So it looks like Meisha Tate for a 3rd time is next, and while Tate has done the best to this point, and she's earned her shot, and there's tons of built in drama. As a fight, it's really not that compelling. Rousey is already 2-0 against her, she's performed better against all common opponents and I think she's improving at a rate higher than Tate. Cyborg is the obvious choice at this point. It's THE fight to make, all the chatter about weight is void at this point. Make it a 140lb catch-weight bout that's not for a belt but more for the title of baddest woman on the planet. There's simply no compelling reason not to do this fight and it's the only fight that could really propel Rousey to even higher heights. Pass the one test that's left out there. After that, in the Bantamweight division there's really only TWO marketable challengers left that aren't rematches with fighters she's already beaten handily. Holly Holm... who's already 33, and outside of some technically competent striking really hasn't shown anything to suggest she can hang with Rousey. Julianna Pena - Probably the only challenger that could pose some problems from Ronda as long as she's improved. She's younger, she has a 1 inch longer reach, she's scrappy and tough and that could be just enough to push Rousey. After that, there's nothing left on the horizon for Rousey...
The matchup is practically irrelevant - if you were asked a year ago if Bethe Correia was a marketable challenger for Ronda, would you have said yes? I wouldn't, yet 190 seems to have been the biggest Rousey fight thus far.
Correia was a terrible opponent. Everyone knew it, they still tuned in to see how fast it would end. I saw a betting line that Rousey was -590 to win inside of 60 seconds... isn't that a complete joke?
Well, we know she is fighting Tate next and then filming Mile 22 with Mark Wahlberg. I am hoping that McMann will work her way back to a rematch by the time Rowdy gets done with the movie. If Jessica Eye goes on another win streak, I could see that fight happening. Julianna Pena comes with a great story line that Rowdy would capatilize on to sell that fight. So I hope she can work her way up. Then there is Holly Holm. She does not want to a title fight yet. I hope that changes in the next 12-18 months. There is probably another movie in there somewhere. When Rowdy runs out of fights she can sell, she will probably fight Cyborg and retire.
Which I find to be completely bizarre. From everything I've seen from Rousey and Cyborg... I think Rousey would still be favored pretty strongly. Cyborg can punch, that's the biggest difference between Cyborg and all of Rousey's other opponents, that Cyborg would truly have a punches chance... but the clinch would still be dominated by Rousey. It would make HUGE money, the fans would love it, it would validate everything Rousey has done to this point. WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU NOT MAKE THIS FIGHT!?
On Deck is Tate 3, Holm, and Pena. With Cyborg sitting on the sidelines. That should take us to about mid-2017.
I have it Tate 3, movie break, and Holm followed by retirement, and moving to Hollywood. Cyborg fight never comes close to being signed. Although if Gina Carano offered to come out of retirement and fight Rousey at 145 I'm sure Rousey takes that fight.
Pena is going to give E Honda hell even if she loses. Holly Holm could give E Honda fits but I still favor Rousey. Cyborg still has the best chance though. Hope they fight sometime next year.
