Ronda Rousey had what can only be described as the best-case scenario.
After losing her Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) women’s bantamweight title to Holly Holm in late 2015, the Olympic bronze medalist spent more than a year on the sidelines in a protracted effort to get her head together.
In other words, she took her sweet ol’ time.
That’s the kind of luxuries afforded to a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter collecting a $3 million payday for what was supposed to be five rounds of work. In addition, “Rowdy” negotiated a media blackout into her comeback clause, to avoid any and all pre-fight distractions.
Heck, she was even on weight a week before the bout.
In the end, it didn't make a lick of difference. Reigning women’s 135-pound titleholder Amanda Nunes beat the shit out of her for 48 seconds until veteran referee Herb Dean, mercifully, saved the Pantene pitch woman from taking any further damage.
Dominated.
— ESPN (@espn) December 31, 2016
(Credit: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC) pic.twitter.com/6icPb02Zhg
Have we seen the last of Rousey?
Probably. Even the best fighters slip into a slump and it’s not like falling into an 0-2 hole — especially after jumping out to a 12-0 start — is the kiss of death (it even got this ex-champ another title fight). There are still plenty of compelling match ups available (sample here) and “Rowdy” could easily headline an upcoming UFC on FOX event, or co-headline a major PPV.
After all, shit happens.
But “Rowdy” didn't just look bad in the UFC 207 pay-per-view (PPV) headliner, which took place last Friday night (Dec. 30, 2016) inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, she looked completely lost. Getting bit on the beak by the power-punching “Lioness” can do that to you.
So can aligning yourself with a coach who is completely out of his mind.
Ronda Rousey's coach Edmond Tarverdyan says he would beat Jose Aldo in an MMA fight pic.twitter.com/fjKzMibhGv
— Fury's Fight Picks (@FurysFightPicks) December 31, 2016
The UFC 207 pre-fight promos were a pretty good indication that no lessons were learned in the wake of her loss to “The Preacher’s Daughter,” as every slick shot of Rousey and coach Edmond Tarverdyan featured shadowboxing and gratuitous hyah-hyah-hyah noises.
She’s not, and never will be, the Olympic boxer he wants her to be.
That was apparent after about two seconds of being caged with Nunes. It’s also why Rousey, 29, should ride off into the sunset to make a bunch of movies. If she cannot evolve as a fighter, or at the very least have a Plan B when the shit hits the fan, then there is no reason for her to show up and get shellacked.
Again.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) December 31, 2016