On one hand if you take away Rousey's only loss, she should be highly favored based on her first round finishes and her pedigree as a grappler. This should be Rousey's fight to lose based on her experience and her history of dominance by taking opponents to the ground and performing the arm bar when they know its coming.
But the way she lost, and how she responded to it for over a year cannot be ignored either. Her anxiety attack at UFC 205 was very telling that mentally she is wreck it feels like, and also because she can't bring herself to interact with media. She NEVER has had that problem before which tells me she simply can't handle it or she wouldn't make it to Fight Night.
Really tough fight to call for me because there is so much to consider. I think the first take down attempt will determine just about everything. If Rousey's attempt gets stuffed right away with ease, then I think that she'll fall apart mentally, because that means she's getting hit in the face for sure shortly after that. If Rousey can put her against the cage for like two minutes and fails for the TD, then there is some success in that where she can strategize to "wall and stall" and tie up Nunes perhaps to eventually drain her conditioning. Rousey has never had cardio problems. If Rousey gets her on the ground and on her back at any point, Rousey's confidence will grow tremendously and Nunes's chances will drop big time.
Anyone else??
But the way she lost, and how she responded to it for over a year cannot be ignored either. Her anxiety attack at UFC 205 was very telling that mentally she is wreck it feels like, and also because she can't bring herself to interact with media. She NEVER has had that problem before which tells me she simply can't handle it or she wouldn't make it to Fight Night.
Really tough fight to call for me because there is so much to consider. I think the first take down attempt will determine just about everything. If Rousey's attempt gets stuffed right away with ease, then I think that she'll fall apart mentally, because that means she's getting hit in the face for sure shortly after that. If Rousey can put her against the cage for like two minutes and fails for the TD, then there is some success in that where she can strategize to "wall and stall" and tie up Nunes perhaps to eventually drain her conditioning. Rousey has never had cardio problems. If Rousey gets her on the ground and on her back at any point, Rousey's confidence will grow tremendously and Nunes's chances will drop big time.
Anyone else??
