This post is a blast from the past that serves as a reminder of my time as a Featured Contributor for Yahoo! Sports. Thank you to Roy Harting, from JudoTalk, for preserving this on his website.
By Cheryl Ragsdale, a Yahoo! contributor.
- Reposted by Roy Harting “FIGHT ON” on November 22, 2011 at 3:30pm
After watching Rowdy Ronda Rousey slap an arm lock on Julia Budd, another 145 lb. Strikeforce fighter, in less than a minute of the first round, someone tweeted, “I don’t want my arms anywhere near that woman”.
That makes four first round arm locks in less than a minute for dynamic and deadly, Rowdy Ronda. Watch how Ronda sets up the arm lock in her Strikeforce fight with Julia Budd in the video below.
Bas Rutten gave Ronda a new nickname, “The Arm Collector“
On the Monday following her November 18th, Strikeforce win over Julia Budd, Ronda appeared on “Inside MMA”.
Seated comfortably next to former UFC Champions, Tito Ortiz and Urijah Faber, she bantered with the show’s hosts, Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten about pulling arms out of sockets and how much she enjoys ripping turkeys apart at Thanksgiving.
Bas asked Ronda to demonstrate an armbar, which she did, catching him by surprise – judo flipping him and nearly taking his arm off .
Bas joins a growing list of fighters and training partners getting arm-barred by Ronda. She demonstrates her signature moves in this next video.
Ronda Rousey Warms Up by Tossing a Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt (video)
Mixed Reactions From Her Fellow Strikeforce Female Fighters
Olympic Judo medalist, Rowdy Ronda is stirring the women’s MMA pot with lots of discussion from fighters in the 135 lb. division (Miesha Tate and Sarah Kaufman). Ronda is considering dropping down in weight to begin clearing out that division on her way to her first championship MMA match.
Rosi Sexton, who fights in the 125 lb. division tweeted “All credit to @RondaRousey on her wins at 145, but that shouldn’t be a shortcut to the top of the most stacked division in #wmma”.
Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) retweeted @RosiSexton’s message.
Mike Chiappetta reported Ronda Rousey saying, “I’m not dumb, you’re not dumb. Really, if we push the ‘hot chicks’ to fight each other for a title, it’s going to get a lot of attention. That’s why I’d rather fight Miesha for a title instead of Sarah Kaufman. Because she’s good looking and she’s marketable. More marketable than the vast majority of the girls in women’s MMA. I think that’d be a huge fight and it would lead to an eventual fight between me and Cris Cyborg being an even bigger deal. I’m just trying to figure out the right way to do things so us girl fighters have some job security a few years from now.”
Strikeforce fighter, 135 lb. Liz Carmouche, known as @iamgirlrilla on Twitter, tweeted her response about who Ronda should fight and in what order. Liz thinks Ronda should fight her, then Sarah Kaufman. “@FamousinSD @rondarousey: I think she is amazing but I think … if she wants a title fight @ 135. me then @mmasarah #noDisrespect”.
The controversy is working to keep women’s MMA in the news. Jon Anik, former ESPN MMA Live sportscaster and now working with the UFC, tweeted, “Rousey, Ronda. Infusing a whole bunch of needed life into women’s MMA. Really seems to have captivated the masses. #Strikeforce”.
As a fan and supporter of women’s MMA, I’m delighted by Ronda’s willingess to speak frankly about her ability as a fighter and her plan to be a champion. Ronda definitely has the “it” factor that makes people want to know more about her – and more importantly, makes people want to watch her fights.
World MMA Awards
There’s still time to vote in the World MMA Awards. Miesha Tate, Sarah Kaufman and Ronda Rousey are all nominated for Female MMA fighter of the Year. Bas Rutten and Kenny Rice, from “Inside MMA”, along with Jon Anik, from “MMA Live” are nominated for Best Media Source of the Year. Voting ends November 25, 2011.
SOURCE: Yahoo Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news?slug=ycn-10506001
Cheryl Ragsdale started out boxing and has added kicks and BJJ so she can practice MMA. She trains with Keith Florian and UFC Fighter Kenny Florian at Florian Martial Arts – follow @thatgirlisfunny.
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