Before Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche share the Octagon at UFC 157 just a few short hours from now at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., the two bantamweight championship competitors were forced to endure one final formality:
For mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters, the weigh-ins are the last time they will see stand face-to-face (see the staredown pic here) with their opponent before sharing the Octagon. Some fighters are casual when stepping on the scale, others use the moment as one final opportunity to try and intimidate their opponent.
Just moments after successfully making weight, Rousey and Carmouche appeared on the FUEL TV weigh-in show to share some finals thoughts on their historic bantamweight championship with correspondent Ariel Helwani less than 24-hours away from UFC 157.
First, the champion talked about her thoughts as she stepped on a UFC scale for the first time, her comments about not wanting to hold the belt before she won at UFC 157, the pressure of being in the first female UFC fight and if she will attempt to win with something other than an arm bar.
On what was going through her mind at weigh-in:
"Well, pretty much all the work's done. The weight cut's done, the press after this is done and the only thing on my mind right now is the fight so I'm in fight mode and that does not require many smiles."On not wanting to hold the title at the press conference:
"It was the same thing with Strikeforce, I just don't like holding the belt beforehand, I don't like feeling like I somehow have an advantage walking in there because we start at zero. It doesn't matter what they call me walking in, once they close the door we're the same and so I don't like holding the belt until after I win it, and last time Ryan the PR dude tried to hand it to me and I can glare at him and make him go away, but Dana's like, ‘Hold it!' and I'm like, ‘Aw, man. I can't say no to the big boss, so I'll hold it if he tells me to.'"On if she feels pressure to represent all women as the first UFC female fight:
"The only real pressure I feel is the pressure I put on myself to win. It's my own safety at hand, and if it effects other people whatever I'll do it, but I do this for myself."On if she will try to win with something other than an armbar:
"I'm going to try and win with whatever works. If it's quick and efficient than that's what I want to go for. I don't feel the need to go out of my way for other people's criticism. There's always going to be criticism no matter what I do."
The challenger also spoke on the FUEL TV weigh-in broadcast, telling Ariel Helwani about the experience of being in the first-ever women's UFC fight, the critics who doubt her, what holes she sees in Rousey's game and how she envisions winning the fight.
On how much fun she is having going into her UFC debut:
"I'm having a blast because of the people, meeting new faces, I'm always having fun."On what she says about people saying she's just happy to fight Rousey:
"I'm absolutely focused, that's part of why I've been smiling so much. I can be in my head thinking whatever I want without actually vocally saying it."On if she sees any holes in Rousey's game:
"I see it and we should be seeing on Saturday."On how she will win:
"You know, I see it every way. TKO, knockout, decision, submission, you name it, it's there."On if she has been able to enjoy the historic moment:
"No, I really haven't and it won't be until after the fight when I really have a chance to sit down and really take everything into account and see what occurred and where I've gone so far."
Only one more sleep until showtime, Maniacs!
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