When you think of one of the most dominant UFC fighters in history, Ronda Rousey is one of the first people to come to mind.
Rousey won the first 12 matches since debuting in 2013, three by knockout and 12 by submission, and only once was she taken past the first round.
So when you’re the opponent stepping into the ring, you’re lucky to last a minute with her — an accomplishment Rousey’s opponents have only managed to reach three times — let alone win.
Fast forward to Saturday night in Melbourne, Australia. Rousey was once again favored to beat her opponent Holly Holm, despite the fact that Holm was 10-0 at the time and Rousey called her “the most decorated striker we have in all of mixed martial arts.”
Packed tightly into the Etihad Stadium, 56, 214 people came to watch UFC 193. This event broke the organization’s attendance record set in April 2011.
The trends would continue to grow during the main event as Holm not only survived longer than a minute, but also took Rousey into the second round.
Then just a little after the second round got underway, Holm landed a high left kick to the neck area of Rousey, which knocked her to the floor.
And then the improbable happened.
The bell had rung and for the first time in her career, Rousey was on the losing end of a fight.
While Rousey lay on the ground, being attended to by her trainers, the UFC was in absolute shock. On this night, there was just enough magic in Holm's slingshot for the world to see Rousey portrayed as human for the first time.
However, looking back at the fight, it wasn’t even close. Holm landed 38 strikes, 29 of which went to the head, compared to only 21 landed by Rousey.
Rousey failed to produce anything on the ground, which is the strongest aspect of her game. Holm turned the fight into a head-to-head standing game, which gave her an advantage throughout the entire match.
For UFC fans and fighters Rousey no longer seems invincible in the ring. She is capable of being beaten.
However, this one loss will not define her career.
No one can take away what she already accomplished, and to be completely honest, UFC fighters should be scared about how she is going to come back from this defeat.
She is going to hear the rumors and the naysayers, so now she is going to come back with a chip on her shoulder ready to prove to everyone that she can handle the adversity.
If anything, this loss is only going to help her through her career and possibly make her better. I would be scared to have to be the one to fight her next.
On a night where Holm delivered the kick to defeat the previously undefeated Rousey, it also set up one of the most anticipated rematches in UFC history.
mbhernan@indiana.edu
