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http://www.lowkickmma.com/UFC/five-reasons-ronda-rousey-should-have-stayed-retired/
Returning at UFC 207, former women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is putting a lot on the line. Against the much larger Amanda Nunes, ‘Rowdy’ faces a ton of interesting challenges, but perhaps the most poignant will be the battle going on in her own mind. We haven’t seen Rousey compete in the UFC octagon since November of last year, one year ago almost to the day.
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Blasting Rousey with her crisp striking, evading the confused champ’s attacks and grappling attempts, Holm finally put her foe down in the second frame. With her belt yanked away and her invincible aura shattered, Rousey went in to a dark place, and wouldn’t emerge for some time.
Nunes vs. Rousey
Now set for a historic chance to become the first two-time women’s bantamweight champion, Rousey returns to a high pressure, high risk and potentially high reward scenario.
/
Health
There’s absolutely no denying the impact of Holly Holm’s shin on Ronda Rousey’s brain, and not just on the night of UFC 193. A knockout that brutal, heavy and concussive takes months, sometimes longer to get over. This isn’t to say ‘Rowdy’ has not had enough time, but simply that going back to the arena of combat could lead to further complications, should she receive another KO blow.
Also, it wasn’t just one single strike, Holm’s win was a culmination of precise and painful punches throughout their bout. Coming back against another dangerous striker in Nunes could prove to be ill-advised.
Legacy Risk
Although this may not be the most pertinent point on the list, it’s still well worth debating. Ronda Rousey’s career as champion was like few others–she literally creamed the division for years, and set tons of records that will stay in play for a long time, some probably forever. Why risk her already legendary legacy for what could well be her last fight, regardless of the result?
/
Absence
‘Cage rust’ is real, especially if you haven’t spent the entire time off training hard and working to get better. This isn’t to bash Rousey, but she went in to her own mind after losing to Holm, even stating she’d considered suicide. Along side the images of her weight gain, understandable and normal as that is, this combination is not congruent with an athlete who has been keeping trim and focused.
/
Bad Times
After seeing how Ronda Rousey reacted to her first pro loss, there should be serious concern about another one. Depression is real, and if Ronda loses again and falls in to that sorrowful pit, who knows if she’ll ever re-emerge from it.
/
Styles
Styles make fights, and unfortunately for Ronda Rousey, I feel Amanda Nunes has her kryptonite. After seeing how Holly Holm diffused Rousey’s grappling game, it seems obvious that ‘The Lioness’ will emulate those tactics on December 30. I think UFC 207 will show that once a fighter’s puzzle has been solved, it’s very hard to rekindle that unbeatable form.
Nunes is big, strong, a powerful striker and a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. This combination of skills, being a naturally larger fighter, being more active, probably having a mental edge, and the existing troubles in Ronda’s recent past all play a big role.
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Rousey is so done it's not even funny.
No ok. It's still funny. Lioness is going to catch a body on 30/12.
Returning at UFC 207, former women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is putting a lot on the line. Against the much larger Amanda Nunes, ‘Rowdy’ faces a ton of interesting challenges, but perhaps the most poignant will be the battle going on in her own mind. We haven’t seen Rousey compete in the UFC octagon since November of last year, one year ago almost to the day.
/
Blasting Rousey with her crisp striking, evading the confused champ’s attacks and grappling attempts, Holm finally put her foe down in the second frame. With her belt yanked away and her invincible aura shattered, Rousey went in to a dark place, and wouldn’t emerge for some time.
Nunes vs. Rousey
Now set for a historic chance to become the first two-time women’s bantamweight champion, Rousey returns to a high pressure, high risk and potentially high reward scenario.
/
Health
There’s absolutely no denying the impact of Holly Holm’s shin on Ronda Rousey’s brain, and not just on the night of UFC 193. A knockout that brutal, heavy and concussive takes months, sometimes longer to get over. This isn’t to say ‘Rowdy’ has not had enough time, but simply that going back to the arena of combat could lead to further complications, should she receive another KO blow.
Also, it wasn’t just one single strike, Holm’s win was a culmination of precise and painful punches throughout their bout. Coming back against another dangerous striker in Nunes could prove to be ill-advised.
Legacy Risk
Although this may not be the most pertinent point on the list, it’s still well worth debating. Ronda Rousey’s career as champion was like few others–she literally creamed the division for years, and set tons of records that will stay in play for a long time, some probably forever. Why risk her already legendary legacy for what could well be her last fight, regardless of the result?
/
Absence
‘Cage rust’ is real, especially if you haven’t spent the entire time off training hard and working to get better. This isn’t to bash Rousey, but she went in to her own mind after losing to Holm, even stating she’d considered suicide. Along side the images of her weight gain, understandable and normal as that is, this combination is not congruent with an athlete who has been keeping trim and focused.
/
Bad Times
After seeing how Ronda Rousey reacted to her first pro loss, there should be serious concern about another one. Depression is real, and if Ronda loses again and falls in to that sorrowful pit, who knows if she’ll ever re-emerge from it.
/
Styles
Styles make fights, and unfortunately for Ronda Rousey, I feel Amanda Nunes has her kryptonite. After seeing how Holly Holm diffused Rousey’s grappling game, it seems obvious that ‘The Lioness’ will emulate those tactics on December 30. I think UFC 207 will show that once a fighter’s puzzle has been solved, it’s very hard to rekindle that unbeatable form.
Nunes is big, strong, a powerful striker and a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. This combination of skills, being a naturally larger fighter, being more active, probably having a mental edge, and the existing troubles in Ronda’s recent past all play a big role.
///
Rousey is so done it's not even funny.
No ok. It's still funny. Lioness is going to catch a body on 30/12.
