Ronda Rousey will not beat Holly Holm in rematch. There I said it and it’s my opinion. It’s not because Rousey isn’t a great fighter. It’s simply due to experience. The former champ cannot make for the years of training Holm has been through, in a matter of months. It’s just not feasible. Granted, I’m an intermediate fan, but it was pretty obvious that Ronda was exposed. Rousey was overconfident in her standup against a world-class boxer who didn’t allow Ronda to grapple nor take the fight to the ground. This was where holes in her game were exposed.
To credit Floyd Mayweather, he was right and very endearing in his assessment of Ronda Rousey: “I don’t think it’s cool how everyone is trolling her on social media. Certain things you have to learn. People will love you on Friday and then Sunday morning, it’s nothing but negative comments and people making jokes and people making fun about you, which I don’t think is cool.
I’ve never been on the other side, so I don’t know how it feels. I’m pretty sure she’s a very, very strong person, but we still have to take into consideration that she has feelings. Everything happens for a reason. This was already written. Listen, if God says, ‘In Floyd’s career, I don’t want him to lose,’ you know what? I wasn’t going to lose.
That doesn’t mean that I haven’t took a loss before. I’m not talking about boxing; I’m just talking about life. When you lose a loved one, that’s taking a loss. I think that everything is just a learning experience. In due time, she’ll be able to bounce back and make some noise again in mixed martial arts.”
Considering Rousey’s outlandish behavior leading up to the fight, the MMA Gods had different plans for her. She had to be humbled. Holly Holm isn’t the one to mess with, obviously, and her boxing skills proved to be paramount to a frantic and rushing style Rousey brought to the table. Your true character is based on how you recover from a devastating loss. However, Holly Holm is well versed in the arts of hand-to-hand combat. Ronda’s strong point is grappling and the judo throw. That formula has been a focal point to her success, and she eventually veered off into boxing. This is something she felt was prominent due to her recent wins, but she never fought a champion boxer like Holm.
Hopefully, this is a lesson in humility. I personally don’t feel Rousey will make up the ground lost in her last fight. Holly Holm was just too good, and already knows how to beat her, just box her to death.
Will Ronda Rousey bounce back? Yes. But to say she ‘ll beat Holm in a rematch isn’t likely at all. If she can’t get her to the ground, it’s curtains for Rousey, plain and simple. No six-month training will make up for Holm’s years of world-class dominance in the boxing world.
Shout outs to Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn and the crew in Albuquerque, New Mexico for devising the blueprint on beating Ronda Rousey.