an impact," she says.

But Ronda Rousey opens the red door of her smallish boho town house in Venice, California, on the Friday morning after Thanksgiving because one day she does want to be Ronda Rousey again.

"I'm just really ****ing sad."

Her voice is so soft you have to lean in to hear her. Sad is all she can feel since her knockout loss to Holly Holm at UFC 193 on Nov. 14. She speaks slowly, letting each word hurt. Like her hands in that ill-fated fight, her guard is down.

"I need to come back. I need to beat this chick. Who knows if I'm going to pop my teeth out or break my jaw or rip my lip open. I have to ****ing do it."

A FEW BLOCKS away on the Venice Beach boardwalk, a painter touches up the neon-green wall below a mural of Rousey, painted after her 34-second win over Bethe Correia in August. It was the third straight fight she'd won in less than a minute and the one that made UFC announcer Joe Rogan say, "Once in a lifetime doesn't apply to Ronda Rousey. It's once ever-in human history."

Brazilian street artists Bicicleta Sem Freio drew Rousey as a colorful superhero with a green-eyed, orange-tongued leopard growling at her side. Her hair is flowing wildly along her face. Her fists are up, ready to fight. Her eyes are fixed and fierce.

Rousey is not going to want to see that mural for a while. Aside from a little puffiness in her bottom lip, she still looks like Ronda Rousey. She just doesn't much feel like her.

"I've turned off my phone," she says. "I haven't looked at it. I've just been having long conversations with Mochi [her 7-year-old Argentinian Mastiff]."

She did shower today and eat a bit of onion bagel with cream cheese. She got dressed -- yes, sweats count -- and opened her door, first to her sister Maria Burns Ortiz, who brought her coffee, and then again for this interview.

"I was thinking, 'On the bright side, I'm more like crushed idealism and sardonic sense of humor now.'"

The loss to Holm is still too scary to fully feel or see. The retelling is told in fragments.

"I got hit in that first round. ... I cut my lip open and knocked a couple of my teeth loose. I was out on my feet from the very beginning."

"I wasn't thinking clearly. I had that huge cut in my mouth and I just spit [the blood] out at my feet. Then they brought the bucket over and I'm like, 'Why didn't I spit it in the bucket?' I never spit on the ground."

"It was like a dumbed-down dreamy version of yourself making decisions. ... I was just trying to shake myself out of it. I kept saying to myself, 'You're OK, keep fighting. You're OK, keep fighting.'"

"I just feel so embarrassed. How I fought after that is such an embarrassing representation of myself. I wasn't even ****ing there."

IT'S HARD TO square this shredded version of Rousey with the superhero a 10-minute walk away. Was she the one who put the cape on? Or did we just need her to fly?

It wasn't enough for her just to win fights; she had to win in 30 seconds with some completely implausible takedown. She did it enough times that some of the great male athletes of our age -- LeBron James, J.J. Watt, Kobe Bryant -- started bowing down and tweeting respect after her fights.

Then she started taking on opponents outside the ring-from convicted domestic abusers like Floyd Mayweather to the "do-nothing *****es" who just "try to be pretty and be taken care of by somebody else," as she put it. That's when some people started describing her as a new feminist icon. English writer John Berger once described the world as a place where "men look at women and women watch themselves being looked at." Rousey was like, What are you looking at? Beyonce gave her props. Ellen DeGeneres became her small-screen BFF. Movie studios began to find roles for her. Teenage girls and middle-aged lawyers bought $1 million worth of "Don't be a D.N.B" T-shirts and added "Rowdy" to their social media profiles.

She does not apologize for her ambitions: "Maybe I can't do it all before my prime, before my body is done. But **** it, maybe I can."

She does not soften herself to make anyone more comfortable: "Most people get scared away from having an opinion. It's not so much my opinions everybody relates to, it's that I don't care about being punished for it."

She says things women have wanted to say for years but have worried might be misconstrued: "It's not my responsibility to make everything I say idiot-proof. If a ******* can't understand it, then I'm not going to spend my time putting everything I think into layman's terms."


Maybe I can't do it all before my prime, before my body is done. But f--- it, maybe I can.”
- Ronda Rousey

She refused to be judged by any standard of beauty: "I think it's hilarious if people say that my body looks masculine," she said on an episode of UFC's "Embedded" that aired before the Correia fight. "I'm just like, 'Listen, just because my body was developed for a purpose other than ****ing millionaires doesn't mean it's masculine.' I think it's femininely badass as **** because there's not a single muscle on my body that isn't for a purpose. Because I'm not a do-nothing *****. It's not very eloquently said, but it's to the point. And maybe that's just what I am. I'm not that eloquent, but I'm to the point."

She was the perfect megaphone for the moment. This was the year the NFL recognized the domestic violence committed by its players; the year Mayweather's camp tried to pull the press credentials from two female journalists who'd criticized him and was skewered for it; the year the leading Democratic presidential candidate was a woman, as was a top-tier Republican contender; the year women wanted to gladiate like Olivia Pope and tear down walls like Becky Hammon.

"People can say I am a terrible role model because I swear all the time or that I fight people," Rousey told ESPN in 2013. "Look, I don't want little girls to have the same ambitions as me. I want them to know that it is OK to be ambitious. ... I want them to know that it is OK to say whatever it is that is on their mind."

The more invincible she seemed, the louder she was cheered and from more corners. She was becoming everyone's avatar. That's a lot to put on someone who makes a living fighting in a cage-it's a lot to put on anyone, probably too much. But she kept living up to it until Holm's thunderous kick to the side of her head sent her crashing down to earth.

Seven years ago, Rousey was such a compelling personality and fighter that UFC president Dana White, who'd previously said "Never" when asked if women would ever fight for him, happily ate his words and created the women's division. Now she makes well north of seven figures per fight, plus another $3 million to $5 million in endorsements annually. Then there are the movies (Furious 7 and Entourage this year, a reboot of Roadhouse next year), the autobiography (My Fight/Your Fight, published in May) and countless media appearances.

Now we're left wondering what really ended that night in Australia. The Rousey Myth of Invincibility? The idea that one woman could fly in on a cape and take down male hegemony with an armbar? The UFC's marketing strategy of Ronda as Amazon? Or just a winning streak?

Rousey sinks into her couch to ponder the question. "I feel like I'm grieving the death of the person who could've done that," she says.

Mochi leans her head against a blanket on the floor and whimpers. The big, beautiful dog has been crying a lot lately. They've been together since Rousey's last lowest moment, when she won bronze, not gold, in judo at the Beijing Olympics, and when Rousey cries, so does Mochi.

"I always say you have to be willing to get your heart broken. That's just what ****ing happens when you try."

Continued next post

GeneChing
01-08-2016, 10:00 AM
http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2015/1204/r33026_800x450_16-9.jpg
"I just feel so embarrassed. How I fought after that is such an embarrassing representation of myself. I wasn't even ****ing there," Rousey says about Holm's kick to the side of her head. Nick Laham

SHE SLEPT THE entire 15-hour flight home from the fight in Australia, numbed by the painkillers she's always hated taking. TMZ caught her leaving the airport when she landed, a pillow in front of her face to protect her from the world's sight.

The next day she got into a truck with her boyfriend, Travis Browne, and drove 15 hours to a remote ranch in Texas. It was supposed to be a celebratory trip, a long rest after a long year. Three fights in nine months, two movies, white-hot fame and a series of simmering controversies during training camp-12 months way up close to the sun. The plan had been to beat Holm, celebrate with a gigantic batch of chicken wings and a lot of cider beer at a restaurant in Melbourne, fly home and drive off with Travis to hunt wild turkey for Thanksgiving at her sister Jennifer's house.

They took off after her last fight in August, and it was one of the best weeks of her life. No phones. No obligations. Just the two of them sleeping on a mattress in the back of his truck each night, making up silly names and voices for the animals on the ranch and enjoying the honeymoon stage of a new relationship. She says she loved the way he made her feel taken care of and safe. How he'd wake up at 5:45 a.m. to make her coffee and fix her breakfast so she could sleep an extra 30 minutes before training. How he hunted with a bow and arrow instead of a gun. He reminded her of her father.

Rousey's father committed suicide when she was 8 years old. Browne was 10 when his father drank himself to death. When they first started seeing each other in early summer, they bonded quickly and deeply, two fighters with holes in their hearts.

That was before Browne's ex-wife, Jenna Renee Webb, accused him of domestic violence in a series of tweets and a graphic Instagram post in July. Browne categorically denied it.

The UFC suspended him from competition while Campbell & Williams, a law firm they hired, investigated the accusations. "We retained an incredibly well-respected investigator who spent 25 years ... with the FBI and interviewed all relevant parties, including both Browne and the alleged victim," says managing partner Hunter Campbell. "Ultimately, the investigator comfortably determined there was inconclusive evidence to support claims of alleged domestic violence."

Over the summer, Webb called out Rousey on social media. "I expected more from her. She should be ashamed of herself. ... It's only a matter of time that she sees his true colors."

"The investigation wasn't about clearing me," Browne said. "It was about finding the truth if I did something. ... I knew there was nothing because I did nothing. If anything, yeah, we yelled at each other. Would I say nasty things to her? ****in' A. But I wasn't the only one saying them."

Browne called Rousey and her mother the first day his ex-wife made allegations on social media. He swore to them he hadn't done anything violent but that he'd understand if she wanted to end the relationship. Rousey believed him and decided to stand by him. "Why can't [people] have some confidence or trust in me that I would make a good decision and be with a good man regardless of how it looks?" she said during training camp. She refused to answer questions about their relationship before the fight.

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2015/1204/r33018_800x450_16-9.jpg
Rousey and boyfriend Travis Browne, before UFC 193, at their hotel suite in Melbourne. Nick Laham

She said she didn't want to shame the accuser, because that's so often what happens in domestic violence cases. She hung up on reporters who pressed the issue, thinking it was too complicated to explain in conference calls, where her quotes could be chopped up into tweets and contextualized by people she had never met. She had to focus on beating Holm first.

"It's hard, it's really hard. I'm very anti-domestic violence," she said one day after training at her gym in LA, tears streaming down her cheeks. "But I know that he didn't do anything. Now I'm put in this situation where I'm finally happy with somebody that respects me and cares about me, and I'm like, 'What do I do?'"

The issue quickly got conflated with a controversy over her autobiography, in which she writes of fighting her way out of a confrontation with an ex-boyfriend she had caught taking nude pictures of her. According to her account, she punched him when he blocked her from leaving their apartment, and when he got into her car and grabbed the steering wheel, she yanked him by his hoodie and dragged him out of the car. Rousey says it was self-defense. Others wondered whether it was domestic violence.

After the Holm fight, she'd explain it all, she said. She'd ask people to trust her after hearing her conflicted feelings on the issue. And if they still couldn't understand, she would live with that.

"At the end of the day, I can't curl up with people's opinions," she said. "Even when everyone thinks the world of me, I still go to bed anxious and freaking out because I'm afraid of everything. The only time I've gotten a reprieve from that [feeling] in my life is since I've been with him."

Then she lost to Holm and there was no plan. They just got into the truck and drove. Texas was freezing. The wind howled every night. She watched Browne hunt once. He didn't get anything. Another group of hunters gave them a deer they'd killed.

It was miserable.

"I kind of just slept a lot and ate fast food," she says, sitting up a bit on the couch to see what Mochi is doing. "First I was so sick I couldn't eat anything. Then I just slept and pooped in the woods. I used a whole roll of toilet paper in one day.

"Physically, my body was refusing its own failures. It was, like, sick of itself. Expelling itself. Like all the skin came off my face. My whole body flushed it out."

She left her phone at home. Travis answered texts from her family, trainer and agent. She shut out the outside world. She's been selling the fight game for so long, she knew what was being said about her.

"That I'm a ****ing failure and I deserve everything that I got," she says sharply.
continued next post

GeneChing
01-08-2016, 10:01 AM
AFTER ROUSEY LOST, many people began to revel in the idea that the woman who could kick everyone's ass in under a minute had gotten her comeuppance. Donald Trump tweeted that she was "not a nice person." 50 Cent posted a picture of her unconscious, then tried to blame it on his friend Floyd Mayweather before deleting it. Justin Bieber reposted one of the thousands of memes making fun of Rousey that went viral after the fight, then also deleted it. Lady Gaga-she of the raw meat dress and matching hat-posted a photo of Holm punching Rousey on Instagram and captioned it, "THAT'S WHAT YOU GET FOR NOT TOUCHING GLOVES!"

("It was just like a reaction," Rousey says about her decision not to touch gloves with Holm before the fight. "I was like, 'The last time I saw you [at the weigh-in], you were putting your fist on my chin and trying to get a cheap hit on me, then you turn around and you want to touch gloves? You have to be one way or the other. So if you want to be that way with me, that's the way it is.'")

Fellow MMA fighter Cat Zingano was at Kalapaki Joe's bar on the Hawaiian island of Kauai when Rousey got knocked out. She should've been happy; Rousey beat her in 14 seconds when they fought in February. But then everyone started yelling "In your face!" and laughing as Rousey bled on the mat. "When I saw what people were saying to her, I was so disappointed in the fans and the sport. I immediately got protective of her," Zingano says. "It was pitiful how people were treating her. And I love all these armchair quarterbacks on etiquette. She didn't touch gloves? I've never touched gloves. I might give them some knuckles or whatever. But we're getting in a fistfight inside some fenced-in walls. You want there to be etiquette?"

Take nothing away from Holm. She dominated the fight. But Holm is the first to tell you none of the spoils of victory she's basking in now would be possible without Rousey.

"I have a lot of respect for her," Holm said after the fight. "I wouldn't be here and had this opportunity if it wasn't for what she has done. There are a lot of female fighters before her who paved the way, and all of that has built up to this. But she was definitely the biggest to really make a splash."

This isn't really new. The fight game has long been a stage for athletes who became symbols of social change and objects of derision. William Nack wrote of Muhammad Ali after his loss to Joe Frazier in 1971, "For many viewers, Ali was still the mouth that poured, the renegade traitor and rabble-rouser whose uppity black ass needed dusting. For many others, of course, he symbolized all successful men of color who did not conform in a white man's world-and the hope that one, at least one, would overcome."

History has been kind to Ali because he helped usher in the societal changes that needed to happen. He also beat Frazier the next two times they fought.

How Rousey will be remembered largely depends on what she does next.

"I guess it's all going to be determined by what happens in the rematch," she says. "Everything is going to be determined by that. Either I'll win and keep going or I won't and I'll be done with everything."

SERENA WILLIAMS WAITED until the Friday after Thanksgiving to text. She sent Rousey her love and support and, most important, her understanding.

They'd met for sushi one night in Los Angeles this fall, about a month after Williams lost her own shot at perfection and a grand slam-she was upset by Roberta Vinci at the U.S. Open, sending her into her own deep mourning period. A few weeks later, she issued a statement saying she was sitting out the rest of the season to heal from injuries, including the one to her heart. But out with Rousey, she was closer to her true self, and Rousey had found a kindred spirit.

"I ****ing love her," Rousey says. "Everybody else is like, 'Oh, I'm small and proper and tennis-y' and she's just like, ****in' muscles, curvaceousness, awesomeness. She doesn't back down from anyone."

I was always so sure that I could will my body to do anything that I wanted it to do. I wouldn't listen to it.”
- Ronda Rousey

It's easy, too easy maybe, to make the parallel between these two dominant athletes, each a win away from immortality (until the next match/fight). But Williams isn't carrying tennis on her back the way Rousey carries the UFC. "I call it juggling on a unicycle," Rousey says. During camp she's training twice a day for the fight and driving all over town to promote it. The questions are always the same. The interviews always take longer than they're supposed to. Someone says they just need five minutes of her time, it turns into 20.

"I hate giving stock answers, it makes me nuts. I hate repeating myself," she said one fall afternoon while driving to Fox Studios to tape promos to be played during the next Sunday's NFL games. "That's a good thing bartending taught me."

It takes 10 minutes to name all the bars in LA where she either worked or tried to work. It was 2008, after the Olympics. Rousey had no career, no home and no prospects. All she wanted to do was everything she'd missed out on by dedicating her life to judo. There was The Redwood in Downtown, Gladstones in Malibu, The Cork in Crenshaw. She'd see a post on Craigslist and apply. In between, she'd squeeze in shifts at an animal rehabilitation center and 24 Hour Fitness and give judo lessons for $50 an hour. She'd go into the bathroom at The Cork and take five-minute naps on the toilet. At one point she fell asleep at the wheel and crashed her car on the 405. There's still a small scar on her nose.

"I was always so sure that I could will my body to do anything that I wanted it to do," she said, making her way through LA traffic. "I wouldn't listen to it."

Twenty minutes ago, she was annoyed at her sparring partner for running behind and throwing off her schedule. She's going to be late for the Fox interview, which will make her late for the next interview, which might cut into any potential rest time before jiujitsu practice at the Gracie Academy in Torrance at night.

But she used to live in this part of town. She knows a shortcut.

"This used to be my exit!" she yells. "You get off on Motor, take a left and then a right and right. There's my pizza place. I love that pizza place!"

She laughs as she cuts across three lanes of traffic to get off the 10.

Beating the traffic and then outsmarting the traffic app turns her whole mood around.

"Now you know how to go if you're ever stuck in traffic in this part of town," she says proudly.

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2015/1204/r33023_800x450_16-9.jpg
Rousey technically has .33 victories per bout minute, ranking her as UFC's most dangerous fighter across all divisions. Nick Laham

JUSTIN FLORES TRIED to sit still in the plastic white chairs of the hospital emergency room. But it turned out an emergency room in Melbourne is just as awful as the ones back in the States. All you do is wait and pace, hoping for good news from the doctors, who come too rarely and never say enough.

Flores has been coaching Rousey in judo since both were teenagers. She'd take Amtrak from Los Angeles to train with him at his father's dojo in north San Diego County. She'd come by herself and stay a few weeks. He was seven years older than Rousey, but she trained "like any other guy," Flores said. "We went hard. All of the time. It was like the never-ending round. The round would be over and she was like, 'Let's go again.'"

He's seen her lose before. He knows what it looks like afterward. How much she hates it. How much it hurts her. After she lost in the 2005 World Championships in Egypt, he found 40 candy wrappers on the floor. There's always a binge and a purge. There's grief. Then there's anger.

"In the heat of that moment, she'd keep fighting and fighting until there's blood and it was serious," he said. "I would have to slow things down and tell her, 'You're great, everything's OK.'"

It's hard to wait for that part, even though he knows it's coming. So he paced the waiting room, replaying the fight over and over in his mind, trying to figure out how she lost so he could at least tell her something once she was out of the hospital.

"There was so much pressure to, like, outdo the last performance, it's like, how can you even do that? It's kind of like, 'Just win!' You can't worry about doing the impossible all the time. Every time she does, it's like this new impossible thing, rather than being smart and tactical and picking your moments, react right, use your timing and your skill set."

They had talked about doing different takedowns on Holm because she was taller than most of her previous opponents. Rousey would need leverage to bring her down. She'd have to set her feet differently and attack the legs and torso, not come over her shoulder.

When they finally got to speak for a few minutes at the hospital, she mentioned that she didn't feel her legs were ever under her. She tried to stomp down on the mat as she entered the Octagon and just didn't feel strong. She was just off center, off kilter, off balance. Then she got hit in the face 30 seconds into the fight and never recovered.

"Her fighting is like a microcosm of her life. She is able to adapt and improvise and come out on top," Flores said. "She's better on the fly rather than trying to do A, B, C, D, E, F, to Z and win. She's always been able to do it right then and there. In life, she's doing that too. She is real and truthful and she does it in a way where she always ends up on top."

He's home in California now but still pacing the waiting room.

continued next post

GeneChing
01-08-2016, 10:04 AM
THE FIRST THING Maria Burns Ortiz did was cover her eyes. She's seen her sister lose fights before, but never like this. Never with a kick to the head that turned her body limp and sent her crashing to the canvas. Photographers always take pictures of the defeated fighter's family, reacting to their loved one's knockout. So yeah, her first thought was to cover her face.

But her next one was to run into the Octagon and make sure Rousey had family around to stand next to her as she walked out. At the hospital, she told her sister she loved her just as much as she did before the fight. That losing this fight would never be OK, but she would be OK one day. Early the next morning, Burns Ortiz picked up her sister from the hospital and rode with her back to the hotel. Paparazzi had gathered outside, trying to snap a shot of the fallen champion. The UFC moved Rousey to a different hotel without anyone noticing. Eventually the Australian paparazzi moved on.

Back home in Los Angeles, she's trying to help her sister do the same thing. The morning after Rousey got back from Texas, her sister and mother, AnnMaria De Mars, drove over to her house and made her let them in.

"She just came over and crashed the front door with Mom," Rousey says, cracking a smile. "I think she thought she'd see me hissing in the dark with Adele on."

Instead they sat on the couch and talked. Rousey played Mario Kart and Taichi Panda. They played with Mochi. De Mars dropped off a box of fan mail. Rousey is not ready to read anything nice yet, but she will eventually.

"My mom keeps telling her to 'Woman up!'" Burns Ortiz says. Move on. Deal with it. Open the blinds.

"It wasn't long before she was stopping by and telling me that I can't hide my whole life," Rousey says. "I have to do something with myself. Turn on my cellphone and stop ignoring everyone."

On Thanksgiving, they all went to her sister Jennifer's new house. De Mars gave Rousey a disposable cellphone. She got her to take a family picture and posted it on Instagram. Rousey smiled.

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2015/1204/r33020_800x450_16-9.jpg
Rousey is a minus-160 favorite to win the inevitable rematch with Holm. Nick Laham

"I've been in that situation myself, so maybe it makes it a little different for me than the average mom," says De Mars, a champion judoka in her day. "I came home empty-handed not once but twice. I hurt my knee and I was in the middle of getting divorced. It was horrible, horrible, horrible. I cried for days. Then I went and won the world championships six weeks later."

Ronda's mom retired a long time ago, but she can still kick some ass. There are times the tough love seems too tough, but this has been their dynamic forever. "Well, both of us are definitely stubborn, and both of us definitely think we're right all the time," De Mars says.

I always say you have to be willing to get your heart broken. That's just what f---ing happens when you try.”
- Ronda Rousey

Rousey's mother used to tell her that it is not enough to be better than everyone else, you have to be so much better that no one can deny your superiority. Her mom said it so many times, Rousey can channel her voice. It's an entire chapter of her autobiography. Champions have to find a way to win on their worst days.

Before the fight, De Mars went public with her disdain for Rousey's longtime trainer Edmond Tarverdyan. She ripped him in an interview published right in the middle of training camp. She doesn't think he's teaching her the right things, in the right way. She thinks her daughter should play to her strengths as a judoka, rather than focus on striking. She wishes he'd push her harder, make her uncomfortable sometimes. She's troubled by his recent bankruptcy filing.

"It wouldn't be the first time she disagreed with where I was training or what I was doing or who I was getting coached by," Rousey said a few weeks before the fight. "If anything it's almost like normal at this point for us to have disagreements about my training and coaches. We're both athletes. We both fought. I just have a different personality. The same things that work for her won't work for me."

De Mars didn't fly to Australia for the fight.

"I told Ronda I am not going to go because I love you more than winning," she says. "I did not think she was in the right place, and I couldn't pretend any longer that I thought she was."

After the loss, her opinion hardened. She thought her daughter looked unprepared and fought the wrong fight.

"People let her down," she says.

Rousey isn't budging.

"Of course I'm staying [with Tarverdyan]," Rousey says. "That's my mom's opinion, not mine."

"WE DIDN'T CREATE this in one day, and it's not going to be taken away from us, from me, from her, from anybody in one day," Tarverdyan says. "Whatever happens in her career or in her life, we didn't do all this **** for it to be taken away from us. In life, things are going to be taken away from you. But we always believe in each other. We're strong next to each other. Being united and being strong helps you get through a lot in this world."

Rousey's gym, in a traditionally Armenian section of Glendale, is full of male fighters. But she's at home here. During training sessions, she hangs on Tarverdyan's every word. When he speaks, she lets him finish before saying anything. When she first showed up to train at his gym in 2010, he ignored her. The life of a fighter is tough. You make nothing. You get hurt. Training is boring and awful, the fights are in Indian casino parking lots and dingy sportsman's lodges. Tarverdyan had to make sure she wanted that life bad enough. He'd tell her to hit the heavy bag for 20 rounds to teach her patience. She kept showing up, though. At the time, she was working three crappy jobs and making just enough to pay her rent and feed Mochi. Tarverdyan started ordering extra plates of food from his favorite Armenian restaurant in Glendale, Raffi's Place, to make sure she'd eat. "She'd ask why I ordered so much," Tarverdyan says. "I told her it was an Armenian thing."

Then he saw her fight. It was at some wretched gym in the San Fernando Valley.

"Boom, she was on. She jumps in there and finishes the girl," he says. "I'm like, 'She knows how to fight. She's born to fight. That's it, it's simple.'"

Tarverdyan and De Mars both came by her house that first day after she drove home from Texas. Her mother told her to answer her phone and to woman up. Her trainer asked his mom to cook borscht and brought it to her.

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2015/1204/r33017_800x450_16-9.jpg
Rousey cuts weight in her hotel suite before her shocking loss at UFC 193. Nick Laham

AUSTRALIA IS A wonderful country. The people are warm and friendly. The scenery is breathtaking. But nobody can seem to do anything about the flies. They're everywhere. There's no controlling them.

Most Aussies learn to live with the pests. Tourists buy fly nets and insect repellent that doesn't really work. You can swat at them all you want, but they keep coming.

"Every time they came and sat on your nose, you'd hit them because you were so annoyed," Tarverdyan says. "Same thing happened to Ronda. She was annoyed with everybody asking her all these same questions. She'd get upset, hang up the phone, get angry. She was just like, 'Enough of this bull****. Lemme beat this chick really quick, finish this fight and go eat my wings and relax. Tell everybody to leave me alone for a little bit.'"

He's been a wreck since Holm kicked his fighter in the face. Why did she keep charging forward? Why didn't she slip Holm's left hand like they'd talked about? What happened to patience, patience, patience? That's all he kept telling her in camp. Wait for your moment. Don't chase down a counterpuncher. Move your head.

It had to be the flies. The pressure. She couldn't just win, she had to please the crowd. She had to keep being perfect and invincible and all those other things that were exciting and scary and uncomfortable in a woman.

But maybe she just got punched in the face? It's a fight. When you get hit hard and knocked out on your feet, whatever's inside you is expelled-fear, pride, guts, rage, love, courage. It all bleeds out fast.

"She's not a point fighter. She's in there to go for it," Tarverdyan says. "You've got to connect your mind to your heart and then connect your heart to your balls. You need all three of those to be a great ****ing fighter, and Ronda has all three of those."
continued next post

GeneChing
01-08-2016, 10:04 AM
EVERY AMERICAN HEROINE should brace herself for the backlash. We want superwomen, but when we find them, it freaks us the hell out. So Angelina Jolie is a home wrecker. Hillary Clinton is calculating. Condoleezza Rice is cold. Serena Williams is too loud, too muscular, too black. Ronda Rousey is too arrogant, too aggressive, too emotional.

Those criticisms have come and they will continue to come. Rousey doesn't need a man to fight her battles. She can kick anyone's ass. She makes her own money, more than even the male UFC fighters, and they don't complain because her star power makes them more money. She found a man she loves, and she wants to keep him.

So she won't retire undefeated or take down the boys club with a single devastating armbar. But we often oversimplify the way history is written. There's no one person who changes everything.

It's going to take awhile for Rousey to shake off this loss. She's still apologizing to everyone. Her face feels loose. Her dog whimpers every time she tries to talk about it.

But she opened the door on the Friday after Thanksgiving and let people see her-all of her, even the messy parts.

It's scary as hell for her to expose this much -- to be vulnerable when everyone thought she was invincible.

But that's always been how Ronda Rousey fights.

"I always think I can lose all of them," she says. "I'm the only one that's scared when I walk in there. I'm always ****ing scared."

So will she fight again?

"Of course. What else am I going to ****ing do?"


Ramona Shelburne
Shelburne is a senior writer for ESPN. She spent seven years at the Los Angeles Daily News.

Can't count Ronda out yet. See the next post.

GeneChing
01-08-2016, 10:10 AM
It's true! Ronda Rousey will appear in body paint in SI Swimsuit 2016 (http://www.si.com/swim-daily/2016/01/06/ronda-rousey-si-swimsuit-2016-body-paint-leaked-photos)
BY SWIM DAILY STAFF

Posted: Thu Jan. 7, 2016
Remember when a little birdie mentioned that a certain MMA fighter, also known as one the most badass babes in the world, just might be appearing in SI Swimsuit 2016? Well, turns out the rumors are true!

Back for her second year, Ronda Rousey will join an elite club of body-painted swimsuit models in the 2016 SI Swimsuit issue. Yep, you read that right. Ronda will wearing NOTHING BUT PAINT on the pages of our magazine next month.

So what could be better? Well, as it turns out, the beach where we shot Ronda's gorgeous photos is public, so some eager paparazzi got a few early snaps. That means Christmas is coming again, folks! We're sharing a few BTS shots that are sure to tie you over until our official images of Ronda hit newsstands next month.

http://cdn-jpg.si.com/sites/default/files/images/ronda-rousey-bodypaint-bts.jpg
Photo: MJ Day/SI

data-src="http://cdn-jpg.si.com/sites/default/files/images/ronda-rousey-bodypaint-bts3.jpg"
Photo: MJ Day/SI

And all we can say: SHE'S FLAWLESS.

Swimsuit inspired by We Are Handsome.



SWIM DAILY
Ronda Rousey steps out of the Octagon to host Saturday Night Live (http://www.si.com/swim-daily/2016/01/05/ronda-rousey-will-host-snl-january-2016)

http://cdn-jpg.si.com/sites/default/files/styles/si_article_main/public/images/ronda-rousey-snl-lead.jpg?itok=XvK_4kdi
Photo: Walter Iooss Jr./SI
Ronda Rousey, SI Swimsuit 2015

BY KELSEY HENDRIX
Posted: Tue Jan. 5, 2016

Ronda Rousey can now add one more feat to her growing resume: The Olympian, MMA star and SI Swimsuit model will take to the stage to host Saturday Night Live this month.

The show took to Twitter to officially announce their January 2016 lineup, subsequently revealing that Ronda will join a star-studded cast to start off the year with a bang. Ronda is the first MMA fighter to ever host the show.

Ronda is coming off a shocking loss to Holly Holm for the UFC women's bantamweight title and has largely remained out of the public eye since then. She made headlines last month for honoring her commitment to attend the Marine Corps Ball with Jarrod Haschert, admitting that if not for her word to be his date, she probably would've stayed "on her couch crying and eating ice cream for life another month."

Ronda, who is no newbie to acting, is set to star in the upcoming Road House reboot, and previously appeared in Furious 7 and Entourage. She will be making her SNL debut with fellow first-timer Selena Gomez, who has been named the evening’s musical guest.

See Ronda's episode when it airs on Jan. 23 at 11:30pm on NBC.

She needs to make another movie, but this time with Gina Carano.

sanjuro_ronin
01-08-2016, 11:01 AM
Personally I hope that this loss, and it was a devastating one, taught her many valuable lessons ( as it should have) the most important being the lessons that ALL fighters must learn:
There is always someone better.
On any given day, ANYONE can get their bell rung.
And because of those two:
Be HUMBLE.

She overexposed and overextend herself and it may be that she began to believe her own hype.
Either way this lost can be the best thing that happened to her as a fighter AND a person.

GeneChing
01-11-2016, 11:22 AM
She overexposed :eek::p


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pMb6X7mOug

Wouldn't body paint just wash off at the beach? :D

sanjuro_ronin
01-11-2016, 01:39 PM
Eventually these ladies learn that it is good to leave things to the imagination...

David Jamieson
01-12-2016, 01:02 PM
~G
That is foundation and makeup that made the beauty mark below her left eye seem to disappear.

My guess is that her jaw is STILL sore. Even today.

When you get rocked, even in your youth, it takes a while to get back to normal. 2 weeks just to start functioning again after a good and hearty beating.

GeneChing
01-21-2016, 09:35 AM
SNL HOST RONDA ROUSEY LETS BECK "THE WRECK" BENNETT TRY HIS NOGGIN LOCK (http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/snl-host-ronda-rousey-lets-beck-the-wreck-bennett-try-his-noggin-lock/2970860)
Ronda Rousey hosts Saturday Night Live on January 23, 2016 with musical guest Selena Gomez. [Season 41, 2016]

Totally gonna watch this

GeneChing
01-22-2016, 02:34 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6S5EJNtP30

GeneChing
01-25-2016, 10:19 AM
I thought Ronda did okay, considering. It didn't feel like the SNL writers knew quite what to do with her. The Love Struck (http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/love-struck/2973578?onid=148621#vc148621=1) skit was amusing, but the whole episode was upstaged Palin Endorsement Cold Open:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pinZNYxQeo

I got as far as the Teacher Trial (http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/teacher-trial-with-ronda-rousey/2973585?onid=148621#vc148621=1) and then bailed. If anyone watched to the end, was it worth finishing?

GeneChing
02-08-2016, 12:43 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy74R7KMBW0

GeneChing
02-16-2016, 03:46 PM
SWIMSUIT (http://www.si.com/swimsuit/model/ronda-rousey/2016/body-paint?xid=swim16_socialpush#1)
RONDA ROUSEY
2016
BODY PAINT

http://cdn-jpg.si.com/sites/default/files/styles/si_gallery_slide/public/swimsuit/web/ronda-rousey/2016/ronda-rousey-2016-bodypaint-sports-illustrated-x160010_tk3_00602-rawwmfinal1920.jpg?itok=gCa0JBKg
http://cdn-jpg.si.com/sites/default/files/styles/si_gallery_slide/public/swimsuit/web/ronda-rousey/2016/ronda-rousey-2016-bodypaint-sports-illustrated-x160010_tk3_01298-rawwmfinal1920.jpg?itok=HX0gsVj7
http://cdn-jpg.si.com/sites/default/files/styles/si_gallery_slide/public/swimsuit/web/ronda-rousey/2016/ronda-rousey-2016-bodypaint-sports-illustrated-x160010_tk3_02612-rawwmfinal1920.jpg?itok=ovpEuWOw
http://cdn-jpg.si.com/sites/default/files/styles/si_gallery_slide/public/swimsuit/web/ronda-rousey/2016/ronda-rousey-2016-bodypaint-sports-illustrated-x160010_tk3_01628-rawwmfinal1920.jpg?itok=IimEHqT4
http://cdn-jpg.si.com/sites/default/files/styles/si_gallery_slide/public/swimsuit/web/ronda-rousey/2016/ronda-rousey-2016-bodypaint-sports-illustrated-x160010_tk3_00857-rawwmfinal1920.jpg?itok=gogR4gsA
http://cdn-jpg.si.com/sites/default/files/styles/si_gallery_slide/public/swimsuit/web/ronda-rousey/2016/ronda-rousey-2016-bodypaint-sports-illustrated-x160010_tk3_02632-rawwmfinal1920.jpg?itok=HCoW1JlD
http://cdn-jpg.si.com/sites/default/files/styles/si_gallery_slide/public/swimsuit/web/ronda-rousey/2016/ronda-rousey-2016-bodypaint-sports-illustrated-x160010_tk3_00666-rawwmfinal1920.jpg?itok=P7cVaf_x
http://cdn-jpg.si.com/sites/default/files/styles/si_gallery_slide/public/swimsuit/web/ronda-rousey/2016/ronda-rousey-2016-bodypaint-sports-illustrated-x160010_tk3_02957-rawwmfinal1920.jpg?itok=tBZi_Tlb
http://cdn-jpg.si.com/sites/default/files/styles/si_gallery_slide/public/swimsuit/web/ronda-rousey/2016/ronda-rousey-2016-bodypaint-sports-illustrated-x160010_tk3_02615-rawwmfinal1920.jpg?itok=0Z0cSZ0b
http://cdn-jpg.si.com/sites/default/files/styles/si_gallery_slide/public/swimsuit/web/ronda-rousey/2016/ronda-rousey-2016-bodypaint-sports-illustrated-x160010_tk3_00601-rawwmfinal1920.jpg?itok=1uFSQ5Jj


continued next post

GeneChing
02-16-2016, 03:52 PM
http://cdn-jpg.si.com/sites/default/files/styles/si_gallery_slide/public/swimsuit/web/ronda-rousey/2016/ronda-rousey-2016-bodypaint-sports-illustrated-x160010_tk3_01792-rawwmfinal1920.jpg?itok=t4fWYeJl
http://cdn-jpg.si.com/sites/default/files/styles/si_gallery_slide/public/swimsuit/web/ronda-rousey/2016/ronda-rousey-2016-bodypaint-sports-illustrated-x160010_tk3_02645-rawwmfinal1920.jpg?itok=oi1elz2-
http://cdn-jpg.si.com/sites/default/files/styles/si_gallery_slide/public/swimsuit/web/ronda-rousey/2016/ronda-rousey-2016-bodypaint-sports-illustrated-x160010_tk3_00716-rawwmfinal1920.jpg?itok=meoxpCjf
http://cdn-jpg.si.com/sites/default/files/styles/si_gallery_slide/public/swimsuit/web/ronda-rousey/2016/ronda-rousey-2016-bodypaint-sports-illustrated-x160010_tk3_01678-rawwmfinal1920.jpg?itok=kh8mUP1G
http://cdn-jpg.si.com/sites/default/files/styles/si_gallery_slide/public/swimsuit/web/ronda-rousey/2016/ronda-rousey-2016-bodypaint-sports-illustrated-x160010_tk3_02186-rawwmfinal1920.jpg?itok=4HbH98Jq
http://cdn-jpg.si.com/sites/default/files/styles/si_gallery_slide/public/swimsuit/web/ronda-rousey/2016/ronda-rousey-2016-bodypaint-sports-illustrated-x160010_tk3_02668-rawwmfinal1920.jpg?itok=UUqr1NcB
http://cdn-jpg.si.com/sites/default/files/styles/si_gallery_slide/public/swimsuit/web/ronda-rousey/2016/ronda-rousey-2016-bodypaint-sports-illustrated-x160010_tk3_00580-rawwmfinal1920.jpg?itok=b6BnlTNn


Now why doesn't that body paint just wash off? Why? WHY?!?!

sanjuro_ronin
02-17-2016, 07:05 AM
There are few NSFW pics circulating that show a bit more than those, LOL !
I wonder how one gets the job of spray painting the vagina of models?

Jimbo
02-17-2016, 04:47 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwCdv9iR8P8&sns=em

GeneChing
02-18-2016, 09:18 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPEYTQ4flGc

GeneChing
02-22-2016, 02:54 PM
Gotta give Ronda props for what she's doing with female body image in the U.S.


Ronda Rousey Fights Back After Photoshop Fail (https://www.yahoo.com/style/ronda-rousey-is-furious-that-jimmy-fallons-photo-165636603.html)
Lauren Tuck News Editor February 19, 2016

https://www.yahoo.com/sy/ny/api/res/1.2/KMbXUzLm9pNm7ucyxdNPnw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjtzbT0xO3c9NTkwO2g9NTk0/http://l.yimg.com/cd/resizer/2.0/FIT_TO_WIDTH-w590/af784a67675292a2f3010574c5efe482a9575a21.png
At left, Ronda Rousey unretouched; right, the photo sent to her by Jimmy Fallon. (Photo: @rondarousey/Instagram)

When Ronda Rousey sat down with Jimmy Fallon, she spoke with the talk-show host about her Sports Illustrated cover and, of course, her high-flying fighting career. She wore a black-to-silver ombré and fringe dress from Wow Couture, with Tamara Mellon strappy heels. Following the appearance, she shared a photo on Instagram of her look, with product details and shout-outs to her stylist and makeup artist. But while she looked beautiful, her followers noticed something a little strange about her biceps.

Of the nearly 3,000 comments on the post from Thursday night, a majority of them were pointing out that Rousey’s arms were looking deflated and super skinny. “You have the most amazing ufc fighter arms that a lot of ufc girls desire to have,” one commenter wrote.

Just hours later, Rousey responded to her critics by posting a text quote: “One of life’s simple truths: If you post a rude, insulting comment on a complete stranger’s social media, you’re a sad, empty loser. You’re also an a**hole.”

https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/M_oEBxJWQ98Uwi0usuuc0A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjtzbT0xO3c9NTk0O2g9NTYx/http://l.yimg.com/cd/resizer/2.0/FIT_TO_WIDTH-w594/7522a8c5f041f987d9e0d509d9d701f900630f04.png
“#quotephase” (Photo: @rondarousey/Instagram)

With that social media retaliation fueling the fire, she put an end to the controversy by sharing a side-by-side image: one unretouched photo, the other retouched. “I have to make an apology to everyone — I was sent a picture to share on social for Fallon that was altered without me knowing to make my arms look smaller,” wrote Rousey, who recently lost a major match to Holly Holm. “I won’t say by who — I know it was done with severely misplaced positive intentions — but this goes against everything I believe, and I am extremely proud of every inch of my body. And I can assure you all it will never happen again. I could not be more appalled and hope you all forgive me.”

The 29-year-old is far from the only celebrity victimized by deviant retouchers. Zendaya got an entire editorial from a magazine pulled because she disapproved of the excessive airbrushing. Kate Winslet, who is a Lancôme spokesperson, has it in her contract that her ads for the beauty brand won’t be retouched. Khloé Kardashian and Justin Bieber also shared similar side-by-sides after they were called out by fans for misleading them with their hot bods.

Rousey has been an outspoken body-positive advocate, so it comes as no surprise that she’d be angry over being digitally manipulated without her consent. Not only did she pose for Sports Illustrated in nothing but body paint, but her frame and athletic build have helped her become a role model for lots of young people. Although, just because she’s confident in her skin now doesn’t mean she always felt that way. “These are issues that I think every girl deals with growing up, and it’s something that’s largely ignored and unaddressed,” Rousey said about having low self-esteem and negative thoughts regarding her body. “I would like that to be different for girls growing up after me. It shouldn’t have been as hard as it was.”

GeneChing
02-26-2016, 01:53 PM
I wonder how one gets the job of spray painting the vagina of models?

For you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qhs9UIxwEww

David Jamieson
02-29-2016, 11:46 AM
For you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qhs9UIxwEww

More importantly, what university must one attend to get a degree in spray painting models vaginas?

It would be like some kind of hunger games course. Or a maze runner type set up....

boxerbilly
02-29-2016, 01:19 PM
more importantly, what university must one attend to get a degree in spray painting models vaginas?

It would be like some kind of hunger games course. Or a maze runner type set up....

lol.........

GeneChing
05-03-2016, 11:16 AM
Three picture deal with Lifetime.


Lifetime Sets Movie Projects With Ronda Rousey, Janet Jackson & Serena Williams, Greenlights Supernatural Pilot, More (http://deadline.com/2016/04/lifetime-sets-movie-projects-with-ronda-rousey-janet-jackson-serena-williams-greenlights-supernatural-pilot-more-1201740693/)
by Denise Petski
April 20, 2016 8:30am

http://i0.wp.com/pmcdeadline2.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/lifetime-logo-new-grid-2.jpg?crop=165px%2C130px%2C629px%2C422px&resize=446%2C299&ssl=1
Lifetime

Lifetime unveiled movie projects with Ronda Rousey, Janet Jackson and Serena Williams as part of its 2016-2017 development slate announced today. The network also said it has ordered a two-hour pilot, Sea Change, a supernatural drama based on the YA novel by New York Times bestselling author Aimee Friedman; and announced scripted projects from Holly Brix, Wilfred‘s Jason Gann and Make It Or Break It‘s Liz Maccie. Lifetime also said the hit comedic series Catastrophe, which premiered in the UK starring Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney, will get its U.S. linear debut with the network in early 2017.

Also on tap is a pair of unscripted projects: Fashion Inc., (working title) produced by The Weinstein Company, and docuseries Gold Medal Families, which showcases six Olympic hopefuls and their families.

Rousey has signed a three-picture movie deal to bring stories that reflect her passions about empowerment to the screen, according to the network. Additionally, Williams will executive produce the movie Sister Dance (wt), inspired by the annual dance-off competition she hosts with her sister Venus. Jackson will executive produce the story of 1920s New York City mobster, Queenie (wt). The true story centers on the first and only woman gangster during Prohibition, set against the backdrop of The Cotton Club. Kenny Leon (A Raisin In The Sun) will direct.

Sea Change follows a strong 17-year-old girl who, after the death of her father, moves to a small Nantucket-like island to live with her estranged mother. There she is pulled into classic small-town rivalries and clashes with her mother, but quickly learns the depth of those conflicts when the island legend about dangerous Sea Walkers appears to be true, presenting a mystery for her and her family. Liz Sczudlo (The Following, Awkward) penned the pilot which is produced by MarVista Entertainment and Piller/Segan. Executive producers are Fernando Szew, Sharon Bordas, Lloyd Segan, Shawn Piller and David MacLeod.

Also in development is None Of The Above (wt), based on the novel by I.W. Gregorio, a coming-of-age drama that explores the story of a girl whose previous idyllic life as the homecoming queen is called into question when she discovers she is intersex. Maccie is writing, with Stephen Chbosky (Perks Of Being A Wallflower) attached to direct. Davis Entertainment and A+E Studios will produce with John Davis attached as executive producer.

The untitled Holly Brix Project is about a group of strangers who are brought together by an unknown puppet master, threatening to expose their past misdeeds and hidden lives. The project is written by Holly Brix (The Vampire Diaries), and UnbeliEVAble Entertainment and A+E Studios are attached to produce. Eva Longoria and Ben Spector are executive producing.

Gann’s Breeders (wt), is a subversive dramedy that takes an honest look at support group survival for new parents and how new moms start to reflect the social circles of high school, where the ruthless rule and the weak rarely survive. The project is in development from A+E Studios and executive produced by Nicky Weinstock.

Lifetime is also developing Deadline (wt), a darkly satirical one-hour drama that follows aspiring journalist Emily Twist, who is frustrated by how hard it is to get noticed as a reporter in a world that values gossip over hard-hitting investigative news. Deadline is from A+E Studios and produced by Imperative Entertainment with Justin Levy and Tim Kring. Sam Forman (House Of Cards) is set to write the pilot.

Fashion Inc. is set in New York City’s fashion district, where spring fashion and beauty entrepreneurs compete for the chance to secure funds from a panel of expert investors to help grow their budding ventures. The hourlong eight-episode series is slated to premiere later this year. Katia Beauchamp, co-founder & CEO of beauty retailer Birchbox; tech marketplace maven and CEO of plus-size clothing rental startup Gwynnie Bee, Christine Hunsicker; fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff; and business mentor for the CFDA Incubator program and co-CEO of Hilldun, Gary Wassner are helming the series. The Weinstein Company is producing with executive producers Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein, Patrick Reardon and Barbara Schneeweiss, in addition to Matador with executive producers Jay Peterson, Todd Lubin and James Bruce. Executive producing for Lifetime are Eli Lehrer, Mary Donahue and David Hillman.

Docuseries Gold Medal Families showcases six Olympic hopefuls and their families, revealing the extraordinary lengths, economic hardships and personal sacrifices they all go through to get their elite athlete to the podium of the world games. Eight one-hour episodes have been ordered for premiere this summer. Gold Medal Families is produced by The Company. Charlie Ebersol, Mike Lanigan and Bryn Freedman are executive producers. Eli Lehrer, Mary Donahue and David Hillman executive produce for Lifetime.

In the digital arena, Lifetime, in partnership with Hello Giggles, is breaking into the comedy space with comedy shorts, Oversharing, that feature up-and-coming female comedians telling way too much about their personal lives. All ten episodes are available online on mylifetime.com. It joins UnReal spinoff The Faith Diaries, written and produced by UnReal co-creator Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, already available online.

GeneChing
06-30-2016, 01:49 PM
Ronda Rousey Next Fight WWE Return Rumors: Stephanie McMahon 'Chomping At Bit' For 'Rowdy' To Make Wrestling Comeback
(http://www.sportsworldnews.com/articles/63556/20160630/ronda-rousey-next-fight-wwe-return-rumors-stephanie-mcmahon-chomping-at-bit-for-rowdy-to-make-wrestling-comeback-video.htm)
By Mike Smollins @MikeSmollins
on Jun 30, 2016 12:18 PM EDT

http://images.sportsworldnews.com/data/thumbs/full/34719/600/0/0/0/ronda-rousey.jpg
UFC star Ronda Rousey. (Photo : Getty Images)

Ronda Rousey made waves at WrestleMania 31, but she hasn't been seen in the WWE since.

"Rowdy," an avid WWE fan, jumped over the barrier and helped Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson during his spat with Triple H and his wife, Stephanie McMahon in March 2015. Rousey got into a verbal war with the pair and then took both of them out.

Though the former UFC women's bantamweight champion has expressed great interest in returning to the company someday, her schedule has been very busy.

On top of training for her eventual return to the Octagon, Rousey's movie career is taking off as well, leaving her little time to get involved in WWE storylines.

McMahon recently spoke about the formerly undefeated UFC star's appearance in the WWE and her unfinished business with her.

"I would just say anything can happen in the WWE," McMahon told Fox Sports when asked about a potential Rousey return. "I've been chomping at the bit for a long time to have Ronda as a part of WWE, but she has a few other things on her road map I think."

Rousey lost a UFC fight for the first time in her career at UFC 193 back in November when she was knocked out by Holly Holm. The loss sent "Rowdy" on a downward spiral and she later admitted she had suicidal thoughts before being pulled from the brink by her boyfriend, fellow MMA fighter Travis Browne.

She hasn't accepted another fight since the loss, while Holm went on to lose the belt to Miesha Tate, who will defend the title against Amanda Nunes on July 9 at UFC 200 in Las Vegas.

Rousey has been training for a return to the Octagon, but president Dana White said she won't rush back to action.

As for her appearance in the WWE, White originally described it as a "one-off" at WrestleMania 31, but things could be changing. The WWE struck a cross-promotion deal with the MMA affiliate, allowing Brock Lesnar to return for one night only to face Mark Hunt at UFC 200.

The WWE may lend the UFC Lesnar and ask for another appearance from Rousey down the line in return, while there are also rumors of the company having interest in Paige VanZant.

One way or another, it seems inevitable that Rousey will find her way back to the squared circle.

[video=youtube;IQMJAPSjeUA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQMJAPSjeUA




More crossovers. Not sure if these benefit WWE or UFC more.

GeneChing
07-12-2016, 03:05 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZNFH-jH-eo

GeneChing
07-20-2016, 10:03 AM
A Lesson In Imperfection (http://www.refinery29.com/ronda-rousey-perfect-never-confidence-essay)
JUL 19, 2016 10:40 AM
RONDA ROUSEY

http://s2.r29static.com//bin/entry/61b/x,80/1623383/image.jpg
PHOTO: COURTESY OF REEBOK.

I scroll through my phone like everyone else. I see the world filtered and duckfaced like every other woman does. And sometimes I’m almost convinced that’s real.

But it’s not.

The curated lives we see every day are fake. The perfect angles, the perfect outfits, the perfect lighting. That’s not reality. What is real are imperfections. What builds character and toughness is struggle. What makes us better and more human is attempting something, coming up short, and then trying it again.

But for women the rules seem different.

Men get the luxury of being able to specialize. Women are expected to be perfect at everything.

Am I good girlfriend? Am I a perfect mom? Am I the best athlete? Am I wearing white after Labor Day? Am I dressed in the right brands? Am I dieting right? Am I manicured, blown-out and tanned?

These little constant quests for perfection start pecking away at our attention. Perfect never leaves room for improvement. And perfect never lets us focus on what’s really out there for us to achieve.

When we worry about perfection, our bigger goals are sacrificed. We can’t look up, work hard and kick ass. But having the confidence to ignore the perfection around us can be difficult.

When I was growing up in North Dakota, before my family moved to Los Angeles, I was a tomboy. I wore jeans and a white T-shirt, but not the sexy kind. I wore it because I loved to run, jump, and play. Dresses got in the way of that.

Then we moved to L.A., where I was a complete outsider. I went to a predominantly Spanish-speaking school, and never really fit in. My confidence sank faster than I care to admit.

And like most girls, although women rarely talk about it, these feelings came to a boiling point when I stood in front of the mirror, looked at my changing body that I didn’t really recognize anymore, and cried.


I WASN’T PERFECT, AND I DIDN’T LIKE IT.

I wasn’t perfect, and I didn’t like it.

That’s when I found judo.

When you practice judo, you have to have a partner. Suddenly the quiet girl had to talk or get thrown on her ass. That was a fast and effective lesson in confidence.

Not every move I made was perfect, but I practiced a lot. And the world didn’t end when I talked or even yelled. In fact, I got better and people started noticing.

Today I have a career built on something that saved me as a young woman. Many women aren’t afforded that opportunity.

And when I see little girls rocking their jellies and tutus in the supermarket, I think about the unapologetic confidence I used to have in my jeans and T-shirts. That’s before I started trying to be perfect, and well before I found a passion that embraced my flaws and gave me shots at redemption.

I’m not trying to inspire you take up martial arts or be anything you’re not. But there was a time in your life when you didn’t care about being perfect. Maybe you didn’t quite understand the way the world worked then, but you also didn’t care what anyone thought.

I guess what I’m trying to tell you is that you don’t need to be perfect to be valid.

Your flaws — your unsuccessful attempts at greatness or even mediocrity — are real. They make you better. And that’s beautiful because it’s never perfect.

It's your body. It's your summer. Enjoy them both. Check out more #TakeBackTheBeach here.

Well said, Ronda.

GeneChing
08-12-2016, 03:41 PM
August 9, 2016
Ronda Rousey Shows Off Curves in Buffalo David Bitton Fall 2016 Ads (http://wwd.com/media-news/fashion-memopad/ronda-rousey-shows-off-curves-in-buffalo-david-bitton-jeans-fall-2016-ads-10503148/)
By Khanh T.L. Tran

https://pmcwwd.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/ronda-rousey-buffalo-fall-2016-ad-white-skinny-jeans.jpg

In Buffalo David Bitton's fall 2016 ad campaign, Ronda Rousey shows off her natural side in white skinny jeans from the new Hope line.
courtesy of Brooke Nipar/Buffalo David Bitton

Ronda Rousey is showing a different side of herself in a new fall ad campaign for Buffalo David Bitton.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship star is revealing natural beauty and a no-frills attitude in a global promotion for Buffalo’s new line called Hope. She’s also rallying her fans with a sassy message in print, digital and social media: “Hey curvy girls, meet Hope: a killer jean for killer babes…you’re welcome.”

It’s a stark contrast to her first ad campaign for the label owned by Iconix Brand Group. When the mixed martial artist embarked on her gig as Buffalo’s brand ambassador two years ago, New York-based Iconix chose to photograph her with a sexy, edgy look — usually barely clothed in the company of a shirtless male model.

For the latest images, to be released Wednesday, Iconix returned to Los Angeles, where Rousey lives a fit life in the beachy neighborhood of Venice. Photographed by Brooke Nipar, a veteran of ad shoots for Iconix’s Material Girl brand, Rousey often sat barefoot in front of the camera when she didn’t jab the air with quick punches between shots. The entire time she sported jeans in an array of clean, distressed and embellished washes from the Hope line, which integrated her suggestions for creating comfortable but flattering jeans for curvy, athletic women.

For instance, the skinny jeans she donned in her first ad campaign felt too tight around the calves. Serving as a sort of in-house fit model, she told Iconix that a lot of women who are athletes or have fuller figures can’t wear skinny styles comfortably without sensing that the denim restricted their legs. “I’m an active person,” Rousey said.

Buffalo listened, designing skinny, boot cut and straight legs with a contour waistband out of ultra-stretchy fabric blended from cotton, polyester, viscose and elastane. Now, Rousey said, “I don’t have to sacrifice comfort for looking and feeling good.”

To show consumers how exactly she stays active, Buffalo and Rousey are sponsoring a social media sweepstake that allows the winner to meet the 29-year-old athlete in her training gym in Southern California.

“She’s a very unique star,” said Vinny Nesi, a senior vice president at Iconix. “She has an appeal as much to males as to women. Obviously, the guys are fans of hers because of the sport and arena she plays in and she’s an attractive young lady. She represents a voice in the female empowerment movement.”

Rousey comes across as more than a celebrity spokesmodel for Buffalo. She also gives it an opportunity to balance the increasingly uneven ratio between its men’s and women’s sales. In the last four years, the women’s side has seen its share slip to 20 percent from 40 percent in comparison to the men’s business, Nesi said. Buffalo has taken steps to correct the discrepancy, such as opening a denim bar stocked with women’s jeans at Macy’s this year.

As proof of its devotion to the women’s market, Nesi said this campaign’s budget is “considerably bigger” than the first one that featured Rousey. He declined to disclose specific figures. The ads are set to run in magazines such as Cosmopolitan. Rousey also will be making her first appearance at Project in Las Vegas to meet with Buffalo’s retail buyers at the trade show.

“Ronda exudes confidence wherever she goes,” Nesi said. “We aggressively want to build the women’s business.”

Again, good on Ronda. :cool:

Vash
08-12-2016, 04:04 PM
I don't wear jeans unless my girlfriend picks them out and sizes them for me.

I'd need to see Ronda putting those on to make sure they're not airbrushed . . . for science.

GeneChing
10-12-2016, 10:12 AM
UFC 207 announcement expected this week.


Does the UFC even miss Ronda Rousey? (http://www.latimes.com/sports/boxing/la-sp-sn-ufc-ronda-rousey-20161005-snap-story.html)

Next month will mark one full year without Ronda Rousey fighting in a UFC octagon, and as the clock ticks on, more evidence builds that she’s not missed.

For those who forgot, Rousey concentrated too much on her developing stand-up game Nov. 14 against former world-champion boxer Holly Holm and was knocked out in the second round in Melbourne, Australia.

In her absence, which has included appearances on “Ellen” and “Saturday Night Live,” film work and little other public contact, the women’s bantamweight belt has been passed from Holm to Miesha Tate to the current champion, Brazil’s Amanda Nunes.

Those outcomes have brought more storylines, more personality, more depth to women’s MMA fighting.

Nunes, for instance, spoke eloquently of love after winning her belt in the main event of UFC 200 and becoming the first openly gay champion in combat sports.

That July event generated a UFC-record $10.7 million live gate at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

That same card also featured the continued rise of opinionated women’s bantamweight challenger Julianna Pena, and a stirring return to the octagon by Cat Zingano.

Zingano had a compelling reason for her own extended layoff, which followed a title loss to Rousey. Her estranged husband had committed suicide and she needed to spend extended time raising her son.

Authenticity, along with her famed armbar submission skill, made Rousey who she was.

Watching the former Olympic judo bronze medalist from Venice become the best women’s mixed martial arts fighter was a fun, unscripted show to observe.

While cornering a friend’s fight years ago, Rousey delivered a memorable sneer at UFC octagon card girl Arianny Celeste as she walked past, as if in disdain for Celeste’s attention/obsession with her look.

Rousey’s realness and toughness while maintaining her femininity was the ultimate contrast, and made her a deserved role model to millions.

You wonder, now, if that Rousey, the one motivated by the not-too-distant memory of what it was like to live out of her car, would even like this version of Rousey.

And you wonder if those who cared about her for those very reasons still have the same interest now that Holm cracked the fighting code.

http://www.trbimg.com/img-56482ba6/turbine/la-sp-ufc-193-rousey-vs-holm-pictures-pg-20151114/750/750x422
UFC 193: Rousey vs. Holm

Since her loss to Holm, Rousey’s seclusion act hasn’t done her any favors. In modern terms, she didn’t “take the ‘L’” very well.

And you’d think her personal handlers employed by the UFC ownership group, WME-IMG, would move on this instead of letting this perception that “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey is now “Pouty” Ronda Rousey fester.

Instead, we’re left with spin like the comments this week from UFC President Dana White, who like many around MMA is often asked when Rousey, 29, will fight again.

“By far, the biggest star ever,” White told a radio station.

The facts say differently, considering that featherweight champion Conor McGregor has posted three of the top five pay-per-views in UFC history since December, including a record 1.65 million buys for McGregor’s August triumph over Nate Diaz.

And when Rousey, whose team cited her minor knee surgery for being unable to make the UFC’s New York debut Nov. 12 at Madison Square Garden, McGregor jumped in to pursue the unprecedented feat of wearing two belts at once by fighting lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez in the main event.

Also there, in a three-title card, will be the now fiercest women’s fighter in the UFC stable, straw-weight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

When The Times stopped by Rousey’s Glendale gym in late August to see if there was any activity, she had just finished a workout and stopped briefly in her luxury SUV to tell a reporter, “I’m not talking to anyone.”

Rousey’s coach, Edmond Tarverdyan, answered his phone late Tuesday afternoon and spoke in a displeased tone when asked if there was any update on Rousey’s status.

“You’ve asked [when she’ll fight] before, and made people very upset,” Tarverdyan said.

So when is it OK to check? Tarverdyan was asked.

“Wait two more months.”

On Wednesday, White was asked by The Times when Rousey will fight again, and he replied in a text message, “Soon.

“I hope.”

GeneChing
10-12-2016, 02:04 PM
The return of Ronda.


RONDA ROUSEY SET TO RETURN AT UFC 207 (http://www.ufc.com/news/ronda-rousey-to-return-vs-champion-amanda-nunes-at-ufc-207)
By Thomas Gerbasi October 12, 2016 UFC.com

http://media.ufc.tv/207/030991_207_BoutAnn_ANRR_1200X1200_ENG.jpg

UFC President Dana White announced Wednesday that MMA superstar Ronda Rousey will make her highly anticipated return to the Octagon on Friday, December 30 when she attempts to regain the UFC women’s bantamweight crown from champion Amanda Nunes in the main event of UFC 207.

The bout will air live on Pay-Per-View from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

How will Ronda fare in return? We break down Nunes vs Rousey

The longest reigning UFC champion in women’s MMA history, the 29-year-old Rousey held the 135-pound crown for three years from November of 2012 to November of 2015. During that time, the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist in judo went from dominant submission specialist to knockout artist and worldwide superstar, appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated and ESPN the Magazine while winning six of her seven Octagon bouts, all by knockout or submission, with four of those victories ending in 66 seconds or less. At UFC 193 in Melbourne, Australia, Rousey lost her title to Holly Holm, but on December 30, “Rowdy” Ronda is back and ready to reclaim her belt.

Looking to add another signature win to her record while continuing her reign as UFC women’s bantamweight champion, Brazil’s Nunes is perhaps the only fighter capable of claiming the same ferocious finishing game as that owned by Rousey. Owner of a 6-1 UFC record, the 28-year-old “Lioness” has finished five of those wins, with the most spectacular being a first round submission victory over Miesha Tate at UFC 200 in July that earned her the world bantamweight title. Now Nunes wants to end the comeback of Rousey and move on to cement her legacy as one of the greats of the game.

Stay tuned to UFC.com for more fight card announcements and ticket on-sale dates.

GeneChing
10-26-2016, 09:21 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25bdNncvbKs

Drunk History (http://www.cc.com/shows/drunk-history)

I watch this show sometimes. Got into it waiting for Trevor. I'll have to check this ep out.

GeneChing
11-03-2016, 09:13 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RR-lcXOhkY

GeneChing
12-29-2016, 09:37 AM
Anyone here going to tune in?


Ronda Rousey returns but it’s no easy task to recapture bantamweight belt (http://www.newsday.com/sports/mixed-martial-arts/ronda-rousey-returns-but-it-s-no-easy-task-to-recapture-bantamweight-belt-1.12818376)
Updated December 29, 2016 8:36 AM
By Mark La Monica mark.lamonica@newsday.com

http://cdn.newsday.com/polopoly_fs/1.12607210.1483018322!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/display_600/image.jpg
UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Amanda Nunes faces off with Ronda Rousey after UFC 205 Weigh-ins in preparation for their UFC 207 fight that will take place on December 30, 2016 at Madison Square Garden on November 11, 2016 in New York City. Photo Credit: Getty Images / Michael Reaves

Only six UFC fighters reclaimed title in the same weight class they lost it.

When that first guitar riff from Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation” envelops the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for UFC 207, a comeback 412 days in the making will be official as Ronda Rousey makes her walk to the octagon.

Rousey, the former women’s bantamweight champion was last seen sitting on the floor of the octagon in Australia at UFC 193 with her face swollen and bloodied from the fists and feet of Holly Holm. Holm went home with the title that night as Rousey sat in a hospital contemplating, for a brief moment, ending her life. Her title was gone, her aura of invincibility shattered, her world crumbled in less than six minutes.

When Rousey fights against reigning champion Amanda Nunes, will her return, the one social media hashtags indicate we should “fear,” be made complete by Rousey again having that championship belt strapped around her waist? This suspense, of course, is what sells tickets and pay-per-views.

“All the greats throughout history, they’ve all lost,” UFC president Dana White said at a UFC 207 media scrum on Wednesday.

Ali lost, Tyson lost. You go through the list of all the greatest fighters that have ever lived, everybody has a loss. It’s always interesting and exciting to see if they can overcome and come back from a devastating loss like hers was.”

What Rousey, an Olympic bronze medalist in judo, is attempting at UFC 207 is no easy task, regardless of who she is and who she is fighting. In the 23-year history of the UFC, excluding interim titles, only six fighters won back their title in the same weight class they lost it.


Randy Couture first won the UFC heavyweight title in 1997, then left the UFC the next month and was stripped of his title. He won it back in 2000, lost it in his next fight, then reclaimed the belt in 2007. Couture also won the UFC light heavyweight title in 2003, lost it to Vitor Belfort four months later, then won it back from him in August 2004.

Tim Sylvia first won the heavyweight title in 2003, was stripped of it after testing positive for steroids, then won the title for a second time in 2006.

Matt Hughes lost his welterweight title to BJ Penn at UFC 46 in 2004, then became champion again after beating Georges St-Pierre 10 months later.

Georges St-Pierre lost his welterweight title to Long Island’s Matt Serra in April 2007, won an interim title against Hughes eight months later, then won the real title back from Serra in April 2008.

Cain Velasquez was knocked out by Junior Dos Santos on national television Nov. 11, 2012, then returned 13 months later to beat Dos Santos by unanimous decision to reclaim his heavyweight title.

Dominick Cruz was stripped of his bantamweight title in January 2014 after being out more than two years with various injuries. On Jan. 17, 2016, after another 16 months sidelined by injury, Cruz won a split decision over T.J. Dillashaw to be re-crowned champion.

A seventh fighter, Jose Aldo, lost his featherweight title to Conor McGregor in December 2015, won the interim title in July 2016, then was promoted to undisputed champion after McGregor was stripped of his featherweight title in November 2016.

So why is it such a difficult task for fighters to re-climb the championship mountain?

“I don’t know,” said Frankie Edgar, who defended his lightweight crown three times before losing the title and then the rematch to Benson Henderson. “It’s hard to get it in the first place.”

Many factors go into matchmaking for title fights. Marketability has become more important in recent years. Can the UFC promote the fighters in a title fight well enough to draw fans into spending their money on tickets and pay-per-view buys? Some title contenders earn their shot based on what they’ve done in the cage, while others can dictate things more so based on how their work in the cage translates financially.

For example, McGregor is an immensely talented fighter. He won the featherweight title in December 2015 then fought three times since — none of which were at featherweight. Those four fights are among the seven largest gates in UFC history. He was allowed to challenge Rafael Dos Anjos last March for his lightweight title, which was scrapped when Dos Anjos was injured in training. In November, McGregor challenged Eddie Alvarez for his lightweight belt and won to become the UFC’s first two-weight champion. (He later was stripped of the featherweight title.)

“I couldn’t even write it up or imagine it because I just don’t really know what’s on going on,” said Edgar, a top featherweight title contender, last month during UFC 205 week in Manhattan. “There’s really no rhyme or reason to who gets title shots lately. I just need to keep winning fights to put myself in the discussion and see what happens, really.”

Fighter health and timing are critical, as well. Just ask Chris Weidman, the former middleweight champion who was forced to pull out of a June 2016 rematch with then champion Luke Rockhold because of a neck injury.

“It was a rematch for the belt,” Weidman said at the time. “I don’t know when I’m going to get that opportunity again. Nothing’s guaranteed.”

Michael Bisping replaced Weidman, knocked out Rockhold, then defended his title against No. 14 ranked Dan Henderson. Weidman lost to Yoel Romero at UFC 205 in Manhattan last month in what was presumed to be a fight to determine the next title shot.

Beyond the physical and financial, there is the mental aspect. MMA is an individual sport. No matter how many instructors they train with, how many sparring partners they work with, all fighters understand the reality when the cage door closes. It’s one person against the other. One person will succeed. One person will fail.

“The internal dialogue can be really quite negative, quite nasty,” said Kristen Dieffenbach, an executive board member of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology.

Rousey said on Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show last February that she had suicidal thoughts the night she lost to Holm.

“You don’t get to that level of athletics without a very high level of drive and some very high self-expectations,” Dieffenbach said. “You want to achieve, you’re driven to achieve. Even if it’s not the medals that you’re after. There has to be an intrinsic motivation that’s performance pride. When you’re in that immediate moment and post-moment of competition when you didn’t achieve, it’s very hard to separate that intrinsic ‘proud of my performance’ from the sting of losing very publicly.”

Rousey’s loss came in front of the largest crowd ever for a UFC event — 56,214 fans at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.

Rousey has waged a UFC-sanctioned blackout of MMA media since her return was announced. She has appeared on Conan O’Brien’s and Ellen DeGeneres’ talk shows, was the subject of a featured article in ESPN The Magazine and cut various UFC promos. But there was no conference call with Rousey or Nunes, and Rousey was not at any media opportunities this week in Las Vegas.

“Some see going after a second title as a huge challenge, bring it on, can’t wait to prove I can do it twice,” said Dieffenbach, who has never met or worked with Rousey. “For other athletes, it becomes very intimidating, what if I can’t do it again. The anxiety about ‘What if I can’t?’ can become pretty overwhelming. The fact that she’s coming back speaks potentially to some pretty great resiliency as an athlete.”

Oh hold the phone...is Dana copping a little backhand underboob (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?62318-I-will-never-understand-China&p=1290291#post1290291) feel on Amanda? :eek:

PalmStriker
12-29-2016, 02:36 PM
:) A good read, This is the Fight everyone has been waiting for whether she pulls it off or not !

GeneChing
12-30-2016, 10:46 PM
Well that was quick.

PalmStriker
12-30-2016, 11:12 PM
:) One of those "I want my money back! fights". LOL. Ronda won't get another crack at it, her day is done. Not a flattering mug shot of her clocking out, either. http://www.latimes.com/sports/boxing/la-sp-ufc-207-live-updates-rouseys-return-action-htmlstory.html

Jimbo
12-31-2016, 04:59 PM
I've said it before: You cannot have one foot in the fight business and the other foot in Hollywood. Each pursuit alone requires tons of talent, hard work and commitment. One or the other (or both) will suffer. Most of the time it's the fighting that suffers.

mawali
12-31-2016, 08:23 PM
Rousey just was not in the fight frame of mind and she is ready to move on to other ventures in her life!
I am sure someone told her to big up her strike/punch/hit game on the Holms bout but last night showed she is on her way to Hollywood. Her Furious 7 part was small and she has a small group behind her for less macho stuff and more Hollywood/ Sports Illistrated venues if she does not gain weight or get fat (a relative term here). A high waist/hip ratio (WHR)s not good for any sport as she seems to be prone to that in her stage of age!

GeneChing
01-03-2017, 08:44 AM
But my 'take away' was that Amanda has a massive right, especially when you let her wind up like that. BOOM!

Moving on...

SoCo KungFu
01-04-2017, 10:16 AM
Lioness is one of the few female MMArtists with true knockout power to complement her BJJ blackbelt. And she's probably the best female fighter at phase transition. Since she retired Tate, she's the most complete female fighter active. People need to stop talking about what Rousey has done to lose, and more about what Nunes does to brutalize her opponents, including Rousey.

sanjuro_ronin
01-05-2017, 07:01 AM
Well that was quick.

Between this and Trump, I made 500 bucks, LOL !
Too bad I can't pick the lottery numbers as easily.

sanjuro_ronin
01-05-2017, 07:04 AM
As any fighter will tell you, once you have been tagged hard, it is far easier for it to happen again.
As such, leading with your face is not a good idea.

Jimbo
01-06-2017, 01:16 PM
As any fighter will tell you, once you have been tagged hard, it is far easier for it to happen again.
As such, leading with your face is not a good idea.

I was expecting Amanda Nunes to win, though not necessarily that quickly. It's happened time and again; a fighter comes up undefeated, totally dominating his/her opponents. He/she has an air of invincibility around him/her. Until he/she finally meets that one fighter who beats them, almost always by KO it seems. Then overnight the 'invincible' fighter suddenly becomes 'vincible'. Not to mention that Amanda's entire focus has been on fighting and winning in devastating fashion. She is NOT someone to make a comeback fight against.

GeneChing
02-22-2017, 10:27 AM
I watched a few episodes of Blindspot when it first started. Then I lost interest. Maybe I'll tune back in for this.

Dueling cheek beauty marks?


Blindspot taps Ronda Rousey for guest spot (http://ew.com/tv/2017/02/21/blindspot-ronda-rousey/)
NATALIE ABRAMS@NATALIEABRAMS
POSTED ON FEBRUARY 21, 2017 AT 2:00PM EST

http://i0.wp.com/ewedit.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/rhonda-and-jamie1.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C1800px%2C1333px&resize=2000%2C1333&ssl=1
DAN STEINBERG/INVISION/AP; VIRGINIA SHERWOOD/NBC

Ronda Rousey is bringing her particular set of skills to the small screen.

The MMA fighter will guest-star in an upcoming episode of Blindspot, EW has learned.

Rousey will play Devon Penberthy, a female prison inmate who grew up in a working-class family from the White Mountains of New Hampshire and is serving time for transporting weapons across state lines. She is a tough, athletic woman who knows how to fight and handle a weapon.

Rousey, who will appear in an episode slated for early May, is no stranger to using her skills for entertainment, having roles in Furious 7, the Entourage movie, and on Drunk History.

Blindspot airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

I wonder when Ronda will become just another supporting actress like Gina (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?67188-Gina-Carano).

GeneChing
05-03-2017, 10:47 AM
What’s on TV Wednesday: Ronda Rousey in ‘Blindspot’ (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/03/arts/television/whats-on-tv-wednesday-blow-out-and-ronda-rousey-in-blindspot.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0)
By KATHRYN SHATTUCKMAY 3, 2017

https://static01.nyt.com/images/2017/05/03/arts/03tvcol-Blindspot/03tvcol-Blindspot-master675.jpg
Ronda Rousey in “Blindspot.” Credit David Giesbrecht/Warner Bros., via NBC

BLINDSPOT 8 p.m. on NBC. Ronda Rousey, the mixed-martial-arts fighter, guest stars as Devon Penberthy, a weapons smuggler and Sandstorm asset with a wicked kick who is now in jail alongside Zapata (Audrey Esparza). In “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” at 9, James Waterston — visiting the franchise his father, Sam, helped make famous — plays a congressman whose appeal for help after being falsely accused of soliciting underage girls leads Benson and her crew to a sex-trafficking ring.

Like I said above, I watched the first few eps of Blindspot. It started with some Chinatown gang thing, but I didn't keep up with it.

GeneChing
07-07-2017, 07:46 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTBxYaIFQNs

Jimbo
07-07-2017, 10:59 AM
I saw a commercial on TV for one of those 'celebrity' contestant shows, the kind that feature mostly semi-forgotten, over-the-hill celebrities like Erik Estrada. In fact, Estrada was one of the celebrities in the commercial. So was Ronda. Which might not bode well for her budding Hollywood career.

GeneChing
08-15-2017, 09:20 AM
...which is why this article appears in Forbes.


AUG 11, 2017 @ 08:22 AM
WWE Is One Step Closer To Landing Ronda Rousey (https://www.forbes.com/sites/blakeoestriecher/2017/08/11/wwe-is-one-step-closer-to-landing-ronda-rousey/#49e6b4e619ee)

Blake Oestriecher , CONTRIBUTOR
I examine the effect that sports have on business...and vice versa.
Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.
WWE and Ronda Rousey could soon join forces.

https://blogs-images.forbes.com/blakeoestriecher/files/2017/08/Rouseywwe.jpg?width=960
Credit: WWE.com

According to a report from Fightful.com, Rousey has done some basic pro wrestling training and is interested in stepping into the squared circle:

Ronda Rousey has expressed interest in a pro wrestling run, and has went as far as to learn some of the basics from a WWE Superstar...An employee backstage in WWE told us that Rousey spoke to Triple H to set up her appearance with fellow Four Horsewomen members at the Mae Young Classic. According to sources, WWE had referred Rousey and company to current superstar Brian Kendrick for training purposes in Southern California. You may remember that WWE had referred recently released Eva Marie to Kendrick as well.

There was also buzz backstage at the tournament -- mainly among WWE employees and contractors -- that Rousey's training would start soon. She's taken some basic bumps among other things thus far.

The budding relationship between WWE and Rousey is one of the worst kept secrets in professional wrestling.

WWE has had no issues with publicizing anything Rousey has done in relation to the pro wrestling juggernaut. WWE.com did a write-up on Rousey's appearance at the Mae Young Classic tapings this summer while the site also recently featured a poll asking fans which female superstar they'd like to see Rousey face in WWE.

https://blogs-images.forbes.com/blakeoestriecher/files/2017/08/Screenshot-2017-08-09-at-9.18.50-AM.jpg?width=960
Credit: WWE.com

After Rousey's appearance alongside The Rock at WrestleMania 31 in 2015, WWE.com even pondered whether or not Stephanie McMahon would be willing to sign Rousey, something McMahon told TMZ last November that she certainly wants to do, even indicating that she'd like to see Rousey headline a WrestleMania once her UFC career was over.

And all indications are that Rousey is done in MMA.

MMA & WWE (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?49901-Mma-amp-wwe) & Ronda Rousey (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?63565-Ronda-Rousey)

SteveLau
08-19-2017, 08:49 PM
You cannot have one foot in the fight business and the other foot in Hollywood. Each pursuit alone requires tons of talent, hard work and commitment. One or the other (or both) will suffer. Most of the time it's the fighting that suffers.


Well, I have got enough info of Ronda to say that she is not a very good fighter both in her skill and ethnics. A good fellow will not post semi-nude photo for promotion. Also, her public fight results vary a lot. Sigh ...



Regards,

KC
Hong Kong

Jimbo
08-21-2017, 09:06 AM
Well, I have got enough info of Ronda to say that she is not a very good fighter both in her skill and ethnics. A good fellow will not post semi-nude photo for promotion. Also, her public fight results vary a lot. Sigh ...



Regards,

KC
Hong Kong

Ronda may not be a good standup fighter, but to say she isn't a good fighter in her skill is a bit much. Her judo is excellent, and she defeated very good fighters during her winning streak, including Miesha Tate (twice), Kat Zingano and others. And she lost to very good fighters. ANYONE who fights competitively, whether amateur or pro, will lose sooner or later if they're in it long enough. For Ronda, her streak was meteoric and ended pretty quickly. People change, and sports (and other athletes) evolve very quickly. Whoever once seemed unbeatable gets figured out and becomes beatable.

As for her posing semi-nude, to judge a person's entire morality based on that is also a bit much. She may not come across as the most friendly person in the world 100% of the time (who does?), but neither does she come across as a sociopath, or an evil person. Personally, her semi-nude photos are not my type, but maybe she was doing it to make a stand against body-shaming, which is an issue in our society.

Personality-wise, I would guess from what I've seen and read of her (and I could be wrong, but I doubt it), she comes across as more honest and FAR LESS disingenuous or deceptive than many of the kung fu people I've seen or met. Maybe she lacks a filter and is TOO honest sometimes, which can put people off. But she (like all of us) is still growing as a person. And if we're truly being honest with ourselves, we've ALL said things and acted (and occasionally still do) in ways that we wouldn't be proud of. As long as such behaviors aren't sociopathic and haven't harmed anybody else physically, financially or otherwise, should they be held against a person for the rest of his/her life?

GeneChing
08-29-2017, 09:13 AM
While we were all watching MacMay (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?70318-McGregor-vs-Mayweather-August-26), this happened.


Ronda Rousey weds UFC fighter Travis Browne, but where are the details? (http://www.sportingnews.com/mma/news/ronda-rousey-wedding-marriage-weds-ufc-fighter-travis-browne-hawaii-where-are-details/mvy7icv359br1u4u6s8fwv1eu)
August 28, 2017 11:15pm EDT August 27, 2017 12:52pm EDT Rousey and Browne became engaged in April and reportedly had their wedding on same day as Mayweather-McGregor fight.
http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/sporting_news/83/5a/ronda-rousey_1kk7fl4vmz9xe1hdqw3a1scrxj.jpg?t=609943094&w=960&quality=70
(Getty Images)
Sporting News
Published on Aug. 27, 2017 | Updated on Aug. 28, 2017

Does anyone else find it intriguing that in the age of social media, half a day/ nearly a whole day / nearly a day and a half has gone by without any details of the reported Ronda Rousey-Travis Browne wedding being revealed?

What we do know is that UFC president Dana White announced the wedding on the Rich Eisen show Friday.

"Ronda Rousey gets married tomorrow. Tomorrow is her wedding," White said on the show. "And she's in a good place; she's really happy, and she hasn't announced her retirement or anything like that. She's focusing on this wedding."

Rousey announced her engagement to Browne on her Instagram account in April and their wedding was scheduled in Hawaii on the same day as the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor bout. Browne is originally from Honolulu.


https://instagram.fsnc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/t51.2885-15/e35/18014014_1658195351156742_5658050183284391936_n.jp g
rondarousey (https://www.instagram.com/p/BTMtEBXBYf-/)
Verified
Following
💍😍❤️ @travisbrownemma
Like
Comment
157,783 likes
rondarousey💍😍❤️ @travisbrownemma

Browne is the 13th ranked heavy weight fighter in the UFC and currently holds an 18-7-1 all-time record.

Rousey became a UFC champion in 2012 and tallied six consecutive title defenses. She was defeated in the 135-pound championship bout by Holy Holm, who knocked Rousey out with a kick to the head. Over a year later, Rousey faced Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 and was also knocked out. The losses were the only two of Rousey’s career.

Rousey said during an interview on "Live with Kelly & Ryan" that Browne proposed to her in New Zealand. She also discussed some details about their wedding plans

“We’re going to do a backyard Mexican Corona party, but in Hawaii,” Rousey said during the interview.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTBxYaIFQNs

Rousey and Browne would join a list of other sports stars who tied the knot recently. On June 30, Lionel Messi married long-term partner Antonella Roccuzzo. Back on New Year's Eve, Dale Earnhardt Jr. married Amy Reimann. On July 29, golfer Sergio Garcia married Angela Akins in her homestate of Texas. The reception featured a special appearance from musician Kenny G. On Aug. 1, Dallas Mavericks star Harrison Barnes married Brittany Johnson in Rhode Island. The two were accompanied by a variety of guests including former-teammate Steph Curry and Cavs/Celtics star Kyrie Irving.

On July 8, Washington Capitals superstar and captain Alex Ovechkin married Nastya Shubskaya in Moscow. The ceremony featured numerous NHL peers including St. Louis Blues forward Vladamir Tarasenko and teammate Evgeny Kuznetsov. On Aug. 5, Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson married Melinda Currey in a private ceremony in Ottawa.

We'll keep searching for Rousey-Browne details and update in this space as more information becomes available. Or, as is the more normal fare, you'll find out on social media.

Well shoot. At least Gina (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?55433-Gina-in-ESPN-Magazine) is still available. ;)

GeneChing
09-14-2017, 01:12 PM
Okay, I'm new to this whole Four Horsewomen thing, but I'm thinking an 8-woman cage match. Think they like nacho sauce? Asking for a friend.


Ronda Rousey On How The 'Four Horsewomen' Name Was Created And What's Next For Her (http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2017/0913/632105/ronda-rousey-on-how-they-created-the-four-horsewomen-name-and/)
By Doric Sam | September 13, 2017


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkXKYnOvFuo

Source: ESPN

Ronda Rousey has been present for the Mae Young Classic to support her good friend and "stablemate" Shayna Baszler, who lost in the finals Tuesday night to Kairi Sane. After the match, Rousey spoke to ESPN about Baszler's performance and how the famed "Four Horsewomen" formed.

Along with Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir, Rousey and Baszler dubbed themselves the "Four Horsewomen" as a way to pay homage to the legendary Four Horsemen. They even received a blessing from Ric Flair to use the name. Rousey revealed to ESPN that it actually wasn't them who came up with the name, but rather the fans who bestowed it upon them.

"We were all sitting on the couch and some fans were asking for the picture, to recreate the iconic Four Horsemen picture," Rousey explained. "We were like, 'What do we have around the house? We got two belts, we got a medal, we got a machete. We can do this!' We didn't know at that moment that it would turn into something. It wasn't something we named ourselves, it was a name the fans gave to us and we're very grateful for it."

Rousey has been relatively outside of the public eye since her loss to Amanda Nunes in December at UFC 207. When asked what's next for her, Rousey preferred to keep the spotlight on her friend.

"I don't want to come to Shayna's event on Shayna's night and sit here talk about myself," she said. "I want to keep tonight all about her. Go Shayna Baszler!"


WWE (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?49901-Mma-amp-wwe) & Ronda (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?63565-Ronda-Rousey)

GeneChing
12-07-2017, 10:21 AM
Honestly, I'd go see a WWE event live if I had a chance to meet Ronda.


DEC 7, 2017 @ 12:00 AM 3,224 The Little Black Book of Billionaire Secrets
Ronda Rousey Reportedly Set To Finalize Contract With The WWE (https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianmazique/2017/12/07/ronda-rousey-reportedly-set-to-finalize-contract-with-the-wwe/#7774774532bb)
Brian Mazique , CONTRIBUTOR
Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

The details haven't been revealed, but one of the worst-kept secrets in MMA and professional wrestling seems to be moving closer to a complete reveal.

https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/dam/imageserve/846238382/960x0.jpg?fit=scale
LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 12: (L-R) WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon, MMA fighter Ronda Rousey and WWE Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events and Creative Paul 'Triple H' Levesque appear on the red carpet of the WWE Mae Young Classic on September 12, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for WWE)

Per USA Today, former UFC women's bantamweight champion and mixed martial arts pioneer Ronda Rousey is reportedly close to finalizing a deal to fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a WWE superstar. Rousey has teased a career with the WWE and even appeared at WrestleMania, but Wednesday's story looks like the most definitive information on an official career change.

UFC President Dana White recently talked down a potential return to the Octagon and seemed more in favor of Rousey pursuing other endeavors outside of the promotion. It's easy to imagine one of those options might include a career in the WWE.

It seems doubtful Rousey would ever become a full-time WWE wrestler. The schedule required is a rigorous one that wouldn't allow her to do the movies and TV appearances she has made in recent years.

A part-time schedule similar to the one Brock Lesnar enjoys seems much more realistic. The WWE already planted a seed for a future feud between Rousey and Charlotte Flair. It's likely this will be the angle Rousey works once she actually makes her debut on WWE television.

MMA & WWE (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?49901-Mma-amp-wwe) & Ronda Rousey (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?63565-Ronda-Rousey)

GeneChing
01-17-2018, 08:54 AM
I'm actually more likely to find a pay-per-view to watch this than I would to watch a UFC bout. Is that wrong? :o:D:p


http://givemesport.azureedge.net/images/18/01/16/a058426a87a11a8ccb042bb60efe00f4/960.jpg
Ronda Rousey.

by Jon Fuentes SENIOR WRITER
Ronda Rousey and WWE seem to have reached a deal (http://www.givemesport.com/1237552-ronda-rousey-and-wwe-seem-to-have-reached-a-deal)
Published 20 hours ago

It looks like the WWE and Ronda Rousey have finally agreed to a deal that will bring the former UFC women's bantamweight champion to the world of professional wrestling.

The former UFC star was one of the most dominant names in mixed martial arts (MMA) for several years as she went undefeated inside the cage. After dominating the female 135-pound division for so long, however, she met her match against Holly Holm back in November of 2015.

Holm defeated Rousey for the first time in her fighting career via second round knockout with a head-kick to the neck. After a year Rousey returned to the Octagon only to suffer another knockout loss, this time to Amanda Nunes just 48 seconds into the first round.

After the fight Rousey has yet to make an official announcement on her future as a fighter, however, it's expected that we've seen the last of her inside the Octagon.

Now Rousey seems primed for a career in professional wrestling, and has been rumored to be in negotiations with WWE for some time now.

WWE teased a partnership with Rousey at the Mae Young Classic when she was confronted by The Four Horsewomen of wrestling.

It was also rumored that she has been training for her in-ring debut with former WWE Cruiserweight Champion Brian Kendrick.

Last week TMZ caught Triple H, Rousey, and her agent having dinner at a top of the line LA restaurant, possibly discussing business.

It seems that business negotiation has concluded, as a report from PWStream claims a deal between Rousey and the WWE has been completed.

PWStream notes that it's unlikely we see Rousey at the Royal Rumble, unless they're desperate for mainstream attention, but she'll likely be at WrestleMania 34:

It should be interesting to see who WWE pairs Rousey up with for her in-ring debut with the company at WrestleMania

MMA & WWE (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?49901-Mma-amp-wwe) & Ronda Rousey (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?63565-Ronda-Rousey)

Jimbo
01-31-2018, 08:58 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV_L2uVbqFw&sns=em

We'll see how this turns out. Right now, Asuka arguably is the most hard-core wrestler in WWE's women's division. They've had Asuka go literally undefeated for all 2.5 years she's been with the company so far. I predict that WWE will make Ronda the first woman to beat Asuka, as long as she can deliver convincingly in the WWE ring.

Pro wrestling is known to cause more physical injuries and chronic pain than pro MMA fighting. Plus, they're performing all the time.

GeneChing
02-01-2018, 11:14 AM
Pro wrestling is known to cause more physical injuries and chronic pain than pro MMA fighting. Plus, they're performing all the time. Pro wrestling falls under 'entertainment' so it's not bound by the same regulations that any large sport must abide. This includes mandatory time off after concussions or similar injuries and drug testing.

GeneChing
03-07-2018, 10:22 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYiP1vYD4R8


MMA & WWE (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?49901-Mma-amp-wwe) & Ronda Rousey (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?63565-Ronda-Rousey)

Jimbo
03-07-2018, 11:56 AM
The latest...



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hinD4rj7l_k&sns=em

GeneChing
03-27-2018, 02:41 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVuzDN95L3k

MMA & WWE (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?49901-Mma-amp-wwe) & Ronda Rousey (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?63565-Ronda-Rousey)

GeneChing
04-03-2018, 10:29 AM
I gotta say - I'm lovin this. :D

I'm launching a new thread - WrestleMania 43 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?70750-WrestleMania-34-SATURDAY-APRIL-7-ERNEST-N-MORIAL-CONVENTION-CENTER) - in honor of this historic event. I'll copy the relevant threads from above.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBTV5ekQwWw

MMA & WWE (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?49901-Mma-amp-wwe) & Ronda Rousey (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?63565-Ronda-Rousey)

Jimbo
04-09-2018, 08:43 AM
From last night. The picture is 'backwards'. Glad to see that Ronda did very well, indeed.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R83ZCw-ra_4&sns=em

GeneChing
04-12-2018, 09:16 AM
4/10/2018 9:13 AM PDT
Ronda Rousey Wrecked After WrestleMania, 'Haven't Slept In 2 Days!'
EXCLUSIVE

RONDA DROWSY TMZSports.com

Ronda Rousey gave everything she had in her impressive WrestleMania debut -- and now, she's so wiped out, she can barely stand up straight.

The WWE superstar arrived to LAX early Tuesday morning -- where our photog was heaping praise for her insanely athletic and dominant performance against Steph McMahon and Triple H.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aan7Vtcco0

Of course, Ronda also killed it on 'RAW' on Monday night -- putting Steph in another armbar. Two great performances, two nights in a row.

"I tried my best," Ronda told us while noting she hasn't slept in 2 days.

"I don't even know my last name right now, I think."

Get some rest, Ronda ... you deserve it.
Ronda Drowsy - good one TMZ :p

booster
06-15-2018, 05:32 AM
She is doing better in Wrestling compared to MMA. Cheers.

GeneChing
06-18-2018, 03:05 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYepdZgXJvs

Jimbo
06-19-2018, 07:34 AM
https://youtu.be/XHZFDexqsH8

Still not embedding for me? Oh, well...

GeneChing
07-06-2018, 09:23 AM
Ronda Rousey Becomes the First Woman Inducted Into the UFC Hall of Fame (https://www.menshealth.com/trending-news/a22070901/ronda-rousey-ufc-hall-of-fame/)
"May I be the first of many."
BY JORDYN TAYLOR
JUL 6, 2018

https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/gettyimages-992529568-1530889606.jpg?crop=0.917xw:0.954xh;0.0833xw,0&resize=980:*
GETTY IMAGES
BRANDON MAGNUS/ZUFFA LLC
"Never say 'never,'" Ronda Rousey wrote in a celebratory Instagram post.

The former bantamweight champion made history on Thursday as the first woman inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DhZgrOZX0AAOPKF.jpg
View image on Twitter (https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1015105076380164101/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwte rm%5E1015105076380164101&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.menshealth.com%2Ftrendin g-news%2Fa22070901%2Fronda-rousey-ufc-hall-of-fame%2F)

UFC

@ufc
Immortalized. #UFCHoF

10:28 PM - Jul 5, 2018
4,753
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"I am not the first person who had the ability to do this, but I am here because I am the first person you took the time to watch," Rousey said during her induction speech, according to ESPN. "That you put the energy into supporting. Because of you, I am the first woman standing up here accepting this incredible honor. May I be the first of many."

Rousey's career is a collection of firsts, really. In 2008, she became the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in judo, taking home the bronze at the Beijing Games. In 2012, she became the first female fighter to sign with the UFC, and shortly after became the company's first female champion. She went on to hold the bantamweight belt from 2012 to 2015. In January, Rousey signed a full-time contract with WWE.

While introducing Rousey, UFC President Dana White, who once said women would never fight in the UFC, explained how Rousey helped evolve his way of thinking.

"In my almost 18 years as UFC president, I've learned many valuable lessons," White said, according to ESPN. "And the one that comes to mind tonight is never say never, especially when you're talking to UFC. In my defense, when I famously said women would never fight in the UFC, I had never met Ronda Rousey. I had never met the woman who would change everything. She started by changing my mind and she ended up changing the world."

In a follow-up Instagram post, Rousey thanked her many supporters.

"I had so many more to thank than I could have used the time I had the stage for," she wrote. "Everyone I know personally, I can thank in person ... last night was for YOU. Thank YOU for watching and letting the adventures of this Venetian judoka with a bad reputation change the world."


rondarousey's profile picture
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rondarouseyI had so many more to thank than I could have used the time I had the stage for. Everyone I know personally, I can thank in person ... last night was for YOU. Thank YOU for watching and letting the adventures of this Venetian judoka with a bad reputation change the world🙏🏼❤️


It's about time.

GeneChing
07-16-2018, 10:30 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJQXthr_4F8

GeneChing
07-25-2018, 02:56 PM
CRIS CYBORG
I'D FIGHT RONDA ROUSEY IN WWE (http://www.tmz.com/2018/07/24/cris-cyborg-fight-ronda-rousey-wwe/)
7/24/2018 12:10 AM PDT
Cris Cyborg Says She's Open To Fighting Ronda Rousey In WWE
EXCLUSIVE

GIVE 'EM WHAT THEY WANT
TMZSports.com
Ronda Rousey vs. Cris "Cyborg" Justino -- the super fight that never happened -- could still be a possibility ... just not in the UFC.

TMZ Sports talked to Cyborg at the airport in L.A. on Sunday ... and asked her about the possibility of finally facing her rival after years of trash talk ... and battling Ronda in the WWE.

"Some fans ask me, 'Cris, do you like to make a fight with Ronda Rousey in WWE?'" Cyborg tells us, "I say 'Maybe, ya don't know. Maybe.' It's not something I plan. But if fans would like to watch, I need to train for that, but, ya know, it's gonna be great."

Cyborg was actually complimentary of Ronda ... telling us she's seen Rousey do her thing in the WWE ... and thinks she's kickin' ass in the squared circle.

"I watch a couple things Ronda's doing there, and I think she's doing great."

Justino also breaks down her plans to box in the future ... and explains why Conor McGregor is a trailblazer.

THREADS:
Christiane "Cyborg" Justino (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?62823-Christiane-quot-Cyborg-quot-Justino)
Ronda Rousey (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?63565-Ronda-Rousey)

GeneChing
08-01-2018, 10:20 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ChGSYk911s

GeneChing
09-07-2018, 02:05 PM
Rousey may well be the smartest MMA champion of them all by parlaying her UFC loss into a WWE win.


Ronda Rousey can follow WWE script to a winning legacy in the ring (https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2018/08/20/ronda-rousey-wwe-new-legacy-ring/1043895002/)
Martin Rogers, USA TODAY Published 3:20 p.m. ET Aug. 20, 2018 | Updated 3:21 p.m. ET Aug. 20, 2018

https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2018/08/20/USAT/8127d116-2adf-4c22-a87e-f4236e0a3b0e-GTY_1014208022.JPG?width=534&height=712&fit=bounds&auto=webp
(Photo: Getty Images)

In case you missed it, Ronda Rousey was back with a championship belt around her waist last weekend. She defeated an outmatched opponent, laid down a signature move, took in the acclaim of the crowd and was the biggest story line to come out of a major pay-per-view.

Less than two years since her final, devastating defeat inside the Ultimate Fighting Championship octagon, Rousey has had her career rewritten for her in World Wrestling Entertainment, a scripted universe that protects her against all the unpredictability of mixed martial arts.

Don’t laugh now, but Rousey might have the most enviable position in sports.

The 31-year-old, who won the WWE Raw women’s title by “defeating” Alexa Bliss at SummerSlam on Sunday, still has pretty much everything she gained by changing the face of the UFC in a dominant run from early 2013 to the end of 2016.

She has a lucrative contract, gets to compete in front of packed audiences, is a household name, has continued her movie career (''Mile 22,'' her latest film, opened this weekend) and is able to showcase the athleticism that took her to an Olympic judo medal.

All that, without any of the downside, like getting punched and kicked and knocked out, like she was first by Holly Holm and then Amanda Nunes, to bring down the curtain on an extraordinary chapter in MMA’s evolution.

The WWE knows all about the power of name recognition and you can expect Rousey to enjoy a long run as champion. If she does lose, at least she’ll know all about it well in advance.

It wasn’t so long ago that Rousey was a figure of pity. She looked timid and tortured against the hungry and ferocious Nunes – who remains the UFC women’s bantamweight champ - in a 48-second, one-sided beatdown in Las Vegas in December 2016.

https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2018/08/20/USAT/41a24472-2eaa-4c41-8967-c79f3b10aeed-XXX_IMG_ENG_20161230_GAV_SU5_2_1_67GU0MJJ.JPG?widt h=540&height=405&fit=bounds&auto=webp
Amanda Nunes lands a punch during her 48-second beatdown of Ronda Rousey in December 2016. (Photo: Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)

She clearly was struggling with the pressure of her notoriety, not only shunning all interviews but rarely venturing out in public. It seemed to be the classic tale of a fallen star who couldn’t handle the spotlight, and the defeat solidified that sentiment.

With plenty of money in the bank it seemed then she might fade into obscurity. Instead, in the WWE she gets to rewrite her legacy – actually, scratch that - she gets to have her legacy rewritten by a Hollywood-worthy team of script writers.

Rousey’s life made for a pretty good film script in any case. She was unable to talk as a young child, lost her father to suicide, overcame bullying, won an Olympic medal, battled depression and somehow emerged from it all to transform fighting sports.

She loved to win, but it meant so much that losing crushed her soul.

The WWE is a perfect fit. Pro wrestling, or “sports entertainment,” still is derided by some. Rousey always has had admiration and respect for it, having loved Hulk Hogan as a kid and even borrowing her nickname of “Rowdy” from former wrestler Roddy Piper.

She will never be back in the UFC, unless desperate financial problems necessitate it, and there seems little chance of that happening. Rousey and husband Travis Browne live a simple existence based on sustainable living, meaning there’s no reason the money shouldn’t just pile up.

There’s little fun to be had back in the octagon. When Rousey started she was facing women who were training part-time while holding down jobs as waitresses and office workers. Now there is a huge stable of full-time athletes training constantly, some with ferocious desire and vicious striking power, like Nunes.

Modern sports is in a strange place and the lines between fantasy and promotional narrative never have been more blurred.

On Oct. 6, the biggest UFC card of the year will take place in Vegas, with Conor McGregor challenging Khabib Nurmagomedov for the lightweight belt. McGregor is the UFC’s biggest star, having assumed that mantle from Rousey. But on the same night, three times as many people will be on hand to watch Rousey headline a show called WWE Super Show-Down. The viewing numbers will be far different, as will the way the events are handled by the mainstream media, yet it is easy to see how Rousey has had little trouble in convincing herself that what she’s doing now is just as significant as her previous incarnation.

The WWE event will be at a massive outdoor cricket stadium in Melbourne, Australia, just three miles from where her UFC title was lost against Holm in a stunning upset, and 16 hours before McGregor returns from his own UFC exile.

It is a remarkable twist in an ongoing tale, and such a coincidence that it could have been scripted, like much of Rousey’s legacy now is.

Follow Rogers on Twitter @RogersJourno



MMA & WWE (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?49901-Mma-amp-wwe) & Ronda Rousey (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?63565-Ronda-Rousey)

Jimbo
09-13-2018, 09:07 AM
The writer of that article is pretty naive if he thinks there are no downsides (..."like getting punched and kicked and knocked out") to "scripted" pro wrestling. Unlike MMA fighting, there is no downtime in WWE, at least for the performers who receive top billing, like Ronda is. They can't just perform a few times a year; they have to be ready to perform every single week, and often multiple times a week. And the ones in hard rotation are always injured and in pain to some degree. Check out the list of pro wrestlers who have died young; it's pretty eye-opening. There's a lot of addiction to pain killers so they can continue to perform injured. Many also have CTE, just like many football players and pro fighters. In pro wrestling, the fights may be fake and the outcomes predetermined, but the injuries and the wear and tear on the body are very real.

I seem to recall years ago, Ken Shamrock, after his stint in WWF/WWE, saying he was leaving pro wrestling and going back to MMA because the latter was less dangerous.

OTOH, I think Ronda made a wise career choice. Because of her hype coming into WWE and her position on the women's roster, it's a sure thing she's making TONS more money than she could have dreamed of making in UFC. As long as she's not taking any steel chair shots (women rarely do, if ever), or is able to avoid any severe injuries, she could also have better longevity in WWE than she could have had as an MMA fighter. Ronda is also very fortunate that she has a persona and charisma that she's able to project to live audiences, and that she can parlay into an acting career. Not everybody has that ability or even the potential for it. So if any MMA fighters and fans are critical of her decision, Ronda can laugh at them all the way to the bank.

slink
03-17-2019, 10:49 AM
Hope her book does well.
haha she is funny. Tinder is full of fake profiles. I think you should have joined this asian dating site (https://www.romancescams.org/mail-order-brides/asia-charm-review/).

GeneChing
08-02-2019, 11:26 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbNkOwjmeL0

THREADS
Tables (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?71414-Tables)
Ronda Rousey (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?63565-Ronda-Rousey)

GeneChing
01-31-2020, 09:41 AM
Can't say I blame her. I mean, after you've starred in epics like Tables above, and Charlie's Angels (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=1523), why bother with the octogon?


Ronda Rousey says fighting in UFC is no longer a priority, calls herself the greatest of all time (https://sports.yahoo.com/ronda-rousey-says-fighting-in-uf-cis-not-a-priority-calls-herself-the-greatest-of-all-time-211908476.html)
Chris Cwik Yahoo Sports Jan 30, 2020, 1:19 PM

https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/_1FKXqgS0U5y8vorGxLvNA--~A/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjtzbT0xO3c9ODAw/https://media-mbst-pub-ue1.s3.amazonaws.com/creatr-images/2020-01/e71c76f0-4392-11ea-babc-1a5f5dfe25d6
Ronda Rousey says she's the greatest to ever do it. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Ronda Rousey isn’t motivated to return to UFC any time soon. In a wide-ranging video on her YouTube channel, Rousey talked about fighting no longer being “a priority in my life.”

Rousey, 32, also claimed she’s the GOAT of women’s MMA.

Rousey talks about her desire to return to fighting around the 14:40 mark.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHQdK0U9ia0

After talking about being sad watching older fighters still get into the cage, Rousey reflects on her priorities and legacy in the mixed martial arts.


“There’s not a day that goes by that people aren’t telling me to fight. And I have to kind of think of it as, would I rather be the greatest of all time or have everybody think I’m the greatest of all time. And it used to be so important for me to have both. But now it’s gotten to the point where I don’t want to sacrifice myself and my family to prove that anymore to a bunch of people who don’t give a s--- about me.”

Because of that, Rousey says fighting is “no longer a priority in my life.”

She later expands on her thoughts about being the GOAT.

“It was actually my husband who taught me I’m so much more than just a fighter. I don’t have to fight myself into the ground to prove that I’m the greatest of all time when I already know that I am.”

Opinions will vary on whether that’s actually the case. Over her first 12 matches, Rousey was undoubtedly one of the best — if not the best — to ever do it. Losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes in Rousey’s final two fights, however, hurt her legacy.

No matter where you fall in that debate, there’s no doubt Rousey played a pivotal role in putting women’s mixed martial arts on the map. People took a much larger interest in the sport because of her.

Whether that’s enough to make Rousey the greatest of all time is up for debate. At the very least, she’s in the conversation.

GeneChing
09-01-2023, 09:29 AM
https://www.lowkickmma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Collage-Maker-27-Aug-2023-05-45-PM-3896-1068x559.jpg.webp
‘Rowdy’ Ronda Rousey reportedly ready to leave WWE behind for return to the Octagon at UFC 300 (https://www.lowkickmma.com/ronda-rousey-leave-wwe-return-to-ufc/)
By Craig Pekios - Aug 27, 2023

Ronda Rousey may be ready to pack away her wrestling boots and once again strap on the four-ounce gloves for a return to the Octagon in 2024.

After years away from the MMA game, ‘Rowdy’ may be looking for a comeback as the UFC closes in on its 300th event next year. That is according to an anonymous source close to the current WWE Superstar. In an interview with DailyMail, the source claims that Rousey is looking to finish up her commitments with the sports entertainment behemoth and is strongly considering a UFC return.

“She just had a match at Summerslam and is looking to wind down her time and commitments with the WWE and she is now focusing on potentially making a run to have one last fight in the UFC and compete at UFC 300 when that presents itself sometime next year,” the source said.

They also added that Ronda Rousey is “at a current crossroads in her life and career as she is looking to see what she might want to do next.

Ronda Rousey Reportedly Ready to Add Another Addition to Her Family

Ronda Rousey has not competed inside the Octagon since suffering back-to-back knockout losses against Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes. Prior to that, ‘Rowdy’ won 12 straight, all by way of finish with 11 coming in the opening round. After her first-round loss to the ‘Lioness’ at UFC 207, Rousey walked away from the sport and ultimately signed with WWE shortly after.

In 2021, Ronda Rousey gave birth to her first child, La’akea Makalapuaokalanipō Browne, with husband and former UFC standout Travis Browne. Anyone who follows her on social media knows how important being a mom is to the former bantamweight world champion. So much so that she is reportedly interested in adding another bundle of joy to her household.

“She really wants to do it all [career-wise], but in the next few months don’t be caught off guard that she is having another kid because that is something she feels is one of the most important things to happen for her again,” the source added.

Dana White recently debunked Ronda Rousey’s rumored return for UFC 300 next year, but it wouldn’t be the first time the UFC President has flat-out lied to protect some of the promotion’s impending surprises. And with Amanda Nunes no longer terrorizing the bantamweight division, there is no better time for ‘Rowdy’ to step back into the cage.


Craig Pekios
Craig Pekios is a freelance writer born and raised in Bettendorf, IA. Joining LowKick MMA in May 2022, Craig has more than 2,500 articles published that focus on the world of mixed martial arts and boxing, including news, event previews, results, analysis, and op-eds. Aside from working with LowKick MMA, Craig has contributed to news outlets Overtime Heroics, Sportskeeda, and MiddleEasy.
I kinda enjoy her WWE fights more than her UFC fights. They are wackier.