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- Feb 1, 2016
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Preface:
I'm a big Ronda fan, but not an apologist. She really went overboard on Holly for literally no reason, and that was a bad, bad look. She has growing up to do, obviously. We can all agree her hype was overblown as well, and we don't really need retrospect to say that. As for the fight, I knew she would eat shots from Holly without a doubt, but I figured (as did almost everyone here) that Ronda would eventually get inside a punch and take her down, and from there it would be over. As it unfolded I knew I was watching something special, and have all respect for both Holly Holm as a fighter and for the performance she put on that night. It was cinematic.
Now, with that, I want to lay some cliffs notes of what Sturm said on the Ticket. He's a follower of the sport at a level just above casual, but he's a very detail-oriented and obsessive sports analyst. It was interesting for me to hear this take from someone not on an MMA forum and not an MMA fan solely or above all, but still square in the sports broadcasting world.
Bullet points:
~Discussed her ridiculous level of overhype in general, including how Rogan said "once in a lifetime" and all that, and how it was somewhat abrasive.
~Said how she was ahead of her time as a fighter and she bought into it, not helped by the hype behind her.
~Did not cast aspersions on her character as a human. Did not insult her coaches, or her team, or her looks. Mentioned her beauty and charisma as one of the reasons it was easy for Dana White to reverse field on the "no women in the UFC" policy that he had personally said on their show (BADD Radio, noon-3pm in Dallas), and how successful it was for both Ronda and the UFC, even though he personally was not interested in watching women fight.
~Discussed her fall from grace and the shock it caused to her.
~Discussed her appearance on Ellen and the suicide revelation. Said he understood it takes a certain mentality for some to reach the elite levels, but that competitors need to recognize that losing is a part of competing. Referenced Tyson vs Douglas and Tyson's aura being similar before the beating handed out by Douglas. Concluded that he understands being jolted by a loss, but if suicide was a thought after losing, then there exists the possibility that "maybe this is not for you."
~Did not mention her father or mother in any way.
My take:
1- Sturm sounded like a level-headed fight fan with more sense than half of Sherdog's hardcores and more sense than 90% of Sherdog in general.
2- I'll agree the suicidal thoughts jarred me as well. I knew she was a volatile personality, but it shows just how heavy the burden of being the face of the sport and the face of women's sports in general recently is, and how it takes not only a special fighter, but a special mind to bear up under such an unprecedented load (especially in this sport).
Ronda, we can agree, is no Conor. She's not a natural salesperson or hype-generator with stainless steel confidence. She's not incredibly eloquent, and relies on her knuckleheaded spirit and competitiveness to get things going. This suicide revelation proves she's not the mental colossus they sold her as.
I'm a huge fan of hers, and I believe she can come back and actually squash Holly as one-sidedly as Holly did her this time. She has all the skills to quickly take down and submit Holly. However, if she's really mentally damaged by this on a permanent level, I worry about how she would handle a second loss to Holly. I have no worry about any other girl on the roster beating her, but Holly has a particular set of tools that are as dangerous as Ronda's.
I see a rematch right now at about 60% to 40% for Holly to retain, given that Ronda's in a proper fighting mindset on the night. If not, if Ronda's too fired up or too cautious, then it swings to 70-30 and on from there with every landed left cross.
After the fight I declared Ronda would be back. Post-pillow I declared Ronda would be back. Last week I declared Ronda would be back. Today, I just hope she will be back.
War Ronda.
I'm a big Ronda fan, but not an apologist. She really went overboard on Holly for literally no reason, and that was a bad, bad look. She has growing up to do, obviously. We can all agree her hype was overblown as well, and we don't really need retrospect to say that. As for the fight, I knew she would eat shots from Holly without a doubt, but I figured (as did almost everyone here) that Ronda would eventually get inside a punch and take her down, and from there it would be over. As it unfolded I knew I was watching something special, and have all respect for both Holly Holm as a fighter and for the performance she put on that night. It was cinematic.
Now, with that, I want to lay some cliffs notes of what Sturm said on the Ticket. He's a follower of the sport at a level just above casual, but he's a very detail-oriented and obsessive sports analyst. It was interesting for me to hear this take from someone not on an MMA forum and not an MMA fan solely or above all, but still square in the sports broadcasting world.
Bullet points:
~Discussed her ridiculous level of overhype in general, including how Rogan said "once in a lifetime" and all that, and how it was somewhat abrasive.
~Said how she was ahead of her time as a fighter and she bought into it, not helped by the hype behind her.
~Did not cast aspersions on her character as a human. Did not insult her coaches, or her team, or her looks. Mentioned her beauty and charisma as one of the reasons it was easy for Dana White to reverse field on the "no women in the UFC" policy that he had personally said on their show (BADD Radio, noon-3pm in Dallas), and how successful it was for both Ronda and the UFC, even though he personally was not interested in watching women fight.
~Discussed her fall from grace and the shock it caused to her.
~Discussed her appearance on Ellen and the suicide revelation. Said he understood it takes a certain mentality for some to reach the elite levels, but that competitors need to recognize that losing is a part of competing. Referenced Tyson vs Douglas and Tyson's aura being similar before the beating handed out by Douglas. Concluded that he understands being jolted by a loss, but if suicide was a thought after losing, then there exists the possibility that "maybe this is not for you."
~Did not mention her father or mother in any way.
My take:
1- Sturm sounded like a level-headed fight fan with more sense than half of Sherdog's hardcores and more sense than 90% of Sherdog in general.
2- I'll agree the suicidal thoughts jarred me as well. I knew she was a volatile personality, but it shows just how heavy the burden of being the face of the sport and the face of women's sports in general recently is, and how it takes not only a special fighter, but a special mind to bear up under such an unprecedented load (especially in this sport).
Ronda, we can agree, is no Conor. She's not a natural salesperson or hype-generator with stainless steel confidence. She's not incredibly eloquent, and relies on her knuckleheaded spirit and competitiveness to get things going. This suicide revelation proves she's not the mental colossus they sold her as.
I'm a huge fan of hers, and I believe she can come back and actually squash Holly as one-sidedly as Holly did her this time. She has all the skills to quickly take down and submit Holly. However, if she's really mentally damaged by this on a permanent level, I worry about how she would handle a second loss to Holly. I have no worry about any other girl on the roster beating her, but Holly has a particular set of tools that are as dangerous as Ronda's.
I see a rematch right now at about 60% to 40% for Holly to retain, given that Ronda's in a proper fighting mindset on the night. If not, if Ronda's too fired up or too cautious, then it swings to 70-30 and on from there with every landed left cross.
After the fight I declared Ronda would be back. Post-pillow I declared Ronda would be back. Last week I declared Ronda would be back. Today, I just hope she will be back.
War Ronda.
