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Ariel Helwani from MMA Fighting is reporting that Strikeforce women's Bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey will make her first title defense against Sarah Kaufman in August. No date or location has yet been announced for the event but it is expected to air on Showtime. The 25-year-old Rousey (5-0, 5 submissions) took the title from Miesha Tate at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey in March. Former champ Kaufman (15-1, 10 KO's) beat fellow Canadian Alexis Davis on that same card by majority decision. Kaufman has won three straight since losing the belt to Marloes Coenen in October, 2010. The build up to Tate vs. Rousey featured a lot of trash talk from the then-champion to the effect that Rousey was being rushed into a title shot she didn't deserve. Her ligament-snapping performance against Tate should silence that line of attack. Rousey vs Kaufman promises to be a classic grappler vs. striker confrontation that could test Rousey's chin if the former Team USA Judo Olympian is unable to impose her ground game on Kaufman early.

Posted in: vs, tate, rousey, sarah kaufman, kaufman

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Former Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champ Miesha Tate has finally admitted what many already figured -  Ronda Rousey tore her arm up. Tate has remained pretty silent on the loss to Rousey earlier this year, but those that watched how “Rowdy” bent her arm the wrong way knew “Takedown” was in for some rehab. Since the loss, Tate has gone to the doctor and had plenty of exams done on her arm. She said at the time that the arm was not broken but avoided specifics beyond that single note. While she still isn’t handing out detailed information the 25-year old has shed some more light on her limb. “I basically tore everything. I tore the inner and outer sides of my ligaments attached to the muscles and bone,” said Tate while being interviewed during last weekend’s Invicta FC card. “They actually pulled the bone off with the ligament and then I tore all the muscles around that. So…it was pretty bad, but you know, for me, it wasn’t really that bad.” Tate added that she is scheduled to visit the doctor again and hopes that she will be cleared to return to action in the coming months. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: tate, arm, rousey,   ronda rousey, loss tate

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

Former Strikeforce women's champion (135 pounds) Miesha Tate, who suffered a grisly submission loss to Ronda Rousey under the Strikeforce banner back on March 3, 2012, in Columbus, Ohio, is down but not out. "Takedown" was on the scene to help support the debut of female fight league Invicta Fighting Championships, which streamed online last Saturday night (April 28) from the Municipal Hall in Kansas City. During the broadcast, Tate sat down with commentator Mauro Ranallo to update fans on her injured arm: "I haven't got any clearance from the doctors yet. I'm going in for my two month checkup here in a minute. But you know the arm is doing really well. Definitely beating any predictions as far as my recovery. So I'm really anxious to get back in there. I basically tore everything. I tore the inner and outer sides of my ligaments attached to the muscles and bone. They actually pulled the bone off with the ligament and then I tore all the muscles around that. So it was pretty bad, but you know to me it wasn't really that bad. I think that, I have the motto that as long as you get up one more time than you fall down then you are doing something right. So I'll be back stronger than ever." More details on Tate's recovery after the jump. Tate felt she was "probably" winning their championship bout, which was a competitive and back-and-forth affair, before a "mistake" ultimately cost her the belt -- and nearly her left arm. What's more, it's her belief that Rousey is a one-trick armbar pony and that she just happened to fall victim to that one trick, which Tate also described as "phenomenal." Anyone want to see them do it again? For a more detailed recap on the fight between Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey click here. To see a pic of the Tate arm pretzel click here and to hear the "Rowdy" one detail how she did it click here.

Posted in: click, tate, arm, miesha, rousey

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Miesha Tate did her best to put on a smile and ignore the pain caused by the nasty armbar that Ronda Rousey locked on her during their Strikeforce bantamweight women’s title match earlier this year. While Tate did not suffer any broken bones, she did have severe ligament damage done to her arm. During a [...]

Posted in: tate, ronda rousey, miesha, ronda, ligament damage

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Other than a general update stating she hadn’t broken her arm, former Strikeforce bantamweight champ Miesha Tate has remained fairly quiet about her condition since suffering a submission loss to Ronda Rousey from early March. Rousey locked Tate’s limb up in an Armbar and torqued it violently after “Takedown” initially refused to tap. The finish was one of the more gruesome in recent memory and left questions surrounding how badly Tate had been hurt despite her acting as though things were fine. However, as tough as Tate may be, she recently confirmed the damage was fairly severe and that she still isn’t sure when she’ll return to the ring. “I basically tore everything. I tore the inner and outer sides of my ligaments attached to the muscles and bone. They actually pulled the bone off with the ligament and then I tore all the muscles around that. So… it was pretty bad, but you know for me it wasn’t really that bad,” admitted Tate while stopping by the Invicta FC booth this past weekend and chatting with announcer Mauro Ranallo. Tate Says Surgery Not Necessary for Injured Arm Tate went on to explain she’ll be getting her two-month check-up this week where she’ll find out more pertaining to how long she’ll be sidelined. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE Tweet

Posted in: ’t, tate, ’ll, miesha tate, twomonth checkup

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Miesha Tate came out with some specific details this weekend at Invicta FC 1 concerning her brutal arm injury. Stemming from her Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight title loss in March to Ronda Rousey, Tate has since kept quiet on the subject. However it now appears that she is ready to talk about the subject. When asked the extent of her injuries she answered the following via fightlinker.com:“I basically tore everything. I tore the inner and outer sides of my ligaments attached to the muscles and

Posted in: injury, tate, everything i, arm injury, miesha tate

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The result of former Strikeforce bantamweight champ Miesha Tate’s title-defense against newly crowned division queen Ronda Rousey may not have been ideal for the talented 25-year old but it appears the follow-up on her injured arm has definitely turned out to be a “best case” scenario. While many fans assumed Tate’s limb had been broken or at least suffered severe ligament damage based on the angle Rousey’s fight-wining Armbar left it in, it looks like the resulting issues can be corrected by rest/rehabilitation rather than surgery. “Looks like no surgery!! Doctor was impressed with progress so far,” wrote Tate on her Twitter. She also recently confirmed she hadn’t broken any bones either. Highlights from Rousey vs. Tate Though certainly good news, it remains to be seen how long Tate will be sidelined while recovering meaning it is still unknown when she’ll return to the ring. Tate’s loss to Rousey marked the first tap-out of her career and “Rowdy” Ronda’s fifth consecutive opening round Armbar. Rousey is expected to put her belt on the line against Sarah Kaufman later this year, giving Tate time to heal and take on another opponent before potentially being put in a rematch with the Olympian. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: tate, surgery, rousey, ligament damage, ’ll return

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Strikeforce bantamweight Miesha Tate appeared destined for an extended period on the shelf after enduring one of the nastiest submissions in recent history, tapping out to an extremely deep Armbar earlier this month in a title-fight against Ronda Rousey. The hold was such that it contorted Tate’s elbow, seemingly causing some sort of structural damage based on the angle her arm was bent at. However, it looks like the 25-year old dodged a bullet, recently revealing she avoided sustaining any broken bones or severely torn ligaments in the process and will not require surgery to correct any lingering issues. “Looks like no surgery!! Doctor was impressed with progress so far,” an excited Tate wrote on her Twitter account. While Tate didn’t mention what (if anything) was still wrong with her arm or how long her recovery time would be, the news at least lends relief to the number of fans concerned about how her health or career would be affected by the gruesome finish. The submission loss marked the first time Tate had been tapped out in the cage and snapped her six-fight winning streak. With Rousey destined to scrap with Sarah Kaufman later this year it appears the next step for Tate will involve rest, minor rehabilitation, and a return to the ring later this year in hopes of earning a shot at winning the divisional belt back. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE/TWITTER

Posted in: tate, ronda rousey, submission loss, miesha tate, issues “

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

You didn’t have to be a doctor to have deduced that the grotesque angle at which Ronda Rousey bent Miesha Tate’s arm during their Strikeforce title fight was unnatural, and likely resulted in damage. As she’s done with all of her previous MMA opponents, Rousey trapped Tate in an armbar within the first round of their championship bout. A master of that submission, Rousey cranked on Tate’s arm until it bent almost completely in the opposite direction, eventually forcing the stubborn fighter to tap — but not before the apparent damage had been done. Luckily for Tate, it appears that the damage she suffered as the structural integrity of her elbow joint was put to the test was relatively minimal and will not require surgery. Tate revealed via Twitter that a recent visit to the doctor left her with the good news. Looks like no surgery!! Dr was impressed w progress so far! :) Tate also estimated about a two month recovery time before she’s back in action. Rousey and Tate did battle on March 3 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, in the main event of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey.

Posted in: tate, ronda rousey, rousey, surgery dr, submission rousey

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Assembly not required. Former Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate, whose arm is apparently made of the same elastic material Dan Hardy's is, has managed to avoid surgery on the arm Ronda Rousey twisted up during their Strikeforce title fight this past March 3 in Columbus, Ohio. Tate tweeted the good news earlier today: "Looks like no surgery!! Dr was impressed w progress so far! :)" She also went on to tell fans she hopes to be back within the next few months. Her doctor apparently informed her the healing time for her injury is around three months but she's shooting for two. Tough cookie. Tate's already eying a rematch against Rousey once she is healthy but she'll have to get behind Sarah Kaufman, who fought her way to the top of the pecking order. But hey, at least we know she'll be able if and when that point comes.

Posted in: tate, arm, surgery, rousey, surgery dr

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(Miesha Tate provides photo evidence her arm isn't a crippled wet noodle hanging gimpily by her side) The unthinkable has happened: I am suffering from RRF, or Ronda Rousey Fatigue. Since she took the title from around Miesha Tate's waist by breaking her arm backwards twice, I've missed out on two opportunities to talk about Ronda: the time Miesha's boyfriend Bryan Caraway helpfully offered to perform dentistry on Ronda's teeth with his fists, and now the back and forth between Tate and Rousey on a rematch. Here's what Tate said: "I, personally, would love the opportunity to have a rematch," Tate protested. "I think at a high level, it takes one mistake. Anyone can make a mistake at any moment and someone's able to capitalize on that."I don't feel that Ronda proved anything other than what she's already (proved) -- that she has one thing that she's great at. Really phenomenal at. But everything else, I could beat her. Give me another shot. I think it was competitive. I think for the most part I was probably winning. And I think at a competitive high level, one day one person could beat the one person, and the other day the other person would beat the other person." It seems somewhat rude to demand a rematch before learning if your arm is going to need surgery from the mangling it just took, but what were you expecting? Chicks to kiss and make up after a fight like that? Here's Ronda's response: It just kind of makes her sound dumb. Everyone knows that I wanted to armbar her, and there was nothing she could do to stop me, even with months of preparation. I think that proves a lot. It's like she's not even looking at the actual situation. I don't know what match she was watching, to really think that. One of those pieces of advice that my mom tells me all the time is, 'Never listen to your own press.' The second I got out of that cage, my coach was already telling me a million things I did wrong. It just seems tome like she must be surrounded by a bunch of "yes men" all the time, saying stuff like, 'Oh yeah, you were winning. You were totally dominating.' If I was her, I would look at that match, look at what I did wrong, and try to fix it next time, and not be like 'I was totally winning before I lost.' One part of women's MMA I didn't really expect was the estrogen fueled hatred certain competitors would have for eachother. Ronda and Miesha are giving Chael and Anderson a run for their money. And just like Chael and Anderson, I can only take so many months of bitchy back-and-forths before I just cants takes no mores.

Posted in: time, tate, miesha, ronda, person

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No arm, no foul. Former Strikeforce women's champion (135 pounds) Miesha Tate is getting back to her normal everyday activities less than two weeks after a grisly submission loss to Ronda Rousey under the Strikeforce banner on March 3, 2012, in Columbus, Ohio. To see the "before" picture click here. "Takedown" came up short in her bid to defend her hard-earned strap; however, she's already on the road to recovery and hoping to get a chance to avenge her loss somewhere in the very near future. But she may have to get in line behind Sarah Kaufman. More pics of Tate's arm, courtesy of @MieshaTate (follow her by clicking here) after the jump. For a more detailed recap on the fight between Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey click here and for complete Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" results and detailed blow-by-blow commentary of the televised main card fights click here. To see a pic of the Tate arm break click here and to hear Rousey detail how she did it click here.

Posted in: click, tate, arm, rousey, ronda

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Miesha Tate is on the mend and hungry for another shot at Strikeforce gold. Despite the fact that she still can't pinch her fingertips together 11 days after Ronda Rousey mangled her left arm in a gruesome armbar submission victory, Tate is itching for the chance to go...

Posted in: tate, ronda rousey, miesha tate, strikeforce gold, cant pinch

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It appears Strikeforce bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey is as vicious a competitor outside of the ring as she is inside it. After taking out Miesha Tate earlier this month with an opening round submission, Rousey didn’t back off of the former title-holder in post-fight comments, saying she was perfectly fine with having wrung Tate’s arm out like a wet mop given the 25-year old’s decision to delay her decision to tap out. Weeks later it appears the feud between the two talented 135ers is still simmering with Tate recently talking to media about the match-up, expressing her belief that she was actually winning the fight before being locked into an evening-ending Armbar. As might be expected, Rousey had a completely different view of how things unfolded inside the cage and was more than happy to share them in response to Tate’s allegations. “I don’t think there’s any way she could argue that she was winning that fight at all,” explained the understandably offended Rousey in an interview with BloodyElbow. “If you just look at the striking stats, I landed 43 strikes and she landed 11. If you look at the actual damage, she was bruised up on her leg and her face, not to mention her arm. The only point in the fight where she could say she was being the least bit dominant, is the part where she had my back, but she definitely landed fewer strikes from the back, and had zero submission attempts. The one time she tried to do something, she lost her position immediately. That wasn’t a dominant position for her, that was pretty much her holding on for dear life.” “I had more takedowns than her. I had more submission attempts. I had more landed strikes. Even if you just look at it on paper, I had more dominant positions, more strikes…I beat her in every single category,” Rousey continued. “Anyone watching the fight wouldn’t have thought that she was winning at any point. I don’t know what fight she was watching, but it might be a different one than the one I’m looking at. As far as Tate belittling Rousey’s skillset in terms of still being a one-trick pony, “Rowdy” Ronda responded with the stark honesty in part endearing her to MMA fans everywhere since her arrival on the scene. “It just kind of makes her sound dumb,” said the unbeaten judoka. “Everyone knows that I wanted to Armbar her, and there was nothing she could do to stop me, even with months of preparation. I think that proves a lot. It’s like she’s not even looking at the actual situation. I don’t know what match she was watching, to really think that.” Rousey concluded by saying she would be open to a rematch down the road but currently her focus was on Sarah Kaufman who she summed up as being a bigger threat than Tate based purely on overall striking ability. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: fight, tate, strike, rousey, position

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The animosity some fighters have with each other leading up to big fights is often beaten out of them by the time the fight is over. That’s not the case with Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey. Tate appeared on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani yesterday to talk about her loss to Rousey earlier this month and basically suggested that Rousey’s really only great one at one thing and just happened to capitalize on a mistake she made. Otherwise, Tate feels she was winning and wants a rematch to prove she can still beat her. “I, personally, would love the opportunity to have a rematch,” Tate protested. “I think at a high level, it takes one mistake. Anyone can make a mistake at any moment and someone’s able to capitalize on that. “I don’t feel that Ronda proved anything other than what she’s already (proved) — that she has one thing that she’s great at. Really phenomenal at. But everything else, I could beat her. Give me another shot. I think it was competitive. I think for the most part I was probably winning. And I think at a competitive high level, one day one person could beat the one person, and the other day the other person would beat the other person.” Rousey’s response: Miesha sounds dumb. Here’s here more elaborate response from an interview she did with Stephie “Crooklyn” Daniels over at BE: “I don’t think there’s any way she could argue that she was winning that fight at all. If you just look at the striking stats, I landed 43 strikes and she landed 11. If you look at the actual damage, she was bruised up on her leg and her face, not to mention her arm. The only point in the fight where she could say she was being the least bit dominant, is the part where she had my back, but she definitely landed fewer strikes from the back, and had zero submission attempts. The one time she tried to do something, she lost her position immediately. That wasn’t a dominant position for her, that was pretty much her holding on for dear life. Every single takedown was me, I had the majority of the strikes, and I got the win. This all happened in four minutes, and if she assumes that the few seconds that she had my back, that she was the winner…well she wasn’t doing anything productive there anyway, except prolonging the inevitable.” “It just kind of makes her sound dumb. Everyone knows that I wanted to armbar her, and there was nothing she could do to stop me, even with months of preparation. I think that proves a lot. It’s like she’s not even looking at the actual situation. I don’t know what match she was watching, to really think that. One of those pieces of advice that my mom tells me all the time is, ‘Never listen to your own press.’ The second I got out of that cage, my coach was already telling me a million things I did wrong. It just seems tome like she must be surrounded by a bunch of “yes men” all the time, saying stuff like, ‘Oh yeah, you were winning. You were totally dominating.’ If I was her, I would look at that match, look at what I did wrong, and try to fix it next time, and not be like ‘I was totally winning before I lost.’” Despite her strong feelings on how the fight played out, Rousey says she is more than willing to give Tate another shot if that’s what she wants. There’s probably a good chance of that happening down the road given the success of the fight and the general lack of legitimate title contenders in her division, but Tate is going to have to win some fights before that should happen. It was a fun fight with a lot of back-and-forth action, but Tate didn’t do nearly enough to warrant an immediate rematch. Their little grudge that clearly hasn’t been settled is probably going to have to wait for now. Regarding the status of Tate’s arm, she’s still waiting for the MRI results to find out the extent of the damage, but she’s “pretty sure” she has a torn ligament. No broken bones though. Image via Esther Lin for Strikeforce/Showtime

Posted in: fight, time, tate, rousey, person

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Get this: Before having her arm nearly ripped off by Ronda Rousey at Strikeforce this past March 3 in Columbus, Ohio, Miesha Tate thought she was winning the fight. Really. Click here if you don't believe me. After a bitter war of words and a forehead press at the weigh-ins, the two top 135-pound women met up inside the cage to determine who the better fighter really was. And with her first round armbar finish, "Rowdy" Ronda seemingly answered that question. Definitively. "Takedown" Tate doesn't agree. In fact, she believes "for the most part" she was "probably winning." Not only that, but she thinks Rousey didn't really prove anything we didn't already know, which is that she's really good at tearing people's arms off. When informed of all this, the new Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion responded with a shake of her head and these pointed words: "It just kind of makes her sound dumb," Rousey told Bloody Elbow. "Everyone knows that I wanted to armbar her, and there was nothing she could do to stop me, even with months of preparation. I think that proves a lot. It's like she's not even looking at the actual situation. I don't know what match she was watching, to really think that. One of those pieces of advice that my mom tells me all the time is, 'Never listen to your own press.' The second I got out of that cage, my coach was already telling me a million things I did wrong. It just seems tome like she must be surrounded by a bunch of "yes men" all the time, saying stuff like, 'Oh yeah, you were winning. You were totally dominating.' If I was her, I would look at that match, look at what I did wrong, and try to fix it next time, and not be like 'I was totally winning before I lost.'" It is quite amazing, when you think about it. Rousey literally told Tate she was going to finish her in the first round by armbar and she went out and did just that. What does that prove? Quite a bit, actually. And with Tate's assertion that wrestling trumps judo nine times out of 10, it would seem clear she was either way wrong or Rousey caught her on the right day to get that one win. Thankfully, "Rowdy" is open to a rematch saying "If she wants Rousey vs. Tate 2, then I'll be happy to oblige her." Anyone up for watching these two lethal ladies go at it again?

Posted in: time, tate, armbar, rousey, ronda

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Former Strikeforce bantamweight champ Miesha Tate is still recovering from the Armbar she suffered against Ronda Rousey costing her the title. However, as convincing as Rousey’s finish was, “Takedown” Tate believes she deserves a rematch when he gets back to full health. The 25-year old also feels like she was winning the bout with Rousey before becoming yet another victim of the talented judoka’s submission attack. When the two squared off earlier this month the opening minute saw Rousey nearly lock in an Armbar, but Tate fought out of it and took the former Olympian’s back shortly thereafter. “I, personally, would love the opportunity to have a rematch,” said Tate in an interview MMAFighting. “I think for the most part I was probably winning (the fight). I think at a competitive level, one day one person could beat the one person, and the other day, the other person would beat the other person.” Tate reminded fans she did not suffer a broken arm but ligament damage and possible surgery appear to be in her future. As such, she will likely ber out long enough to give Sarah Kaufman the next shot at Rousey before discussion of an actual second shot will be fielded by her bosses at Strikeforce. As far as why Tate didn’t tap out right away, possibly saving an extended recovery period by doing so, the 12-3 Tate explained, “I felt my arm go in, and I was like, ‘You know, I don’t want to tap.’ And I didn’t.” Still, her toughness was quickly tested, as she elaborated, “So I felt my hand touch the back of her thigh and I knew everything was really bad. I just didn’t know at that point. I didn’t feel there was a way out of it. I had no idea how much longer there was on the clock and it just felt like things were getting worse and worse. And I was like, ‘I just don’t know how much of this my arm can take.’ I think that’s when common sense started to settle in, rather than pure stubbornness.” PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: tate, arm, ronda rousey, rousey, person

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On any given Sunday, any NFL football team can beat any other squad. And as the iconic John Madden would bark, "it's why they play the game." Mixed martial arts (MMA) is apparently no different, especially at the highest level of the sport. At least that's how former Strikeforce 135-pound champion Miesha Tate now feels after her tendon-tearing armbar submission loss to Ronda Rousey at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, earlier this month. With about 10 days to reflect on the jaw-dropping, arm-snapping loss, "Takedown" today (March 12, 2012) talked to MMAFighting.com about her current physical condition (her arm is still not broken, but could require surgery) and her desire to run it back against "Rowdy" in the near future. In fact, Tate felt that she was winning the championship bout before a "mistake" ultimately cost her the belt and nearly her left arm. What's more, it's her belief that Rousey is a one-trick armbar pony and that she just happened to fall victim to that one trick, which Tate described as "phenomenal." "I, personally, would love the opportunity to have a rematch. I think at a high level, it takes one mistake. Anyone can make a mistake at any moment and someone's able to capitalize on that. I don't feel that Ronda proved anything other than what she's already (proved) -- that she has one thing that she's great at. Really phenomenal at. But everything else, I could beat her. Give me another shot. I think it was competitive. I think for the most part I was probably winning. And I think at a competitive high level, one day one person could beat the one person, and the other day the other person would beat the other person." Since making the transition to full-time professional MMA one year ago, Rousey -- an Olympic-level judo practitioner who took home a bronze medal in the 2008 games in Beijing, China -- has competed five times, winning them all via first round armbar submission. However, none were more meaningful or significant than her most recent over Tate. It's a sensational finish that will likely endure forever on highlight reels and MMA forums everywhere. For now, it appears that Sarah Kaufman has the inside track as Rousey's next opponent. The good news is that with Cristiane Santos mired in a steroids scandal and Gina Carano clomping around another Hollywood movie set, the list of viable contenders to challenge Rousey at the moment is short and sweet. Indeed, Tate will likely get her rematch very soon. And the visions of her arm being twisted like a pretzel will be omnipresent and inescapable. Make no mistake, the footage (see it here) will certainly be used as a marketing tool if and when Tate is healthy and fit to step back inside the cage. A gruesome scene that likely plays out all too often from her memory, putting her at a psychological disadvantage if and when the rematch is booked. Rousey would most certainly be the odds-on favorite on fight night for perhaps many reasons, but certainly that one adds the most weight. But, hey, it's why they play the game. Crazy cats. For everything else you need to know about the bout between Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey check out our complete fight archive right here.

Posted in: rematch, tate, mistake, rousey, ronda

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Posted in: tate, mattyblayze, ronda rousey, ronda, miesha tate

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No fighter plans on becoming a fixture on someone else's highlight reel, especially in the smoldering fog of a grudge match. So when former Strikeforce champion Miesha Tate found herself befalling the same fate as seven other women before her, trapped underneath Ronda Rousey with her left arm dangerously close to snapping in two, the thought of tapping seemed somewhat ludicrous. Only when there was no other option did finally she relent, handing Rousey the victory and the belt. Tate's mangled limb was a shocking image for viewers witnessing from home -- the footage is so grisly, weeks later her family members still refuse to watch it -- but would Tate have called it quits sooner if it was anyone else on the planet wrenching her arm from its socket? "It's possible," Tate admitted on Monday's episode of The MMA Hour. "Obviously I knew (the risk) going into that. It didn't catch me by surprise. A lot of people say, like Bryan (Caraway), ‘you're crazy. How did you not tap to that?' I think because I was prepared for that mentally. Not that I was ever planning on being there, but I knew that if I got into that position, I just knew it was a realistic possibility, and so I was prepared. "I felt my arm go in, and I was like, ‘you know, I don't want to tap.' And I didn't. So I felt my hand touch the back of her thigh and I knew everything was really bad. I just didn't know at that point. I didn't feel there was a way out of it. I had idea how much longer there was on the clock and it just felt like things were getting worse and worse. And I was like, ‘I just don't know how much of this my arm can take.' I think that's when common sense started to settle in, rather than pure stubbornness." Tate was lucky to have come to that realization when she did. The extent of the damage done to her is arm is still in question, but despite the gruesomeness of the contortion, x-rays have shown there to be no broken bones. Tate is currently waiting on MRI results to determine if surgery is required, but she did say she was "pretty sure" she has torn ligament towards the inner side of her elbow. Though if you saw her walking around, beside some slight swelling and bruising, it'd be hard to tell the difference. As for the question of if she would handle the finish differently in hindsight, Tate was noncommittal. However, the former champion made it exceptionally clear that she wouldn't fall for the same trick twice if given the chance. "I, personally, would love the opportunity to have a rematch," Tate protested. "I think at a high level, it takes one mistake. Anyone can make a mistake at any moment and someone's able to capitalize on that. "I don't feel that Ronda proved anything other than what she's already (proved) -- that she has one thing that she's great at. Really phenomenal at. But everything else, I could beat her. Give me another shot. I think it was competitive. I think for the most part I was probably winning. And I think at a competitive high level, one day one person could beat the one person, and the other day the other person would beat the other person." While the bad blood between both women clearly still lingers in the air, Tate did offer a salute of respect to her rival, acknowledging that what Rousey had done in a short amount of time was relatively remarkable. Surprisingly, Tate also picked Rousey to defeat Sarah Kaufman in her upcoming title defense, explaining that Kaufman's style plays right in Rousey's strengths. Ultimately, however, Tate understands that despite their differences, both she and Rousey are in the same boat, fighting the frustrating uphill battle to gain respect for women's MMA. And in that regard, with reports of 506,000 viewers tuning in to watch the most heavily-hyped women's match since 2009, Tate believes they succeeded. "I wanted to go out there and I wanted to make a very bold statement," she concluded. "I'm not just a cute girl. I'm not here to be cute for the camera. I wanted to show that women's MMA is legit. We come out there and we fight very, very hard. "We can definitely carry the main event. We can definitely draw the numbers. We can definitely entertain, and we're also really skilled. And I think that, in the big picture, we accomplished that."

Posted in: tate, women, arm, didnt, rousey

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To get an armbar, a fighter usually has to bring the fight to the ground. Ronda Rousey excels at this, not only because of her judo background, but because Rousey has trained her athleticism to perhaps being the best in women's mixed martial arts and developed her understanding of leverage to a much higher degree than that of her opponents. With that double blessing already in place, Rousey managed to overcome a severe experience deficiency against Miesha Tate and gave us one of the most compelling finishes combat sports followers have seen in a while. An armbar is a lever. In most cases, the fulcrum is the hips of the fighter applying the armbar. The lever action is used to hyperextend the elbow joint, which usually does not lead to broken bones, but rather damaged ligaments, tendons or muscles. Most fighters make clear their submission by tapping physically or verbally before the armbars actually break the elbow joints. Occasionally, a referee will step in if a fighter is being recklessly stubborn and stop the battle before such breaks occur. On other occasions, the action is too quick, the fighters in awkward positions or the referee hangs back too long and we get a snapped arm. Ronda Rousey is perhaps the MMA queen of applying armbars in lightning quick fashion, so her opponents have at times received damaged arms during their bouts. In this Judo Chop, both armbars that Rousey applied in the Strikeforce championship fight will be examined. Miesha Tate escaped the first one with a great display of smarts and toughness and threatened to turn the tide her way afterwards. The second and final armbar came about after Rousey brought Tate back down to the ground and isolated the left arm in stunningly efficient fashion. Grapplers of all shapes, sizes and experience levels can learn from the performances both women gave us in that cage on March 3, 2012. Hit the jump for the Judo Chop technical breakdown The lengthy wait between fight and this breakdown let me stuff this with enough GIFs to stun some browsers. Grappo's GIFs mostly come from the Fightlinker post he created and he graciously made the Iatskevitch roll one to special order. First, I asked Patrick Tenney, the esteemed leader of the Bloody Elbow Grappling Team, a few questions about the armbars Ronda applied in the one round battle: Ben: A couple questions to bounce at you for the Judo Chop - Why is it okay for Ronda to open her knees and cross her feet with that armbar? Wouldn't that give Tate more opportunity to escape? Patrick: So this came up a few times actually in discussion. That was completely fine. The reasoning behind this is that experienced grapplers typically have the wherewithal to keep their knees squeezed while crossing the ankles. The reason inexperienced grapplers are taught the other mechanic is that by crossing your ankles your knees naturally open out unless you actively keep them together (so for a lower level grappler it helps to have one less thing to worry about). She could also have been crossing her ankles in order to prepare different grip breaks utilizing her lower body if her upper body strength couldn't separate the arms. Ben: What other grip breaks are you thinking of? Patrick: Dipping the shin inside the elbow pit of the opposing arm, the pull in using her ankle cross to bring the opposite elbow in to loosen the strength of the grip etc etc. Ben: So in order to escape that type of armbar, what did Tate want to do? We saw her try and roll away from Ronda for a moment there and then seemingly struggle to get her elbow below Ronda's hips. Patrick: They call the roll away a hitchhikers escape because the person escaping points their thumb out (like a hitchhiker) and then rolls out and around the arm. Ronda stopped this by having correct pressure on the legs and perfect arm control. What Miesha needed to do in order to roll out that way, was to roll out with her wrist not controlled. You can actually SEE Ronda check the thumb position to make sure the elbow is in the correct direction.When Ronda bent the arm past her own hips it was already over, that arm was gone. That was just Miesha being too stubborn for her own good; that was past the degree of bend that normal elbows allow. By the way, Ronda, in spreading her knees initially, was trying to apply a little more pressure on the hips and head of Miesha to prevent the initial roll overs, or at least that's what it appears to look like. A video explanation of the hitchhiker's escape (which has many other names, like the "answering the phone" escape and so on) from Dean Lister, a world-renowned grappler and one-time UFC fighter: Look at how Dean insists that the roll over the shoulder begin as the hand is in a certain position and as arm is going down - NOT as it is fully extended and controlled by the opponent. Alright, now to the armbars: After trying to shake free of Rousey for a beat or two, Tate goes for an inside trip from the clinch. Rousey steps back the right foot to use as a pivot to counter-toss Tate to the mat, while keeping that fierce head/arm clinch. As they land, Tate maintains the half guard by clamping down on the right leg of Rousey. While keeping the clinch, Ronda goes for the guard break. She balances precariously for a moment to bring the left foot up onto Tate's clamping thigh and shoves that down and away. The momentary tipsiness of the position is offset a bit by having a grip on the far side of Miesha and having the shoulders flat. Miesha cannot really get up on her side and toss Ronda over. This combination gives Rousey the space to get drive the right knee down to the mat on the same side as the rest of Ronda's body and then the rest of the leg is brought firmly out. The same far-side grip, near-side knee slide principles apply in gi or no-gi submission grappling with the passes that Rodolfo Vieira and so many others have employed to great success. After working to mount again, Ronda sets up the first armbar. She whips the right leg across the face and hugs that arm to her core. That exteded leg is what will keep Miesha down and the hugging allows her to use her entire body's strength against the arm. The left leg is jammed up against the ribs to help immobilize the arm. Note how Tate's elbow is not quite on top of Rousey's crotch. Miesha has managed to get it down just enough and work onto her side in order to eventually escape the armbar. The arm still bends beyond the normal range of motion, yet the subsequent back take and control Miesha exerted on Ronda showed no visible signs of damage or injury to the arm. The nice escape of the first armbar. Rousey tries to turn this now-failed armbar into an ompolota, by rotating to her side and bringing the left leg over the shoulder, but it is too late. Miesha is already coming around the backside and into a far, far better position. The spin backwards prevents the armbar from being re-applied and essentially eliminates the omoplota or triangle alternatives that most submission grapplers like to go for in that sort of situation. Tate obviously spent quite some time figuring out the usual counters to armbars and related attacks during her training camp. From this scramble, Tate would threaten to take Rousey's back for quite some time and it took some creative maneuvering for Ronda to get out. Tate threatened a rear mount for quite a while before Ronda worked her way out with impressive athleticism. Once, the scramble ended, both fighters regained their feet for a brief moment of stand-up. Tate barged forwards with the intent of rearranging Rousey's face. The problem with that head-on attack is that when you do that to a judoka, you will usually get thrown. Yoshihiro Akiyama did a similar thing to Jake Shields at UFC 144. Ronda uses a plain ol' clinch'n'hip toss. If it ain't broke, don't mess with it. Or go ahead and add onto it your own flourishes like completely leaving your feet as to make your opponent take the impact of both bodies landing on the canvas in full. Nastily delicious piece of work. The fall leaves Ronda in a kesa gatame position, which means that there is a brief opportunity for Tate to scramble out, if Ronda does not bring up that left leg. Ronda makes that possibility academic and then swiftly passes guard into a more typical side control position. The Gracie Breakdown by Ryron and Rener does a great job of explaining the guard pass. As the Gracie Breakdown showed briefly, Ronda attacked Miesha's turtle defense in a manner that swiftly and efficiently broke it wide open. There is much more to the technique than they show though. Some graplers know the technique Ronda used as an Iatskevitch roll (named after the very good Russian judoka, Alexander Iatskevitch) and KJ Gould pointed me towards this brilliant breakdown from The Difficult Way blog. As you can see in the beginning of the GIF, Rousey has decided to skip the usual mount position entirely and shoved her leg across Tate's stomach in a position most people recognize as a precursor to a body triangle. However, Rousey comes from a judo background where pinning the opponent and/or getting the armbar is more prioritized and rewarded than getting BJJ or MMA-style control of the back. The foot of the left leg is clamped onto the thigh initially, as Rousey shifts to the side, while balancing on her left arm and head, and shoots her right arm deep into the crook of Tate's left arm. The left leg of Rousey is correctly on top of Tate's head, preventing any sudden movements upwards or outwards. At this point, Ronda wants to roll Miesha onto her back, so she grabs Tate's left leg behind the knee and rolls over her side, dragging Tate's leg over her head. The direction of the drag is important, as the Difficult Way breakdown of the Iatskevitch roll above shows, because otherwise, brute force is needed to flip the opponent completely over their own head. That method can lead to a strong, smart opponent resisting the flip or straightening out their body. Miesha appears to try straightening out a bit in the GIF, perhaps looking to resist the flip. Rousey is strong, yet doing the Iatskevitch roll by dragging Miesha's leg over her own head is much easier and less risky. As the flip occurs, Ronda's right leg slips into place over Miesha's face and when the flip is done, Ronda is in perfect position to pop upright and work for an armbar. The armbar is not immediately available, as Miesha has a grip upon the trapped arm with her other hand and arm. Ronda has to rip the arm free of the double grip and then recline for the armbar. First she gets a truly solid grip on the wrist by putting it in the crook of her own right arm and using the other hand to clinch even more. Rousey sweeps to the right in her fall backwards, which better isolates the arm, by rotating the direction in which Tate's opposing grip muscles need to pull and resist. Once the sweep to the right gets to a certain point, the arm truly pops free and Ronda pulls her legs in, starts to elevate her hips and continues hugging that wrist to her chest in a near-death grip. Miesha reacts a beat too late to start the hitchhiker escape, as the time to do it was when the arm was not fully extended. Miesha wants that hitchhiker escape, which is not happening with the arm fully extended like that. The GIF exaggerates how much time there is to react, but Tate missed the opportunity to get that escape and shifts back in to try in desperation to free her elbow once more. The GIF shows that the elbow is already bent and damaged though. The fight should have been stopped at this point. Once that elbow pops, the fight is over. Unfortunately, neither Tate - hyped up to the gills with adrenaline and competitive fire - nor the referee - completely disregarding his obligation to maintaining fighter safety - stops the fight. Ronda has no choice but to put the exclamation point on the finish by pushing the arm down towards the legs. In most armbar situations, pushing the arm towards the legs allows the usage of the upper thigh/hip corner as a fulcrum to get some sideways leverage on the elbow joint. Most times, the opponent taps before the arm actually wraps around the leg. Once that arm wraps around the leg, Tate finally taps and only then does Mark Matheny, the referee, move in to stop the fight. Take a look at the fine open leg armbar technique displayed by Rousey: Miesha's upper body is immobilized, the wrist is firmly controlled, the hips are elevated and she does nothing more than what is required to have that fight stopped. Another theoretically possible defense for Miesha would have been to take the Vinny Magalhaes approach to the armbar Fabricio Werdum applied upon him in the 2011 ADCC heavyweight final. Basically, Vinny got up on his side - which allows his larger frame to relieve the pressure somewhat - and then employed mystical grappling magic to allow him to tough out a super-gnarly submission being applied by one of the very best grapplers on the planet for several minutes. This "Vinny defense" is not advised for anyone who does not have the high level grappling background that Magalhaes possesses or has not made peace with the possibility of the arm being broken like what happened to Miesha Tate. Seriously, I have no idea how Vinny stayed in that for so long or eventually got out of it. Werdum did not do anything immediately and obviously wrong. That is Benson Henderson level Gumby stuff. Remember, Ronda gives the Look of Doom to anyone in her way. Think the Vinny defense would successfully work on this new champion?

Posted in: tate, arm, armbar, rousey, ronda

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  MMAFrenzy.com presents its latest podcast, where host Steve “bsbiz” Barnes is joined by writers Chris Leslie and Bryan Robison providing analysis of this week’s MMA news and recaps of recent events.   This week we take a look at the aftermath of the UFC on FX 2, Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey, and more. Right-click and “save as” to download Podcast 3_9 Be sure to check us out on iTunes and follow us on twitter @mmafrenzycast, @cleslie15, @ohsnapbryan.

Posted in: week, vs, tate, bryan robison, events nbsp

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By now you’ve likely seen the Ronda Rousey-Miesha Tate fight. Failing that, you’ve read or heard about the result. Once again, Rousey found herself the victor, in the first round, by Armbar. She moved her record to 5-0 and became one of the quickest fighters in the sport to attain a major championship, particularly in the modern era. One of the major narratives coming out of the fight is obviously Rousey’s dominance and her place as perhaps the biggest star in the history of Women’s MMA (no offense Gina Carano fans). However, something I find interesting and mildly disconcerting coming out of the fight is the celebration of Tate’s “toughness” in regards to her unwillingness to tap to the second Armbar Rousey had her in. As much as I hate to reference Twitter in any journalistic sense, it’s quite apparent that MMA has a disproportionate presence on the medium. Fellow fighters, fans and even some media were lauding the former champion for her “warrior spirit,” “fighting to the bitter end,” and the like. This is the part that I don’t understand. Had Tate tapped out to the first Rousey armbar, which looked like it too caused some damage to her right arm, I don’t suspect that anyone would have batted an eye. When Miesha survived that hold however, she had already earned the respect of myself and most others watching the fight. My personal expectations of Tate in the fight had been exceeded. Of course, her expectations heading into the fight and mine were two vastly different things. I’m sure she intended on retaining her belt, however unrealistic that was, and was willing to do whatever it took to do so. Where that crosses the line from being admirable and turns foolish is the issue. The second time Rousey caught her foe in an Armbar; Tate was completed flattened out with no chance to escape. Flail about as she might, it was clear that the fight was over at that point. Yet rather than tap, Miesha decided to show her “toughness” and “warrior spirit” allowing Rousey to snap her arm like a twig and then ply it in the most grotesque angles possible. Let’s sum this up, the end result of the fight – where Tate eventually tapped anyways – was that she still lost, but instead of simply losing a very spirited affair and heading back to the training room she has the unenviable task of going through what is certain to be a long, arduous recovery from a gruesome arm injury that may require surgery (if it doesn’t, I’ll be absolutely shocked). While we don’t know the exact details of the injury at this point, the likelihood of Tate fighting again in 2012 seems slim. Tate Says Arm is Not Broken but Needs MRI for Ligament Damage My question is: Why celebrate this? The former champion did herself absolutely no good at the end of the match. Her refusal to tap defies logic, and has only set back her career. Yet this is something we see regularly in MMA. The mentality from both fighters and fans that submitting is a sign of weakness, and those who would rather ‘Face the Pain’ (har har) get treated as heroes has long been one of the more perverse realities of the sport. In some cases, this toughness works out well for a fighter, with Seth Baczynski against Tim McKenzie being the most notable and emphatic example. More often than not though, when a fighter refuses to tap they simply end up with an injury, not a victory. Even if we look at another example of “toughness” from recent shows, we see that this phenomenon isn’t strictly confined to tapping out to a submission. On the UFC on FX 2 card, Kyle Noke – fresh off a knee injury sustained against Ed Herman – reportedly blew out his knee in the first round against Andrew Craig, yet fought through to a Unanimous Decision loss. Noke, like Tate, was celebrated for his toughness, but the question that I have is how much additional damage he did to his knee, and how much longer he will be out of action as a result. On the flip side, you look at a fighter like Brian Bowles who bowed out of his bantamweight title contest with Dominick Cruz due to a plethora of injuries and how he was reviled as a quitter long after. To me, Bowles did the smart thing. He knew he couldn’t perform to his utmost potential given the injuries he had, and decided to fight another day. When you’re dealing with fighters at the highest levels of the sport, winning and losing come down to such fine details that it is hard to fault anyone for wanting to be as close to their best as possible. This is a mindset that won’t go away without some change on behalf of guilty parties, as in every pre-fight interview, or every new season of The Ultimate Fighter, we’re graced with lines like “I’ll never tap out. They’ll have to break something or choke me out,” or “I’m ready to go [through hell]/[to the death].” Even just looking back to the last season of the show, there was no greater moment to me than watching when Akira Corassani – who was definitely guilty of such braggadocio – was in fact choked out by Dennis Bermudez. Still, I am in the minority, many fans saw Corassani as one of their favourite fighters on the show, and appreciated his mentality and willingness to follow through on it. I understand that fighters are there to entertain us, but at the same time these are people who make a living with their bodies. By encouraging the sort of behaviour that results in fighters sustaining unnecessary injuries and exacerbating existing ones, we are doing no one any good. Fighters need to be healthy to collect a paycheck, and there is nothing about having your arm snapped, knee shredded, or brain deprived of oxygen that helps that become a reality. Both fighters and fans need to grow up just a bit, and realize there is no shame in submitting. That said, I love both the fact that Rousey was more than willing to snap her opponent’s arm if she wasn’t going to tap, and that she had no remorse about it. If you’re going to be indifferent about what happens to your body inside the cage or ring, you might just get what you deserve. Just don’t expect me to feel bad, or applaud you for your stupidity… and enjoy your stint in rehab. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE Tweet

Posted in: fight, fighter, ’t, tate, rousey

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Fight fans can take a deep sigh of relief - Miesha Tate is back on Twitter after a six day hiatus from the popular social networking site. Tate, a 25-year-old fighter in the Strikeforce organization, is one of the pioneers of social media in women's MMA, and she dramatically...

Posted in: tate, womens mma, day hiatus, twitter hiatus, strikeforce organization

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Miesha Tate has been mysteriously absent from Twitter since losing the Strikeforce women's bantamweight belt to Ronda Rousey on March 3. Tate, a 25-year-old brawler who has appeared in over a dozen cage fights, is one of the pioneers of social media in women's MMA.

Posted in: tate, women, ronda rousey, miesha, miesha tate

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Ronda Rousey is the best female mixed martial artist in the world. Does that sound crazy? It might, less than a year after her first professional fight. But the reality is that in less than a year Rousey has fought five times, won them all, finished everyone in the first round and, on Saturday, defeated a high-level opponent in Miesha Tate and done it in convincing, impressive fashion. The other reality is that the other fighters who have a case to be No. 1 woman in the world -- Cris Cyborg, Zoila Gurgel and Megumi Fujii -- all have pretty significant strikes against them. We'll get to that after we get past Rousey. And so Rousey is at the top of our list of the best women in the world, which is below. Top 10 pound-for-pound women in MMA (Editor's note: The ranking from the last time we ranked women are in parentheses) 1. Ronda Rousey (5): Tate is a very strong, very experienced fighter who entered Saturday night with a 12-2 record, having never been submitted in her career. And Tate is also a smart fighter who knows how to execute a game plan. But Rousey is so good at what she does -- using a judo throw to get on top in side control and then locking in an arm bar -- that it didn't matter. You could make the case that Rousey is a one-trick pony who doesn't do anything other than rely on her judo and lock in arm bars, but that's a little like saying that Mike Tyson circa 1988 was a one-trick pony who didn't do anything other than knock his opponents out. 2. Cris Cyborg (1): What do we do with Cyborg now that she's suspended for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs? Some would say she doesn't deserve to be ranked at all, but I don't want to ignore the fact that she spent the last few years as the greatest force women's MMA has ever seen. If you think Cyborg was just a steroid-fueled monster who won't win if drug tests force her to get clean, well, that's a valid opinion. But I believe Cyborg is a skilled and talented fighter who will be prepared for big things when her suspension ends. 3. Zoila Gurgel (2): Gurgel is a phenomenal fighter. She's 11-1, her only loss is to Tate in a fight in which she was fighting above her natural weight class, and she's the only person to beat Megumi Fujii. Unfortunately, she's fought only once since beating Fujii and is currently nursing a torn ACL. There's no word on when she'll return. 4. Sarah Kaufman (7): Kaufman put together an outstanding striking display in her victory over Alexis Davis, and she's going to be a tough opponent for Rousey. Kaufman is 15-1 in her career, she has a win over Tate on her record and her MMA experience and striking accumen go far beyond Rousey's. If she can execute an evasive game plan that keeps the fight standing and avoids Rousey's clinch, Kaufman has a chance of winning that fight. 5. Megumi Fujii (4): Fujii is now a whopping 25-1 after her first-round submission win over Karla Benitez on New Year's Eve. Bellator should book her for a rematch with Gurgel. 6. Miesha Tate (3): An elbow injury from Rousey's arm bar may keep her on the shelf for a while, but Tate will be back. She's an impressive fighter who just ran into a force of nature in Rousey. 7. Marloes Coenen (6): Coenen lost her spot in Strikeforce because she was a casualty of the battle between Zuffa and Golden Glory, but I'm hopeful she'll return. She could be a very good matchup for Rousey in the future, but up next she has a fight with Romy Ruyssen on April 28. 8. Jessica Aguilar (8): After beating Patricia Vidonic last month, Aguilar is now on a four-fight winning streak since her split decision loss to Gurgel in 2010. 9. Tara LaRosa (9): Once considered the best female fighter in the world, LaRosa has been inactive for a year and has been largely forgotten while fighting in smaller promotions. I'd love to see her step into the cage in Strikeforce or Bellator. 10. Alexis Davis (10): Davis put together a very game effort against Kaufman, fighting through an ugly cut and putting Kaufman in trouble on the ground at the end of the third round. She'd be a logical future opponent for Tate.

Posted in: fighter, tate, rousey, she, kaufman

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It could be better, and it could be worse. That's a pretty vague statement, but almost everything about Strikeforce is hard to pin down these days and their ratings are no different. Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey averaged 431,000 viewers on Showtime, and peaked at 506,000 for the start of the main event between Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey. The numbers are a definite improvement over the first SF show of 2012, Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine on January 7th, which averaged just 344,000 viewers. And that was on a free preview weekend. Is this a good thing for women's MMA? It could be. The downside is that 431,000 lower than the average of the eight regular SF shows in 2011, and it remains unclear if Strikeforce still has the starpower to maintain high ratings after the contract extension. The ratings for the undercard on Showtime Extreme aren't available at this time. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rating, tate, rousey

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Former middleweight champion Ronaldo Souza walked away from Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” with an event-high $92,000, as “Jacare” took home a $22,000 win bonus following his submission victory over injury replacement Bristol Marunde ($10,000) on Saturday night.

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, jacare, tate, submission victory

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After appearing in the cage for 4:27 in her championship win against Miesha Tate this past Saturday, Ronda Rousey now has been in the cage for 8 minutes and 29 seconds during her amateur and professional mixed martial arts career. But given her personality both inside and outside of the cage, she is certainly not nearing the end of her 15 minutes of fame. Prior to earning a title shot against then-champion Miesha Tate, Rousey had yet to even appear on a regular Strikeforce card. She had two Strikeforce Challengers wins to her name, but her MMA career still did not lengthen her resume by much. Rousey, a bronze medalist in Judo at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, was the first American woman to ever earn a medal in Judo at the Olympics. But it did not take her long to realize that there was not much money to be earned if she continued her current career. She then set her sights on a career in MMA, making her amateur debut just two years after earning the Olympic medal. With her strong pedigree and Judo background, Rousey quickly acclimated to the new art, as she defeated all three of her opponents during her amateur career in under a minute. That continued as she transitioned to fighting as a professional, defeating her first four opponents in a combined 2 minutes and 18 seconds. Following her win in November against Julia Budd, Rousey began to become more vocal, immediately calling out Strikeforce bantamweight champion Miesha Tate. The champion was quick to dismiss Rousey, touting her as inexperienced and not worthy of fighting for the title. But that did not deter Rousey, as she continued to state her case why she should fight for the title. She agreed that she lacked experience, but that the division needed a kick in the ass. She was here to provide that, and Strikeforce agreed. After Gina Carano left MMA, women’s MMA has suffered in popularity and in marquee fights. Cris “Cyborg” Santos was dominant as champion, but never appealed to fans anywhere near as much as Carano. Other champions like Marloes Coenen and Sarah Kaufman suffered from the same ordeal. While Miesha Tate brought more notoriety than any of those fighters, Rousey has brought more than any of those women combined. Rousey brings a bravado and attitude that has been sorely lacking over the last few years. Carano never had the sense of confidence that Rousey displays, instead appealing fans with her looks. Rousey certainly is appealing in that way, but the always reliable ‘it’ factor applies to her as well. Women’s MMA has needed a spokeswoman to take over. No one had stepped up to give you a reason to watch the women fight. More importantly, Rousey is demanding you watch, and it is a mistake if you do not. But just as important with her attitude outside of the cage, her demeanor carries inside to the cage, as well. She had Tate in an armbar within the first minute, but was unable to force her to tap. Once the fight was standing again, Rousey was tagged a few times by Tate. But she stood her ground and was able to pull her into her game again, and finished yet another fight with an armbar submission. Now women’s MMA, and just as importantly, Strikeforce, has a model fighter to build the organization around. As the marquee organization that holds women’s fights, Strikeforce has an opportunity to take advantage of this. As long as they continue to develop challengers for Rousey, the story will only continue to grow. As Rousey grows as a fighter, she will only grow as a spokeswoman, as well.

Posted in: mma, strikeforce, tate, women, rousey

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After appearing in the cage for 4:27 in her championship win against Miesha Tate this past Saturday, Ronda Rousey now has been in the cage for 8 minutes and 29 seconds during her amateur and professional mixed martial arts career. But given her personality both inside and outside of the cage, she is certainly not nearing the end of her 15 minutes of fame. Prior to earning a title shot against then-champion Miesha Tate, Rousey had yet to even appear on a regular Strikeforce card. She had two Strikeforce Challengers wins to her name, but her MMA career still did not lengthen her resume by much. Rousey, a bronze medalist in Judo at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, was the first American woman to ever earn a medal in Judo at the Olympics. But it did not take her long to realize that there was not much money to be earned if she continued her current career. She then set her sights on a career in MMA, making her amateur debut just two years after earning the Olympic medal. With her strong pedigree and Judo background, Rousey quickly acclimated to the new art, as she defeated all three of her opponents during her amateur career in under a minute. That continued as she transitioned to fighting as a professional, defeating her first four opponents in a combined 2 minutes and 18 seconds. Following her win in November against Julia Budd, Rousey began to become more vocal, immediately calling out Strikeforce bantamweight champion Miesha Tate. The champion was quick to dismiss Rousey, touting her as inexperienced and not worthy of fighting for the title. But that did not deter Rousey, as she continued to state her case why she should fight for the title. She agreed that she lacked experience, but that the division needed a kick in the ass. She was here to provide that, and Strikeforce agreed. After Gina Carano left MMA, women’s MMA has suffered in popularity and in marquee fights. Cris “Cyborg” Santos was dominant as champion, but never appealed to fans anywhere near as much as Carano. Other champions like Marloes Coenen and Sarah Kaufman suffered from the same ordeal. While Miesha Tate brought more notoriety than any of those fighters, Rousey has brought more than any of those women combined. Rousey brings a bravado and attitude that has been sorely lacking over the last few years. Carano never had the sense of confidence that Rousey displays, instead appealing fans with her looks. Rousey certainly is appealing in that way, but the always reliable ‘it’ factor applies to her as well. Women’s MMA has needed a spokeswoman to take over. No one had stepped up to give you a reason to watch the women fight. More importantly, Rousey is demanding you watch, and it is a mistake if you do not. But just as important with her attitude outside of the cage, her demeanor carries inside to the cage, as well. She had Tate in an armbar within the first minute, but was unable to force her to tap. Once the fight was standing again, Rousey was tagged a few times by Tate. But she stood her ground and was able to pull her into her game again, and finished yet another fight with an armbar submission. Now women’s MMA, and just as importantly, Strikeforce, has a model fighter to build the organization around. As the marquee organization that holds women’s fights, Strikeforce has an opportunity to take advantage of this. As long as they continue to develop challengers for Rousey, the story will only continue to grow. As Rousey grows as a fighter, she will only grow as a spokeswoman, as well.

Posted in: mma, strikeforce, tate, women, rousey

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Nine fighters were issued medical suspensions after Saturday's Strikeforce card in Ohio, including main event former champ Miesha Tate, who is out indefinitely after tapping to an armbar from new...

Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, suspension, tate, rousey

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Nine fighters were medically suspended following Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” on Saturday night, including former champions Miesha Tate and Ronaldo Souza.

Posted in: saturday night, strikeforce, tate, souza, miesha

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Going to be? I think considering the state of women's mixed martial arts (MMA), she's already there. But far be it from me to correct the President of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), who had time to reflect on Ronda Rousey's joint-jamming win over Miesha Tate in the main event of Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" last Saturday night (March 3, 2012) in Columbus. Unfortunately, the brightest stars often burn out the quickest. That's not to suggest the "Rowdy" one doesn't have the skills to keep herself atop the 135-pound division for years to come, but with Cristiane Santos serving a steroid suspension, the only thing that stands between her and an empty nest is an eager little beaver named Sarah Kaufman. The Canadian contender (and former champion) is a fierce competitor in her own right, but it could be difficult to generate enough interest in a Rousey vs. Kaufman fight to give it "star" status. White comments on the future of women's MMA at today's UFC on FOX 3 press conference, after the jump. "I've been saying for a long time about the women's division. There aren't enough good women to create an entire division but every once in awhile you're gonna have these one-off fights between two women who are very, very good and that happened last weekend. It was a great fight, it was a big fight for women's mixed martial arts and I think Ronda Rousey's gonna be a big star." Rousey is 5-0 in her professional career, with all five wins coming by way of first-round armbar submission. Her Olympic background, along with her ability to snap elbows, has given combat sports fans plenty to talk about. But for how long? For a more detailed recap on the fight between Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey click here and for complete Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" results and detailed blow-by-blow commentary of the televised main card fights click here. To see a pic of the Tate submission click here and to here Rousey detail how she did it click here. The latest status on "Takedown's" dislocated elbow here.

Posted in: fight, tate, women, rousey, ronda

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Nick Diaz thinks yes: So does MMA Junkie's Dr Benjamin: I took issue via Twitter (@drjcbenjamin) with the lack of intervention by the referee prior to the injury to Tate's elbow. That was the second episode in the fight that a deep and prolonged joint lock had been applied to Tate's left elbow. As it was agonizingly and slowly hyper-extending, the referee watched and decided not to issue a stern verbal warning to "immediately improve your position, or I'll stop this fight!"Well, we all viewed the aftermath.Like it or not, the referee has a responsibility to protect a fighter from suffering unnecessary harm or injury when the fighter is not or cannot intelligently defend. A deep joint lock is more dangerous than a fighter turtled up getting pummeled with ground and pound – a situation that is commonly stopped via TKO. I was pretty okay with what happened, mainly because it was dramatic as hell and I'm not going to be the one who has to deal with the painful clicking in my elbow for the rest of my life. How will Miesha be able to find a husband if her dish scrubbing arm is all jacked up???But it's hard not to see Benjamin's point. He revealed himself as a bit of a sexist dolt when he tried to convince the world that women shouldn't fight five minute rounds, but I think this column would have been the same regardless of if it was a chick or a dude getting their arm destroyed in this fashion. 99.9% of the time, the ref steps in as soon as the elbow pops backwards.The tricky part was that Ronda hit that point on Miesha a minute into the fight and Miesha promptly escaped and continued to fight on. That combined with the title implications left the ref in a situation where stopping the fight without a tap would have discounted everything Tate had done to make it to that point. The message from that first armbar was that Miesha didn't give a sh*t about the arm, so who was the ref to disagree?"Just the guy who's supposed to protect stubborn idiots from themselves" you say? Touche.

Posted in: fight, tate, elbow, miesha, ref

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submitted by Zapatista77 [link] [comment]

Posted in: payout, tate, salary, rousey, zapatista

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Ronda Rousey had not only gotten in Miesha Tate's head heading into their Strikeforce women's title fight this past Saturday, she had gotten in the head of Tate's boyfriend Bryan Caraway. Caraway took to Twitter on Friday night, having a meltdown about beating up Rousey for challenging her and saying that he would break her arm and "knock her teeth down her throat." Caraway ended up deleting the tweet after significant backlash which saw him say he only meant it "in sports" not that he wanted to beat up a woman. Of course, that didn't exactly make sense with him saying earlier in his meltdown that he doesn't hit women, but Rousey isn't a woman. ...get it? After taking Tate's title (along with her arm), Rousey is now doing the press rounds and while on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Ronda addressed Caraway's tweets: "It's a free country, you can say whatever you want," Rousey said. "He's probably not that smart. I mean, what a way to make yourself look like a retard, to say women can't compete with men on the same level in any sport, and to say he wanted to knock my teeth down my throat. I don't think he needs to be reprimanded because I think anyone that saw that has reprimanded him enough. He's done enough harm on his own making himself look like an idiot that I don't think anyone else needs to step in." Asked about the sentiment behind Caraway's tweet, that she could not compete with a man, Rousey laughed. "Of course I can, dude," she said. "Who is he? You never heard of him if it wasn't for Miesha. He's just some dude. He's not even like a legit fighter. He's just some random guy that likes fighting." Video after the jump... SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey MMA Hour video:

Posted in: tate, he, rousey, ronda, meltdown

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The growth of women’s MMA is still a work in progress but with fighters like Ronda Rousey leading the charge it appears things should continue in a positive direction. Not only was Rousey part of a much-anticipated Strikeforce headliner against Miesha Tate this past weekend but she, along with Tate and fellow female Sarah Kaufman, out-earned a number of their male counterparts in terms of both base pay and total take-home. The list of salaries from Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey was released on Monday, and though the rundown was topped by Ronaldo Souza, it appeared to indicate good things could be in store for the sport as long as the bevy of talented women continues to impress. Rousey made $32,000 for her title-winning tap-out of Tate including a $17,000 win bonus while Tate in turn was paid $19,000. Meanwhile, Kaufman exited the arena with a $25,000 check in tow. Souza and Josh Thomson were the card’s highest earners with $92,000 and $80,000 a piece. A Rundown of Medical Suspensions from Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey Read below for a full list of payouts: Ryan Couture: $10,000 (no win bonus) def. Conor Heun: $8,000 Pat Healy: $22,500 (includes $5,000 win bonus) def. Caros Fodor: $12,000 Roger Bowling: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) def. Brandon Saling: $5,000 Sarah Kaufman: $25,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Alexis Davis: $4,000 Ronaldo Souza: $92,000 (includes $22,000) win bonus) def. Bristol Marunde: $10,000 Lumumba Sayers: $10,000 (includes $5,000 win bonus) def. Scott Smith: $65,000 Kazuo Misaki: $50,000 (no win bonus) def. Paul Daley: $45,000 Josh Thomson: $80,000 (no win bonus) def. K.J. Noons: $38,000 Ronda Rousey: $32,000 (includes $17,000 win bonus) def. Miesha Tate: $19,000 PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE Tweet

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, bonus, ronda rousey, rousey

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Miesha Tate was one of four fighters to receive indefinite medical suspensions following Saturday's Strikeforce show.

Posted in: show, fighter, suspension, tate, miesha

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Former champions Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza and Josh Thomson were the leading earners Saturday at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey in Columbus, Ohio.

Posted in: vs, tate, thomson, josh thomson, earners saturday

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Ronda Rousey seems to have an infatuation with submissions, arm bars to be exact. The former Olympic Judo medalist, began her amateur mixed martial arts (MMA) career with three straight wins via arm bar, all in under a minute. She then continued her pro MMA career with four consecutive victories, again under a minute, again via arm bar. Stepping into the Strikeforce Hexagon this past weekend (Mar., 3, 2012) at the Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey event, she undoubtedly faced her toughest opponent to date in Miesha Tate. However, it was apparently business as usual as she defeated Tate to capture the Strikeforce women's 135-pound title. This time, it took longer than a minute, but it ended the same way her other seven fights did, via first round arm bar. Miesha was able to hang on from an attempted submission from the former Olympian early on, however, the second attempt was latched on tight, and this time, "Rowdy" did not let up until "Takedown" eventually tapped. Taking a page from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight champion Frank Mir, the newly crowned Strikeforce Bantamweight champion says she will hold on to a submission until she feels a tap, even if she hears a snap. At least that's what she said today as she appeared on "The MMA Hour." Check out her comments about the gruesome arm bar and what she thinks about facing Miesha Tate's boyfriend, UFC fighter, Bryan Caraway after the jump. "The rules that I'm used to, that I grew up with in Judo is that if you don't tap, it doesn't count, even if it's broken, even if it's really broken. If the person doesn't tap you keep going. If she had a free hand, then she could have tapped at anytime. I think the referee made the right call, it's up to (her). He was trying to respect her and her choice, she could have given up at anytime. If he would have stopped it sooner, then other people would have been upset that he stopped it before the tap. Anything they do in that situation, people are just going to find a way to criticize." Tate has since confirmed that she did not suffer any broken bones during the fight. Over the weekend, Rousey and Miesha Tate's boyfriend, UFC Lightweight, Bryan Caraway, were involved in a back-and-forth Twitter war after Rousey said she could beat him in a fight. Caraway, regrettably, responded via his official Twitter account : " that was just a publicity stunt. Guys and girls arent = I would knock her head off w 1 arm or choke her, not a real question" He has since then spent a lot of time on his account explaining his comments to people who obviously took offense to him saying that about a female and stated that he clearly does not advocate hitting women, but rather, was replying to a comment that he took offense to by Rousey. Rousey reiterated on the "The MMA Hour" that she still is confident she can beat him: "Of course I can. Who is he? You would have never heard of him if it wasn't for Miesha. He's just some dude, he's not even a legit fighter, he is just some random guy that likes fighting, but it wont be approved by any athletic commission out there. People don't want to see a guy and girl beating each other on TV." For now, Rousey will keep on fighting women and will more than likely defend her 135-pound title against number once contender Sarah Kaufman down the road. Rousey gave a huge breath of air to women's MMA with her outstanding performance on Saturday night, backing up all the trash talk leading up to it. But with the depth of talent, or lack thereof, in the women's 135-pound division, how much longer can we expect to see the "Rowdy" one dazzle us with her slick submission moves?

Posted in: tate, arm, miesha, rousey, arm bar

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Not only did former middleweight champion Ronaldo Souza depart Columbus, Ohio with a victory under his belt at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey but did so with the largest check of any of the evening’s competitors. According to a list of salaries provided by the Ohio Athletic Commission, “Jacare” earned $92,000 for his success against Bristol Marunde. However, Souza did not have the night’s largest base pay, as his total take-home was assisted by a bonus for winning. Receiving that honor was Josh Thomson who made $80,000 for beating K.J. Noons in co-headlining action without any additional money for bringing home the “W”. Meanwhile, new bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey was paid $32,000 for her exciting clash with former title-holder Miesha Tate who earned $19,000 in defeat. Also standing out, albeit for perhaps the wrong reasons, Scott Smith earned $65,000 for his lackluster showing against Lumumba Sayers. Read below for a complete list of salaries from Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey: Ryan Couture: $10,000 (no win bonus) def. Conor Heun: $8,000 Pat Healy: $22,500 (includes $5,000 win bonus) def. Caros Fodor: $12,000 Roger Bowling: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) def. Brandon Saling: $5,000 Sarah Kaufman: $25,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Alexis Davis: $4,000 Ronaldo Souza: $92,000 (includes $22,000) win bonus) def. Bristol Marunde: $10,000 Lumumba Sayers: $10,000 (includes $5,000 win bonus) def. Scott Smith: $65,000 Kazuo Misaki: $50,000 (no win bonus) def. Paul Daley: $45,000 Josh Thomson: $80,000 (no win bonus) def. K.J. Noons: $38,000 Ronda Rousey: $32,000 (includes $17,000 win bonus) def. Miesha Tate: $19,000 PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, bonus, souza, rousey

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Two days after defeating Miesha Tate to win the Strikeforce women's bantamweight championship, Ronda Rousey was all smiles and laughs. On the road to New York, she received a congratulatory phone call from UFC president Dana White. Her mentor "Judo" Gene LeBell said that Rousey had signed 2,000 autographs in the hours after winning. And after a strict diet on the road to making 135 pounds for the first time, Rousey had celebrated by downing a couple of boxes of Girl Scout cookies.Yes, life is good for Rousey, whose biggest problem right now is recovering from all of the excitement."I've been not moving as much as possible," Rousey said on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour. "It's just been so tiring not just physically but mentally. I just feel like I've been tense and holding my shoulders higher or something like that for months on end, and I finally just have just tons of relaxation and I really just don't want to move. So I'm very relaxed. It feels very relaxing to be champion." As she has in all of her five pro fights thus far, Rousey won the bout via first-round arm bar after months of talk exchanged between the pair. Things may have reached their apex in intensity on the night before the fight, when Tate's boyfriend, UFC lightweight Bryan Caraway, tweeted "if [Rousey] wants to challenge a man I'll knock her teeth dwn (sic) her throat the (sic) break her arm!" Caraway eventually deleted the tweet but even following the fight, there appears to be no love lost between the Rousey and Tate camps."It’s a free country, you can say whatever you want," Rousey said. "He’s probably not that smart. I mean, what a way to make yourself look like a retard, to say women can't compete with men on the same level in any sport, and to say he wanted to knock my teeth down my throat. I don't think he needs to be reprimanded because I think anyone that saw that has reprimanded him enough. He's done enough harm on his own making himself look like an idiot that I don't think anyone else needs to step in."Asked about the sentiment behind Caraway's tweet, that she could not compete with a man, Rousey laughed."Of course I can, dude," she said. "Who is he? You never heard of him if it wasn’t for Miesha. He's just some dude. He's not even like a legit fighter. He's just some random guy that likes fighting."As far as the fight itself, Rousey acknowledged that she was surprised by Tate's aggressive strategy, coming out with a flurry at the opening bell. But Rousey said she wasn't hurt by any of the strikes during the exchange.She also noted she wasn't frustrated by Tate escaping from her first armbar attempt, saying she realized in the moment that she never truly secured it. She later sunk in a fight-ending armbar that bent Tate's arm at a gruesome angle. Tate told MMA Fighting on Sunday that she didn't' suffer a break, but must still undergo an MRI to check for further damage.Referee Mark Matheny has taken some fire for letting the fight continue to the point Tate's arm was in danger, but Rousey said he made the right call."He was trying to respect her and her choice, and she was choosing to let it go," she said. "She could’ve given up at anytime. If he stopped it sooner, they would have said, 'Oh he stopped it before she tapped.' Anything we do in that kind of situation, people are going to find a way to criticize."Perhaps one day in the future, the two will rematch and the feud will be ignited again, but for now Rousey is going to enjoy the moment and her newfound celebrity. She had originally set out to bring attention not only to herself, but also to the women of the sport, and there's no denying she did that."That was one of my goals when I started women’s MMA," she said. "I knew that there was a danger of it falling into obscurity. I wanted to do all that and rejuvenate the whole sport. I'm glad that it’s catching on and that I’m actually able to have an impact."

Posted in: fight, tate, arm, he, rousey

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While it may not be surprising to hear former 135-pound champion Miesha Tate will be spending some time on the sidelines after having her arm shredded by current title-holder Ronda Rousey in the main event at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey, the talented grappler will not be the only fighter from the card with a mandatory vacation ahead of her. According to a list of medical suspensions provided by the Ohio Athletic Commission, Tate will be joined by seven other scrappers including Ronaldo Souza, Conor Heun, and Roger Bowling who were all listed as having possibly suffered broken hands in their bouts. The quartet of competitors’ suspensions were all listed as “indefinite” meaning no exact amount of time could be determined until follow-up from medical professionals could be conducted. Highlights from Tate’s Tussle with Rousey The four other fighters listed by the OAC were Brandon Saling, Pat Healy, Alexis Davis, and Kazuo Misaki. Saling (precautionary reasons), Healy (lacerations), and Davis (lacerations) will all be out for 30 days while Misaki (lacerations) has a 45-day wait a head of him. Tweet

Posted in: fighter, tate, rousey, misaki lacerations, commission tate

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While it may not be surprising to hear former 135-pound champion Miesha Tate will be spending some time on the sidelines after having her arm shredded by current title-holder Ronda Rousey in the main event at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey, the talented grappler will not be the only fighter from the card with a mandatory vacation ahead of her. According to a list of medical suspensions provided by the Ohio Athletic Commission, Tate will be joined by seven other scrappers including Ronaldo Souza, Conor Heun, and Roger Bowling who were all listed as having possibly suffered broken hands in their bouts. The quartet of competitors’ suspensions were all listed as “indefinite” meaning no exact amount of time could be determined until follow-up from medical professionals could be conducted. Highlights from Tate’s Tussle with Rousey The five other fighters listed by the OAC were Brandon Saling, Pat Healy, Alexis Davis, Sarah Kaufman, and Kazuo Misaki. Saling (precautionary reasons), Healy (lacerations), Kaufman (precautionary reasons), and Davis (lacerations) will all be out for 30 days while Misaki (lacerations) has a 45-day wait a head of him. Tweet

Posted in: fighter, tate, rousey, misaki lacerations, commission tate

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Strikeforce medical suspensions and injuries for the "Tate vs. Rousey" event on March 3 in Columbus were released earlier today by the Ohio Athletic Commission (CSAC) for the Showtime telecast held last Saturday night at the Nationwide Arena. Former women's 135-pound champion Miesha Tate, as expected, will be out of action indefinitely after suffering a severe elbow injury during her armbar submission loss to new division champion, Ronda Rousey. Joining her on the injured reserves is former middleweight champion Ronaldo Souza. "Jacare" busted his mitt by repeatedly smashing it against Bristol Marunde's face. Welterweight Roger Bowling and lightweight Conor Heun also hurt their hands this weekend and have no current timetable for return. But that's not all. Here are the complete Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" medical suspensions and injuries (via MMA Fighting): Miesha Tate: Indefinite suspension (elbow injury)Ronaldo Souza: Indefinite suspension (hand injury)Roger Bowling: Indefinite suspension (hand injury)Conor Heun: Indefinite suspension (hand injury)Kazuo Misaki: 45 days (facial laceration)Pat Healy: 30 days (head laceration)Alexis Davis: 30 days (facial laceration)Brandon Saling: 30 days (precautionary reasons) Just a quick reminder: Fighters often return to action much quicker once doctors give them the green light. The lengthy suspensions are just a precaution in most cases. For a more detailed recap on the fight between Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey click here and for complete Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" results and detailed blow-by-blow commentary of the televised main card fights click here.

Posted in: day, suspension, injury, tate, rousey

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While Miesha Tate has been suspended indefinitely by the Ohio Athletic Commission pending confirmation that her arm wasn't trashed, there's at least a little good news already: “I had X-rays last night,” wrote Tate, in a message to MMAFighting. “No bones are broken, which I already knew. Other than that, I have to get an MRI to find out anything further.” There's still a good chance there was ligament damage and who knows what else. It can't be good to have the same arm snapped backwards twice in the span of five minutes, but I bet Miesha would rather rehab the elbow than try to sleep knowing she punked out of a fight with her nemisis in under a minute. She makes her camp at Team Alpha Male proud and may have just dethroned Urijah Faber as the toughest stud out of the group. You don't see those horrific kinds of armbars often, mainly because 99.9% of the fighter population is smart enough to tap out. Behold the insanity womens' hatred of each other can produce.Ronda Rousey has stolen a lot of the oxygen leading up to and following this event, but now would be a good time to tip our hats to Miesha Tate for taking the fight to Ronda and being such a tough bitch through those armbars. Not only didn't she tap to the first one, she shrugged it off like it was no big deal and kept coming forward. Even when the second was locked up, she refused to tap until her arm went past the 270 degree mark.She also revealed some chinks in Ronda's armor, namely her stand-up. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to keep her distance and ended up on the ground, which is to Ronda as blood-tinged water is to sharks. It will be interesting to see if Sarah Kaufman, who's career is largely built around striking from the outside, will be able to do anything with that knowledge. Someone better exploit that hole soon - who knows how long it will remain open? She looks excited to fight Ronda, doesn't she?

Posted in: fight, tate, miesha, ronda, miesha tate

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Ronda Rousey won the Strikeforce 135-pound title last Saturday night (March 3, 2012) at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, submitting Miesha Tate with a grisly armbar in the very first round live on Showtime. It was her fifth straight submission victory within the opening frame, although "Takedown" lasted the longest inside the cage with "Rowdy" than anyone else. Now, Rener and Ryron Gracie are ready to show you how it all went down. For what it's worth, prior to the finish, Tate performed admirably, exchanging punches and even momentarily taking Rousey's back and working for a submission of her own. The former Olympian's top-shelf judo and tosses proved to be just too much, however, as Rousey was able to literally flip the momentum in her favor at just about every turn. For a more detailed recap on the fight between Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey click here and for complete Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" results and detailed blow-by-blow commentary of the televised main card fights click here. To see a pic of the Tate submission click here and to here Rousey detail how she did it click here. The latest status on "Takedown's" dislocated elbow here.

Posted in: click, tate, rousey, ronda, columbus ohio

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The Ohio Athletic Commission has released the medical suspensions and drug test findings from Saturday night’s Strikeforce: “Tate vs. Rousey.” Leading the medical suspensions were Miesha Tate (elbow), Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (broken hand), Roger Bowling (possible broken hand), and Conor Heun (possible broken hand), all of which were suspended indefinitely until cleared by a doctor. Four fighters were randomly tested for performance enhancing drugs and drugs of abuse from Saturday’s card as well. The OAC reported that all of the participants passed. However, late-replacement Bristol Marunde’s tests are pending due to being granted a therapeutic use exemption(TUE) for testosterone. Marunde was not a part of the random screening but must submit to increased testing due to his TUE. Full Medical Suspensions (all fighters suspended seven days): Miesha Tate – suspended indefinitely (elbow) Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza – suspended indefinitely (broken hand) Roger Bowling – suspended indefinitely (possible broken hand) Conor Heun – suspended indefinitely (possible broken hand) Kazuo Misaki – suspended 45 days (facial laceration) Alexis Davis – suspended 30 days (facial laceration) Pat Healy – suspended 30 days (head laceration) Brandon Saling – suspended 30 days (precautionary reasons)

Posted in: day, suspension, tate, hand, drug

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Strikeforce fighter payouts for those who competed at the "Tate vs. Rousey" event this past Saturday night (March 3, 2012), which aired on the Showtime network from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, were released earlier today by the Ohio Athletic Commission. Former Middleweight Champion Ronaldo Souza was the chief check casher on Monday morning, with 92,000 reasons to hit the drive-up window at his local financial institution. Not far behind him was lightweight "Punk" Josh Thomson, who somehow turned shit into salad with his $80,000 payday. Showtime's leading lady and new 135-pound champion Ronday Rousey took home $32,000, which she can probably double by raffling off Miesha Tate's arm at a Columbus tricky tray. "Takedown" was beatdown, but still got a pretty penny with $19,000 simoleons. That's not all. The complete list of Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" salaries and payouts (via MMA Fighting) after the jump: Ronda Rousey: $32,000 (includes $17,000 win bonus)Miesha Tate: $19,000Rousey def. Tate via submission (armbar) Josh Thomson: $80,000 (no win bonus)K.J. Noons: $38,000Thomson def. Noons via unanimous decision Kazuo Misaki: $50,000 (no win bonus)Paul Daley: $45,000Misaki def. Daley via unanimous decision Lumumba Sayers: $10,000 (includes $5,000 win bonus)Scott Smith: $65,000Sayers def. Smith via submission (guillotine choke) Ronaldo Souza: $92,000 (includes $22,000 win bonus)Bristol Marunde: $10,000Souza def. Marunde via submission (arm-triangle choke) Sarah Kaufman: $25,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)Alexis Davis: $4,000Kaufman def. Davis via majority decision Roger Bowling: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)Brandon Saling: $5,000Bowling def. Saling via technical knockout Pat Healy: $22,500 (includes $5,000 win bonus)Caros Fodor: $12,000Healy def. Fodor via submission (arm-triangle choke) Ryan Couture: $10,000 (no win bonus)Conor Heun: $8,000Couture def. Heun via technical knockout The total disclosed payroll for Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" was $543,500. Keep in mind the salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc. For complete Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here and here.

Posted in: strikeforce, submission, tate, rousey, submission armtriangle

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Miesha Tate and three others received indefinite medical suspensions in the aftermath of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey, the Ohio Athletic Commission confirmed to MMAFighting.com on Monday. Tate, the former Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion, appeared to injure her left arm while defending two grisly armbar attempts during her headlining loss to Ronda Rousey. "Takedown" later revealed to MMAFighting.com that her arm was not broken, miraculously, and she was awaiting further MRI results to discover the extent of the damage. Former Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, and undercard participants Roger Bowling and Conor Heun also received indefinite suspensions for various hand injuries. Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey took place Saturday, March 3, 2012 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio and aired live on Showtime and Showtime Extreme. Additionally, PRIDE veteran Kazuo Misaki received a 45-day suspension due to minor facial damage, and Pat Healy, Alexis Davis, and Brandon Saling each received 30-day suspensions for assorted injuries. The official Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey medical suspension report can be read below: Miesha Tate: Indefinite suspension - elbow injuryRonaldo Souza: Indefinite suspension - hand injuryRoger Bowling: Indefinite suspension - hand injuryConor Heun: Indefinite suspension - hand injuryKazuo Misaki: 45 days - facial lacerationPat Healy: 30 days - head lacerationAlexis Davis: 30 days - facial lacerationBrandon Saling: 30 days - precautionary reasons

Posted in: strikeforce, day, suspension, tate, rousey

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The Ohio Athletic Commission released the salary information for Saturday's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey card, and the top earners were Ronaldo Souza and Josh Thomson. The main event winner and new women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey finished just seventh in terns of payout, but still made a healthy $32,000 for her win over Meisha Tate. Not bad for her fifth career fight. Here's the full breakdown of salaries for the event: Ronda Rousey: $32,000 (includes $17,000 win bonus) Miesha Tate: $19,000 Josh Thomson: $80,000 (no win bonus) K.J. Noons: $38,000 Kazuo Misaki: $50,000 (no win bonus) Paul Daley: $45,000 Lumumba Sayers: $10,000 ($5,000 win bonus) Scott Smith: $65,000 Ronaldo Souza: $92,000 ($22,000) win bonus) Bristol Marunde: $10,000 Sarah Kaufman: $25,000 (i$10,000 win bonus) Alexis Davis: $4,000 Roger Bowling: $16,000 ($8,000 win bonus) Brandon Saling: $5,000 Pat Healy: $22,500 ($5,000 win bonus) Caros Fodor: $12,000 Ryan Couture: $10,000 (no win bonus) Conor Heun: $8,000SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey

Posted in: tate, bonus, rousey, meisha tate, ronaldo souza

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The Ohio Athletic Commission has released the payouts for Saturday night’s Strikeforce: “Tate vs. Rousey”Ronda fight card. Topping the $543,000 payroll were Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza ($92,000) and Josh Thomson ($80,000). Full Fighter Payroll: Ronda Rousey – $32,000 (includes $17,000 win bonus) def. Miesha Tate – $19,000 Josh Thomson – $80,000 (no win bonus) def. K.J. Noons – $38,000 Kazuo Misaki – $50,000 (no win bonus) def. Paul Daley – $45,000 Lumumba Sayers – $10,000 (includes $5,000 win bonus) def. Scott Smith – $65,000 Ronaldo Souza – $92,000 (includes $22,000) win bonus) def. Bristol Marunde – $10,000 Sarah Kaufman – $25,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Alexis Davis – $4,000 Roger Bowling: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)def. Brandon Saling – $5,000 Pat Healy – $22,500 (includes $5,000 win bonus) def. Carlos Fodor – $12,000 Ryan Couture – $10,000 (no win bonus) def. Conor Heun – $8,000

Posted in: payout, tate, bonus, souza, thomson

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The OAC has released the fighter payouts for Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey.” Keep in mind, these figures represent the base contracted pay the fighter receives from the promotion. These figures do not include any additional bonuses or sponsorship money, which in many cases exceeds a fighter’s base pay. These numbers also do not account for taxes, insurance, and license fees. Former Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza led the pack with a $92,000 payday. Josh Thomson was close behind with $80,000 followed by Scott Smith with $65,000 and Kazuo Misaki with $50,000. Meanwhile, Strikeforce certainly got a lot of bang for their buck in the main event. Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey, who did a great job selling the show, only made off with disclosed $19,000 and $32,000 paydays. Hopefully they got a little extra in the form of undisclosed bonuses for their stellar performances both in and out of the cage. Payouts Courtesy of MMA Junkie: Ronda Rousey: $32,000 ($15k + $17k win bonus) Miesha Tate: $19,000 Josh Thomson: $80,000 (no win bonus) K.J. Noons: $38,000 Kazuo Misaki: $50,000 (no win bonus) Paul Daley: $45,000 Lumumba Sayers: $10,000 ($5k + $5k) Scott Smith: $65,000 Ronaldo Souza: $92,000 ($70k + $22k) Bristol Marunde: $10,000 Sarah Kaufman: $25,000 ($15k + $10k) Alexis Davis: $4,000 Roger Bowling: $16,000 ($8k + $8k) Brandon Saling: $5,000 Pat Healy: $22,500 ($17.5k + $5k) Carlos Fodor: $12,000 Ryan Couture: $10,000 (no win bonus) Conor Heun: $8,000 Total Payout A disclosed total of $543,500 was paid out to the fighters.

Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, tate, bonus, rousey

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Former Strikeforce champion Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza sits atop the Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey fighter salaries and payroll from Columbus, Ohio.

Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, tate, salary, rousey

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A nasty armbar submission courtesy of new Strikeforce champion Ronda Rousey has landed former title holder Miesha Tate on indefinite suspension from the Ohio Athletic Commission.

Posted in: strikeforce, suspension, tate, miesha, rousey

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Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey was the star attraction of the night, but former Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo Souza received the night's highest disclosed payout at $92,000. Behind Souza, former Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson took home a flat $80,000 for his hard-earned win over K.J. Noons. Strikeforce middleweight Scott Smith pulled in the third-highest payout of the night with $65,000 for his first-round submission loss to Lumumba Sayers. Including his win bonus, Sayers earned $10,000 for the biggest win of his career. Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey took place at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio and was headlined by a bantamweight title clash between Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate. The event aired on Showtime and Showtime Extreme. MMA Fighting requested and received the disclosed payouts from the Ohio Athletic Commission. They are as follows: Ronda Rousey $32,000 (includes $17,000 win bonus) vs. Miesha Tate $19,000K.J. Noons $38,000 vs. Josh Thomson $80,000 (no win bonus)Kasou Masaki $50,000 (no win bonus) vs. Paul Daley $45,000 Lumumba Sayers $10,000 (includes $5,000 win bonus) vs. Scott Smith $65,000Bristol Marunde $10,000 vs. Jacare Souza $92,000 (includes $22,000 win bonus)Alexis Davis $4,000 vs. Sara Kaufman $25,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)Brandon Saling $5,000 vs. Roger Bowling $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)Pat Healy $22,500 (includes $5,000 win bonus) vs. Caros Fodor $12,000Conor Heun $8,000 vs. Ryan Couture $10,000 (no win bonus)

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, bonus, rousey

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submitted by ArghZombies [link] [16 comments]

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, ronda rousey, ronda, arghzombie

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Former champs Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza ($92,000) and Josh Thomson ($80,000) took home the biggest paydays at this past weekend's "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" event. Headliners Miesha Tate ($19,000) and Ronda Rousey ($32,000) lagged behind on the event's payroll, which totaled $543,500. MMAjunkie.com today requested and received the list of official disclosed paydays from the Ohio Athletic Commission.

Posted in: vs, tate, rousey, thomson, events payroll

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Once again, the female fighters stole the show on a Strikeforce Saturday night in Columbus, Ohio. Now we sort through the aftermath for the biggest winners, losers, and everything in between.Biggest Winner: Ronda RouseyTurns out she was ready for this level of competition after all. The outspoken Olympic medalist showed Tate that there’s more to this judo stuff than you can learn in just a couple months. Once the fight hit the floor, Rousey overpowered and outmaneuvered Tate with shocking ease. Even when Tate knew to look out for the armbar, she couldn’t stay out of it. That’s not to say there aren’t still some holes in Rousey’s game -- the way she seems to lead with her chin on the feet, for instance -- but anyone who can submit Tate that easily and that brutally is someone who’s going to give future challengers a lot of sleepless nights. She may have talked her way into this fight, but her performance proved she belongs. Now women’s MMA has the kind of brash champion it needs to shake things up. Up to this point, female fighters have tended to play it a little too nice outside the cage, possibly because they all felt themselves to be a part of the same struggle. Rousey just skipped to the front of the line by stepping on her predecessors’ backs, and now she might be hard to dislodge from that top spot. Things are getting interesting, in other words. Just in time, too. Biggest Loser: Miesha TateFirst of all, how is her arm not broken? How is that even possible? Rousey had her arm looking like Olive Oyl in the old Popeye cartoons by the time she tapped, and you’re telling me that the bones in a human arm can withstand that? This changes everything I thought I knew about the human body, and I'm not sure I like that. It’s got to be a bummer for Tate to go down to the same submission that Rousey used on every other opponent, so I can understand her reluctance to tap to it. Still, it’s one thing to hold on if you’re working for an escape or trying to ride out the round. Tate was doing neither during that final armbar. She refused to tap out of pure stubbornness, which is kind of cool, I guess, but also very risky when you need a working arm just to stay employed. You can’t question Tate’s toughness after that fight, but maybe you can question whether she was adequately prepared for Rousey’s judo throws. Even if her arm isn’t actually broken, my guess is she might still get some doctor-mandated time off to think about where things went wrong.Least Impressive in Victory: Josh ThomsonAt least he gave us an honest appraisal of his own lackluster performance. "It was s--t," he said in his post-fight interview. Yeah, that pretty much nails it. He did what he had to do to get the decision over KJ Noons, but that’s all. He made things slightly better for himself by owning up to the boring monotony of the whole thing, kind of like how obese comedians have learned to make fun of their own girth just to beat other people to the punch. Trouble is, you can only take that out that so many times before people start to wonder why you don’t do something about it. Thomson blamed his training, which he said he’d altered just so he could finally get through a camp without getting injured. Apparently it didn’t leave him with enough gas in the tank to do much more than hold Noons down. There has to be a happy medium between not training hard enough and training so hard you can’t get out of bed in the morning. Plenty of other fighters seem to find it. Why can’t Thomson?Most Surprising: Kazuo MisakiComing into this fight, I thought all Misaki had to offer was a head hard enough to take Paul Daley’s brain-scrambling punches. Turned out he had a lot more than that, and Daley had a lot less. Misaki earned that decision, and I think everyone but Daley (and one of the three judges) knew it. It just goes to show that sometimes you don’t need one spectacular attribute to win a fight. Sometimes toughness and technique is enough. Of course, it helps if your opponent tries to rely too much of a grappling game that just isn’t there.Best Argument in Favor of a ‘Showtime Extreme’ Subscription: Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis DavisYou could point out that it doesn’t make a ton of sense for what was essentially the number one contender bout to be relegated to the prelims when the title fight itself was slotted for the main event. And you’d be right. Maybe Strikeforce thought fans would rebel at the thought of two women’s fights on the main card, but the truth is Kaufman and Davis put on a much better show than any of the men’s fights on Saturday night. You’re telling me viewers wouldn’t have preferred to see Kaufman and Davis slugging it out rather than Thomson and Noons hugging it out? The bright side is, at least Strikeforce has found a way to televise its prelims so fans didn’t have to miss that scrap entirely. Good thing, too. Otherwise it might have been really baffling to keep showing a lumped up Kaufman smiling from cageside before the Rousey-Tate fight.Most Depressing: Scott SmithMaybe it’s the years and the beatings catching up with him, but Smith looked like a man who was just showing up to get a paycheck. He appeared neither physically prepared nor psychologically motivated, and he tapped quickly to a guillotine choke that he didn’t even try to escape. Maybe that’s a little too harsh. Maybe he had, as fighters so often do, a litany of reasons/excuses for not being in top form on Saturday night. But if you’re not going to try any harder than that once you’re in the cage, does it even matter? Smith got by on his punching power and his ability to take a beating for years. Maybe he did it for too long, or learned too many of the wrong lessons in the process. All I know for sure is that this is the wrong line of work for someone who’s just going through the motions.Most Deserving of a Closer Look: Pat HealyHe’s been a background player for Strikeforce these last couple of years, but his win over Caros Fodor shows that he’s earned a bigger role. It’s his fourth consecutive victory in the promotion, and his second straight submission over a legitimate talent. Could it be that Healy has finally found his groove? It might be too early to tell, but I wouldn’t mind seeing him face tougher competition in some main card bouts in order to help us find out.Most Bizarrely Enjoyable: Strikeforce’s Broadcast TrioIt used to be cloying. Then it got kind of fun. Then it got almost too fun to be professional, but now Mauro Ranallo, Pat Miletich, and Frank Shamrock have found their sweet spot. They know each other well enough to make the broadcasts seem effortless at times, and they might have finally gotten comfortable enough with another to make it seem like we’re just eavesdropping on three knowledgeable analysts, each of whom brings something different to the table. For instance, when Ranallo went to great pains to pin down the Japanese name for a particular throw, Miletich chimed in right on cue with exactly what many viewers were likely thinking: In America, we call that a hip toss, Mauro. Ranallo has wisely toned down the puns and the scripted schtick, so when he does pull out terms like "pulverized proboscis" it’s like we’re all in on the joke. When it’s time for serious analysis, there’s still nobody better than Miletich at capturing the complex with simple descriptions that even the novice can understand. It took a while, and no shortage of missteps, but this team is rapidly becoming one of my favorites.

Posted in: fight, time, tate, thing, itrsquo

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The Ohio Athletic Commission has issued indefinite medical suspensions to four fighters from Saturday's "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" event, including headliner Miesha Tate. The Ohio Athletic Commission today confirmed the suspensions with MMAjunkie.com. In addition to Tate - who suffered an elbow injury via armbar in a title loss to Ronda Rousey - Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, Roger Bowling and Conor Heun also face indefinite suspensions.

Posted in: suspension, tate, elbow injury, rousey, suspensions tate

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With her nasty armbar submission victory over Miesha Tate at this weekend's Strikeforce show, new Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey established herself as the clear dominant force in Women's MMA. And for any fan of WMMA, that's an incredibly good thing. Still in it's infancy, WMMA needs a big name in order to draw in fans - it needs a so called "face of women's MMA." In the past, that role was played by Gina Carano, then Cris Cyborg. Now it's Rousey. And Rousey is a perfect candidate to fill that spot - she's an exciting and dangerous fighter. She is highly skilled. She is a charismatic interview subject. Also she's attractive. And let's be honest here - as much as we want that to not be a factor in selling WMMA, at the moment, it is. So is Rousey about to launch WMMA to new heights? I think she is, but it's not just because of her. Gina Carano had all those same attributes along with an intangible star power and she put WMMA on the map. Cyborg ripped Carano's spot away from her and managed to keep things alive despite the loss of the sport's top star. But both women had a severe shortcoming that was out of their control - no opponents. Fans cared about Carano, but her opponents never mattered until Cyborg. For Cybrog, the same was true - once the Carano fight was done, it was hard to get excited about fights with Jan Finney and Hiroko Yamanaka. Every star needs tough opposition to really pull in the fans, and, with the lone exception of the Carano vs. Cybrog fight, that's never been there for WMMA. Until now. More on Rousey vs. Tate: Why Women's MMA Belongs In The UFC Miesha Tate Vs. Ronda Rousey Full Fight Video Highlights Photo: Ronda Rousey Breaks Miesha Tate's Arm Ronda Rousey as champion is not just exciting because of her win over Tate. It's exciting for the future of her run. Take a look at these posible upcoming Rousey fights: Sarah Kaufman - The former champion is on a 3-0 run since losing the belt and looked good on Saturday. With her heavy hands, she represents a unique and exciting challenge for Rousey. Marloes Coenen - Another former champion, Coenen has not competed since losing the belt to Tate last July. She's currently back at 145 pounds and fighting outside of Strikeforce, but could easily be brought back as a viable challenger. Miesha Tate - After the war of words and the bad feelings still clearly present post-fight, there's no doubt a rematch would again draw fans in. Cris Cyborg - She's out until 2012, but imagine if Rousey runs through the division this year, then moves back up to challenge a returning Cyborg. That's a potential major fight if the cards fall into place. For the first time in the history of the sport, WMMA has a dynamic champion, and a list of exciting possible opponents lined up. And for the first time, I can honestly say I am excited to see what the next year of WMMA may hold with Ronda Rousey at the helm. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey

Posted in: tate, womens mma, rousey, ronda, wmma

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Miesha Tate suffered a nasty Armbar loss to new Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey this past weekend in the main event of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey. After the loss Tate stayed on the mat inside the cage for several minutes, as Rousey bent her arm in an unnatural way causing what appeared to be some sort of serious damage to the limb. However, the former title-holder has since revealed no bones were broken, though still needs to find out if any further damage was incurred and will get more testing done in the near future. “I had X-rays last night,” wrote Tate, in a message to MMAFighting. “No bones are broken, which I already knew. Other than that, I have to get an MRI to find out anything further.” Even with no broken bones, it would appear highly probable that Tate has some sort of ligament damage to the arm based on it being bent nearly completely back the wrong way by the Olympian. Medical suspensions from the show will likely be announced in the coming weeks. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: tate, bone, rousey, damage, ligament damage

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As always, Rener and Ryron Gracie has provided us with an excellent and entertaining breakdown of the nasty submission victory from Ronda Rousey, where she dislocated Miesha Tate's arm during their Strikeforce championship bout: There were two beautiful arm bars in the UFC by TJ Waldburger and Daniel Pineda, and then March 3rd comes along and not only does the Ronda Rousey win by arm bar, but she does it in DEVASTATING fashion -- dislocating Miesha Tate's arm in the first round! Ryron and Rener break down the beautiful throw, mount transition setup and finish that Ronda used to seal the deal. Check out the video below, which has bonus footage on the Gracie's take on the classic Helio Gracie vs. Masahiko Kimura showdown from 1951: SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey More coverage of Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey: - Miesha Tate Vs. Ronda Rousey Fight Video Highlights- Photo: Ronda Rousey Breaks Miesha Tate's Arm- Strikeforce: Tate Vs. Rousey Results And Post-Fight Analysis - Ronda Rousey By Armbar

Posted in: vs, tate, miesha, rousey, ronda

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On Saturday Strikeforce crowned a new Women’s Bantamweight Champion. Ronda Rousey took the title from Miesha Tate via an armbar that forced Tate to tap before the first round came to an end. The submission victory was Rousey’s fifth in five professional MMA fights, all coming in the first round and all coming via armbar. The armbar left Tate’s arm twisted in what can kindly be called an unnatural angle prior to her tap.  There were some that said the referee should have stepped in

Posted in: tate, armbar, ronda rousey, rousey, person doesnt

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Following her fantastic submission win over Miesha Tate in the main event of Saturday's Strikeforce show, new 135-pound champion Ronda Rousey was dismissive when asked if she was going to make nice with her heated rival. Tate, however, does have one thing to hold over Rousey: she didn't break her arm. In a text to MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani Sunday, Tate gave an update on her condition: "I had X-Rays last night," Tate told MMAFighting.com via text message. "No bones are broken, which I already knew. Other than that, I have to get an MRI to find out anything further." For anyone that saw the severe torque on her left arm, that news will come as a shock. The MRI could reveal other issues (ligament/muscle tears, dislocation, etc), but not having a broken arm must come as somewhat of a relief to Tate. Rousey's armbar finish was one that BE writer Ben Thapa opined might be the most brutal in MMA history. Incredibly, she has finished all of her amateur and pro fights by first round armbar submission. Now at 5-0, the 2008 Olympian will look to extend that mark in her next fight, likely to be against former champion Sarah Kaufman. For Tate (12-3), the loss was her first in three years and marks the first time she's ever been submitted. Due to a lack of divisional depth, fellow Saturday night loser Alexis Vila could make sense as her next opponent. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, arm, text message, rousey

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While the finish may be burned into the minds of MMA fans for years to come there’s no doubt the four-plus minutes leading up to Ronda Rousey’s grotesque finish of Miesha Tate to claim the Strikeforce bantamweight title were equally excellent, featuring more technique in the limited ticks than the majority of fights display in twice as much time. As a service to fans Strikeforce/Showtime have since released a highlight reel from the entertaining affair featuring Tate’s early brush with an Armbar, her valiant recovery, and of course the fight-ending submission the MMA world is still buzzing about today. Rousey Opens Up on Title-Win Against Tate Check out the video below for all the good stuff (and there’s a lot of it): PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE Tweet

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, mma world, epic encounter, fightending submission

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Strikeforce returned to Showtime this past Saturday night (March 3, 2012) from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, featuring Ronda Rousey breaking out another armbar to win the women's 135-pound championship, much to the dismay of her opponent, Miesha Tate, who walked away with a mangled arm. Not broken, as it turns out, but mangled nonetheless. Josh Thomson scored a unanimous decision victory over K.J. Noons in the co-main event of the evening. He'll likely move on to a championship bout against Gilbert Melendez to complete their trilogy. Other action on the card saw Kazuo Misaki beat Paul Daley at his own game, Lumumba Sayers easily dispose of Scott Smith, and Ronaldo Souza blow by Bristol Marunde. In case you missed any of the bone crunching action -- or just want to relive it -- below are links to all the major storylines borne from Saturday night's event. Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" Results and live fight coverage Recap and morning after discussion Post-fight press conference Event photos gallery Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey full fight video highlights "Prelims" results and recap Fight recap: Ronaldo Souza taps out Bristol Marunde Fight recap: Lumumba Sayers destroys Scott Smith in short order Fight recap: Kazuo Misaki squeaks past Paul Daley Fight recap: Josh Thomson wins "shit" decision over K.J. Noons Fight recap: Ronda Rousey wrecks Miesha Tate's arm to win bantamweight title Fight review and analysis: Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki Fight review and analysis: Josh Thomson vs. K.J. Noons Fight review and analysis: Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey Strikeforce post-fight fallout Big winners and lowly losers An open love letter to Ronda Rousey Ronda Rousey details how she submitted Miesha Tate Watch a gif of Ronda Rousey destroying Miesha Tate's arm Look at a pic of Miesha Tate's arm and elbow bent at an angle it wasn't meant to Luckily for Miesha Tate, she didn't get her arm broken by Ronda Rousey Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate's brawl was a big win for women's MMA What's next for Ronda Rousey? Ronda Rousey has the title but Sarah Kaufman is going to beat it back from her Miesha Tate lost her bantamweight belt but won a Mania sexiness battle What's the difference between a good game plan and being boring? Josh Thomson won the fight but was disappointed to here the fans boo If Josh Thomson fights Gilbert Melendez, it should be "El Nino's" last with Strikeforce Ronaldo Souza suffered a broken hand against Bristol Marunde Scott Smith is the Arturo Gatti of MMA Brandon Saling's ugly criminal past comes to light, along with his neo-nazi tattoos Hey Strikeforce, how about no more Nazi sex offenders, huh? Dana White no longer involved with Strikeforce And there you have it, my friends. What was the biggest story coming out of the Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" event?

Posted in: fight, tate, miesha, rousey, ronda

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Rener and Ryron Gracie break down the jiu-jitsu techniques Ronda Rousey used to dislocate Miesha Tate’s elbow and win her the Strikeforce bantamweight championship at Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey.” As always, it’s an excellent technical analysis for anyone interested in learning about the jiu-jitsu techniques the top fighters use in the cage. Gracie breakdown archive HT: Gracie University

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, gracie, fighters use, rousey

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Gracie Breakdown: Rousey vs. Tate Promoted to Front Page by T.P. Grant

Posted in: breakdown, tate, front page, grant, rousey

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Good news for Team "Takedown." Although Miesha Tate lost the women's bantamweight championship to Ronda Rousey by way of submission (armbar) at last night's (March 3, 2012) Strikeforce event in Ohio, the damage done to her arm isn't as bad as originally thought. Initially, it appeared as though her arm was broken thanks to the nasty angle Rousey had it bent (evidence here) and the fact that she was unable to move it immediately following the contest. However, she tells MMAFighting.com x-rays came back negative for a fracture: "I had X-Rays last night. No bones are broken, which I already knew. Other than that, I have to get an MRI to find out anything further." At the very least it looked as though she may have suffered a dislocated elbow but now it seems entirely possible she will have escaped her encounter with the "Rowdy" arm wrangler with all her limbs intact and operational. Ligament damage is possible, which would, of course, be bad, but all told, this is good news for the former champion. Mostly because the road to recovery won't be as long as it could have been. For her arm at least. No word on her ego. Check out complete coverage of the Tate vs. Rousey match-up after the jump. Complete Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" results Ronda Rousey breaks Miesha Tate's arm to win title (We thought she did at the time) Picture of Miesha Tate's mangled arm GIF of Miesha Tate getting her arm all mangled Ronda Rousey details how she armbarred Miesha Tate An open love letter to Ronda Rousey Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey fight review and analysis Rousey and Tate score big win for women's MMA with Showtime brawl Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey full fight video highlights Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey event photos gallery Miesha Tate wins the sexiness battle but loses the war For everything else you need to know about the bout between Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey check out our complete fight archive right here.

Posted in: tate, arm, miesha, rousey, ronda

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Amazingly, Miesha Tate didn't suffer any broken bones in her left arm following Saturday night's gruesome loss via armbar to Ronda Rousey. "I had X-Rays last night," Tate told MMAFighting.com via text message. "No bones are broken, which I already knew. Other than that, I have to get an MRI to find out anything further." Tate, the now former Strikeforce bantamweight champion, wouldn't elaborate on when she'll find out what kind of shape her arm is in and when she'll back to 100 percent. According to a Strikeforce official Saturday night, the early thought was that she had at least damaged ligaments in her arm. Rousey submitted Tate via armbar at 4:27 of the first round but only after Tate refused to tap for several seconds, which led to her arm seemingly bending backwards. A similar scenario played out in the first minute of the fight, but Tate was able to escape that submission attempt. Following the tapout, Tate remained on the canvas for several seconds and was unable to move her left arm in the cage after the fight. The win improved Rousey's professional record to 5-0, with all five wins coming via first-round armbar. Tate's record dropped to 12-3.

Posted in: fight, tate, arm, armbar, rousey

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Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" took place last night (Sat., March 3, 2012) from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, featuring Ronda Rousey breaking out another armbar to win the women's 135-pound championship, much to the dismay of her opponent, Miesha Tate, who walked away with a broken arm or a dislocated elbow. Either way, her arm is jacked up. Josh Thomson scored a unanimous decision victory over K.J. Noons in the co-main event of the evening. Or at least I think he did. I may or may not have fallen asleep and dreamt of more exciting affairs, like watching grass grow or paint dry. Other action on the card saw Kazuo Misaki beat Paul Daley at his own game, Lumumba Sayers easily dispose of Scott Smith, and Ronaldo Souza blow by Bristol Marunde. A photo gallery is available for your viewing pleasure after the jump. For complete results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here, here and here. Ronda Rousey vs. Miesha Tate K.J. Noons vs. Josh Thomson Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki Lumumba Sayers vs. Scott Smith Ronaldo Souza vs. Bristol Marunde Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis Roger Bowling vs. Brandon Saling Caros Fodor vs. Pat Healy Ryan Couture vs. Conor Heun

Posted in: vs, tate, miesha, bristol marunde, rousey

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Posted in: breakdown, killzy, tate, rousey, ronda

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Posted in: tate, arm, news, miesha, strangersadvice

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Hear from new women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, Josh Thomson, Lumumba Sayers and Sarah Kaufman following their fights at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey on Saturday in Ohio.

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey, sarah kaufman

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Last night’s Strikeforce title-fight between bantamweights Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate lived up to fans’ expectations by delivering a fast-paced, entertaining bout between two rivals with a brutal finish to boot. As fans saw, Rousey latched on to Tate’s arm in the closing minute of the fight’s first frame and torqued it violently to force a tap-out. Shortly after winning Tate’s belt with an opening round Armbar the new champ spoke with ShoSports where she elaborated on her victory as well as what’s next for her. A Detailed Breakdown of Action from Rousey vs. Tate “I was expecting anything – I was expecting five rounds or one round. She really impressed me with how she savvy she was on the ground with her defense,” the 25-year old explained on her preparation for the main event match-up. “I expected her to come out swinging. That’s part of the reason why I tried to get in her head so much before the fight because I feel like if you challenge someone’s womanhood or manhood they tend to be a lot less tentative and tactical with their matches. They tend to fight more with their ego, with their emotions, than with strategy.” In terms of who she’ll likely make her initial title-defense against, Rousey remained open to suggestion and put it in the hands of the public (as well as her bosses at Zuffa). “Whatever the fans want. Fans want to see a rematch or they want to see me fight Sarah Kaufman next or whatever…I’m game. That’s my job. I’m the champ now,” Rousey stated, also mentioning she had her mind on something else in the more-immediate future…buffalo wings! Watch the full interview with Rousey below: PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE Tweet

Posted in: fight, fan, tate, rousey, miesha tate

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Rundown of Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” post-fight news and notes… — Following recent proclamations that he was going to personally take control of Strikeforce and turn it into a UFC-level promotion, Dana White has completely stepped away from the organization and declared himself “100% UFC.” And no, he doesn’t sound happy about it. In response to a fan request on Twitter to make changes to the Strikeforce announcing team, Dana sounded more like a rival promoter than a partial owner exclaiming that Showtime “runs that shit” and he’s “out.” So what happened? Well, according to Dana, Showtime decided not to implement the tweaks to the production that he suggested and they didn’t even have the courtesy to call him directly to tell him. “I almost missed the first UFC fight in 11 years, and then I get the phone call from Pete Dropick when I’m in Japan,” White said. “‘Yeah, listen, they’re not going to change pretty much any of the stuff you wanted.’ So I said, ‘[Expletive] them.’ You flew out to Las Vegas and wasted my time. Go talk your boxing [expletive] to somebody else.” “These guys are letting a D-level producer run their organization, and that’s exactly what I told Espinoza,” White said. “You want to let a D-level producer run your organization? Go for it brother. Knock yourself out. I’ve got [expletive] to do. I’ve got another job.” Despite his animosity towards Showtime at the moment, Dana says they still have every intention of honoring their contractual obligations to Showtime. He also says Strikeforce will “never suck” as long they own it, so while Dana won’t be personally involved with Strikeforce, the promotion isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. — It seems Miesha Tate and her boyfriend Bryan Caraway took all the pre-fight trash talk a little more personally that Ronda Rousey did. After the weigh-ins Friday night, Caraway got a little carried away on Twitter saying that if Ronda “wants to challenge a man I’ll knock her teeth dwn her throat the break her arm!” Predictably, Caraway was then bombarded by the angry Twitter mob and spent the rest of night trying to explain that he wasn’t advocating inter-gender violence and was merely trying to say that women can’t compete with men athletically. Nevertheless, it was a dumb thing to say and ended up blowing up in his face. Moreover, it didn’t even have it’s intended effect on Rousey. She explained at the post-fight press conference that she found the whole thing quite humorous. “[Caraway] and Miesha were up all night tweeting and trying to defend themselves, and it was all over the front page of MMA.tv, and me and my friend and my mom were just sitting there laughing that they’re stressed out and tweeting all night, and we’re like, eating trail mix and watching ‘The Fifth Element.’” “People have to realize about Twitter, it’s not just chatter,” she said. “You’re constantly releasing written statements that even if you delete it right away, it’s out there. “So people (such as Caraway) have to think a little bit more before they say something sexist like that. Because I was like, ‘Dude, you ever heard of (tennis player) Billy Jean King?’ I mean, who says that? That’s my comment. Tweet it.” While it’s doubtful that Rousey and Tate will ever become BFF’s, Rousey did give Tate props after she broke her arm for being a “tough chick.” “She’s a tough chick,” Rousey said of the former champ. “That hurts. I’ve had my elbow dislocated before, and that’s no fun. But the rule is in judo that even if it’s dislocated, and they don’t tap, you’ve got to keep going. I don’t think the referee should be criticized for not stopping it because those are the rules I’m used to.” — With the Strikeforce bantamweight title in hand and the Tate rivalry behind her, it’s time to look towards her next challenge. Who that will be isn’t set in stone, but it could be former bantamweight champion Sarah Kaufman. Kaufman made it clear in her post-fight interview that she wants the title shot, but realizes that she may not get it. “I’ve been told before my next fight is a title fight and it didn’t happen,” Kaufman told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) after the bout. “At this stage of the game, it is saying what I believe and making sure the fans know what I know, and that they want the same things I do.” I would say the chances are pretty good mainly do to a lack of depth in the division. If not Kaufman, who else would Rousey fight? — Josh Thomson was pretty down on himself following his win over KJ Noons last night. It wasn’t the most exciting performance of his career and that really bothered him. He made it clear after the fight that he wants to entertain the fans first and foremost. “People don’t pay hard-earned money to watch that, especially in this economy,” an emotional Thomson said following “Strikeforce: Tate vs Rousey.” “They pay for people to go out there and show their talent.” “We got the ‘W’ – that was the important thing,” Thomson said. “But I can tell you know you guys will never see me fight like that again.” “This is the entertainment business, not the boring business,” he said. It’s unclear what’s next for Thomson, but it could very well be a rubber match against Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez. — A little controversy erupted online last night when it discovered that preliminary fighter Brandon Saling had neo-Nazi tattoos and an criminal record as a sex offender. Strikeforce said they were unaware of either when they signed Saling and only learned of it last night during the show. They do however find the tattoos to be unacceptable and said the Ohio commission will be launching an investigation into Saling this week. “We had no knowledge about that until someone brought it up to us this evening,” Coker said of Saling’s background. “It came to our attention during the course of the fights.” “They’re going to launch a full investigation on Monday,” he said. “So that’s where that’s at. As far as you guys know, the policy for Strikeforce and the UFC is that kind of body art, offensive behavior, (and) offensive art is not going to be allowed. “So that’s something we went to the athlete (with). He responded, and we’re going to investigate further and see what the truth is.” According to the OAC’s Bernie Profato, Saling could face a potential suspension pending the outcome of the investigation. Image via Rey Del Rio for FOXSports.com

Posted in: fight, night, strikeforce, tate, rousey

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Hear from preliminary card winners Ryan Couture, Pat Healy, and Roger Bowling following their fights at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey on Saturday in Ohio.

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey, roger bowling

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Entering last night’s headlining bout at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey it seemed improbable unbeaten Olympic medalist Ronda Rousey would finish Miesha Tate in the opening round of action let alone with an Armbar. Tate, the more-experienced Mixed Martial Artist, had not only prepared specifically to avoid the technique based on Rousey’s past success with it but had also never been submitted in her career. However, when things were said and done “Rowdy” Ronda did indeed pick up her fifth first-round stoppage via Armbar in five total fights and badly injured Tate’s limb in the process after the former bantamweight champion initially refused to tap out. Showtime/Strikeforce have since released a video featuring highlights from Rousey’s title-winning performance giving fans a chance to either see the judoka’s mastery at work again or for the first time if they weren’t able to tune in to the show. Check out the clip below (and let the squeamish be warned): PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: tate, rousey, miesha tate, rousey ’s, weren ’t

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On March 2, 2012, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) kicked off their flyweight tournament as UFC on FX 2 made the journey to the Allphones Arena in Sydney, Australia, for an evening of mixed martial arts (MMA) fireworks. Though the 125-pounders were main attraction, they weren't the headlining act. That distinction went to a welterweight match up between Thiago Alves and Martin Kampmann that ended up in a result that left everyone a little surprised. The following night (March 3, 2012) Strikeforce invaded the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, with a smashing night of fights in the form of Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey." It was a pretty decent fight card, top to bottom, and finished the night with a women's championship bout that will have the MMA community buzzing for weeks to come. Come with me after the jump where we'll examine what's next for the big weekend winners, Martin Kampmann and Ronda Rousey: Martin Kampmann has a had a career marked by lots of ups and downs. One second, he's a top contender that everyone needs to look out for. The next? He's coming up just short to other fighters who end up passing him by to get title shots or main event headline gigs. He's a tough guy. No one would argue that. But it just seems like he can never quite get it together enough to climb over that last hump that stands between him and a title shot. With all that considered, Kampmann's victory on Friday night over Thiago Alves was entirely fitting. For over two rounds, Kampmann was getting outstruck. Though he was not getting manhandled, by any stretch, he was losing the fight. When the fight ended, he was probably 48 seconds away from losing a decision to his opponent. None of that matters anymore and was all for naught, when Alves incorrectly dove in for a takedown, thinking he had hurt Kampmann with a combination and could possibly finish him off. He might have been right. Kampmann may have been legitimately shook up, but Alves should have been nowhere near Kampmann's ground game, especially at that juncture of the fight. Kudos to "The Hitman" for keeping himself composed and taking advantage of the opportunity in front of him by choking out Alves and notching a great comeback victory. So, what's next for Kampmann? There are a ton of options. Several welterweights who are currently without dance partners are Jake Shields, Rick Story and Diego Sanchez. The problem is that Kampmann's already fought all three of them. I'm not a big fan of rematches unless they're for a good reason. I'm not sure that's the case here. Jake Ellenberger is without an opponent, and that would be an interesting match up, but it's likely that "The Juggernaut" is going to get a more high-profile adversary for his next bout. That leaves me with two names: Dong Hyun Kim and and Stephen Thompson. "The Stung Gun" brings it every time. We'd see fireworks, for sure. This is the pairing (of the two) that probably makes more sense. The "fantasy match up" here is Martin Kampmann vs. Stephen Thompson. I know, "Wonderboy" has only fought once inside the Octagon. But it was a really impressive debut and Kampmann hasn't exactly been setting the world on fire. Make Kampmann play gatekeeper. If he wins, give him a top five guy. If he loses, it's re-evaluation time. I also don't believe it would be devastating for Thompson or his career if he were to lose. Kampmann is a reputable name. If Thompson loses but is able to hang in there with him, it's a victory. Time will tell. The build up to the fight between Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey was downright mean-spirited. These ladies did not like each other and they were willing to make this known to anyone with a camera and a microphone. The fight itself did not disappoint, unless you're a Tate fan, that is. The first few minutes of the championship bout saw some decent striking, good transitioning and, finally, a nasty armbar submission from the new Women's Bantamweight Champion, Ronda Rousey. What's next for "Rowdy?" Right now, she's pretty much ruling the world, at least from a women's fighting perspective. She looks fairly unbeatable. The real tragedy is that "Cyborg" Cristiane Santos is out of action and will be for awhile due to her getting popped for steroid use. That fight can't happen, so in the interim, it looks like we're going to see Rousey defend her belt against Sarah Kaufman, the former Bantamweight Champion before Marloes Coenen took her belt on Oct. 9, 2010, in San Jose, Calif. It's an interesting match up, because Kaufman is a striker who poses problems for Rousey on the feet. But can she keep the fight standing? There's the rub. Kaufman has only lost once, but do you remember how it happened? That's right. It was at the hands of a Marloes Coenen armbar. That does not bode well for Kaufman, and I can tell you one thing: If this fight gets signed, she better commit the next several months of her life to submission defense. Otherwise, she's going to have to learn how to live with one arm for a while. If she needs pointers, I'm sure Miesha Tate will be able to help her out. What do you Maniacs think? Who is the best potential match up for Martin Kampmann? Do you think Ronda Rousey vs. Sarah Kaufman has potential to be a competitive fight? Sound off! For complete Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" results and detailed blow-by-blow commentary of the televised main card fights click here. Undercard recap and wrap-up here. Ronda Rousey vs Miesha Tate full fight video highlights from last night's main event on Showtime here.

Posted in: fight, tate, kampmann, rousey, ronda

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Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey delivered an action-packed line-up tonight from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Proving that she was more than just an inexperienced pretty face, Ronda Rousey secured her fifth consecutive submission victory in the headlining bout, dethroning Miesha Tate to capture the Women's Bantamweight title. Despite surviving a noticeably painful first attempt by Rousey, Tate was forced to tap in the waning moments of the opening round when a second gut-wrenching armbar was

Posted in: tate, opening round, submission victory, rousey, columbus ohio

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Video highlights from the Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” post-fight press conference via MMA Fighting and Strikeforce.

Posted in: strikeforce, conference, press, tate, rousey

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Video highlights of the Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” main event between Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey.

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Did you miss last night's Strikeforce women's bantamweight title fight between Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey? Get caught up with Showtime's highlights video.

Posted in: tate, ronda rousey, rousey, miesha tate, recap video

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Strikeforce's second show of 2012 is in the books with another great performance from the women. In the main event Ronda Rousey continued her streak of breaking bones when she snapped Miesha Tate's arm and forced the former champion to tap. The night wasn't without controversy as it was discovered that prelim fighter Brandon Saling has an extremely questionable past including but not limited to: neo-nazi tattoos and a history of sexual misconduct. There will obviously be more on this topic later today and this upcoming week but for now let's take a look at the biggest winners and losers at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey. WINNERS Ronda Rousey: Ronda Rousey is a beast. The fact that she tells you to your face what she's going to do and then does it is the craziest thing. She talked a lot to hype of the fight which can put her in an awkward situation had she lost. She didn't though. Instead she added another arm to her trophy case. Also coming out to Joan Jett "Bad Reputation" was in the top five best walk outs. I'd shake her hand and congratulate her but I'm afraid she'll just armbar me. Super impressive win. Kazuo Misaki: Dropping down to welterweight was a great decision for Misaki. He made Paul Daley look like an amateur striker and kept pressuring. If there is a knock against him, it's that he gave up the takedown easily when Daley's entire game plan was to try and lay and pray to a decision. I wouldn't mind seeing Misaki vs Jason High in the future. Lumumba Sayers: I was pretty hard on Lumumba Sayers because I just didn't think he had the overall skills to compete at the top level. Up until the Antwain Britt fight he never demonstrated punching power and just seemed to be a guy who was on his way to washing out of Strikeforce. Instead he does a pro wrestling style suplex and finished Scott Smith with a beautiful guillotine. I'm not sure if Lumumba Sayers "is for real" but he sure is entertaining. Sarah Kaufman: Sarah entered the cage and fought like a woman who wanted to prove that she deserved a shot at the title. I can't remember her ever having that kind of output when striking but she was throwing combinations for the entire fight. The only negative was the last round when Davis had her in trouble but a win is a win and Kaufman will be getting the next shot at Rousey. Alexis Davis: I know what you're thinking, how can she be a winner when she lost her fight? Easily if you saw the gutsy performance she put on. She could have cracked mentally in the first and second round when the doctors inspected her cut but she stayed in the fight and almost pulled off the win in the third. Maybe a fight with Tate when her arm finally heals? Losers and other thoughts after the jump... SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey LOSERS Miesha Tate: On the flip side, Miesha Tate tried playing a promotional game at the weigh ins when she got in Ronda's face. Then when Ronda responded she asked for her to get fined. Add to that her boyfriend's misogynistic tweets and Tate had a lot to prove. Unfortunately, the only thing she proved is that her arm breaks just like everyone else's and that she really should have trained for the armbar. Josh Thomson: Well at least he knows that was an awful fight. K.J. Noons: See Josh Thomson. Paul Daley: Paul Daley's performance last night was a first for MMA. It was the first time that a striker fell in love with his wrestling. Fans often complain about wrestlers showing off their awful stand up and they got to see what happens when a striker tried to wrestle. I'm sure the losses in his career made him think "If Tyron Woodley and Josh Koscheck can do it, so can I" but that wasn't the case. Because Paul Daley lost. Also, a Brit winning with wrestling? That'll be the day. Scott Smith: Am I the only one that is now getting really depressed watching Scott Smith fight? I can't be the only one. I don't know what he's going to do but at this point he shouldn't be fighting. His mechanics are slowed to a crawl and he's essentially getting paid to lose. If you're a fighter you shouldn't want to be in that role. Stop fighting and find something else because your career is depressing me. Brandon Saling: You're a fucking loser. I'm not even talking about your loss to Roger Bowling. I'm saying you, Brandon Saling, are a loser. That you were even given the opportunity to fight shows that someone either at Showtime, Strikeforce, or the Ohio Commission really screwed up. I don't ever want to see this guy fight again and he didn't deserve that referee stoppage. What an awful human. Strikeforce/Showtime/Ohio Athletic Commission: I said it above but who the hell made the decision to allow Brandon Saling to fight? I'm not only disgusted that he's a neo-nazi with an 88 tattoo surrounded by SS bolts but he and a friend allegedly raped a 13 year old girl. How the hell does no one do a google search and say "no fucking way"? All three parties need to rectify this situation because they've allowed a legitimate scumbag to fight on a national card. OTHER THOUGHTS Pat Healy was very impressive. I know that Strikeforce is dead set on Melendez/Thomson III but if we're basing the title shots on performances, Healy should be fighting for the title. In my opinion he creates an interesting match up with Gilbert Melendez based on his grinding style and toughness. Hopefully he's get a shot soon because I enjoy watching him fight. Jacare did what he needed to do. Bristol Marunde wasn't brought in to win. Nice win by Jacare, it's obvious he used the fight to test out his stand up. Ryan Couture continues to develop and I was impressed with him last night. Conor Heun was a huge step up in competition and Couture passed the test with flying colors. His stand up looked solid and he's active on the mat when looking for submissions. I doubt he becomes the next Randy but that's okay. He should just be the best Ryan Couture. The booth of Pat, Mauro, and Frank was awful last night. Showtime is responsible for the production and it is their call to put these three in the booth. In a perfect world Pat Miletich would be working with a more professional commentary team and though this would be unpopular with many of you, I wouldn't be opposed to a Pat Miletich/Gus Johnson team. It would be Strikeforce's answer to Anik/Florian and Rogan/Goldie.

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, tate, loser, rousey

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If you missed Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey's showdown, check out Showtime's highlight reel. It shows the majority of their fight, including the bone-breaking finish.

Posted in: fight, tate, miesha, ronda, miesha tate

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What a weekend! On Fri., March 2, 2012, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) brought the thunder "down under" as UFC on FX 2 brought their brand of mixed martial arts (MMA) to the fans in Sydney, Australia. The very next night, Sat., March 3, 2012, Strikeforce kept things rolling as Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" traveled to Columbus, Ohio with an action-packed card of fights. The UFC side of things was marked by the excitement of the new division of "little guys" taking the Octagon, as the flyweights stole the show in Sydney. On the Strikeforce end, fans saw a new champion crowned in a fighter who will, perhaps, rule the roost of women's MMA for a long time to come. After the jump, we'll take a closer look at the big winners and lowly losers from this weekend: WINNERS: Ronda Rousey -- Yes, I'm starting with Rousey. Yes, I'm aware that there were some very good and deserving candidates from the UFC event. Yes, she's a female fighter. I don't care. Man or woman, her win was massive. Four times she's entered the cage. Four times she's brought an arm home with her. This time, it was no ordinary arm. Miesha Tate is a decorated combatant and athlete, in general. She's been in many wars and didn't come to her fight with Rousey looking to give up easily. Eventually, it didn't matter what Tate wanted, as "Rowdy" finally secured a very deep and nasty armbar that left "Takedown" with a badly broken arm. This lady is legit. UFC Flyweights -- I'm being general. I know. I'll get more specific in a minute. But, I just wanted to focus on how cool it is that the UFC now has 125-pounders. It's not a freak show. It's not a bunch of guys badly emaciating themselves to fight smaller competition because they couldn't hang at bantamweight. The four guys who fought on Friday night are all very good flyweights. Not only are they very good, but they belong at 125 pounds. That's key. I was impressed by what I saw and I can't wait to see more! Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall -- If you didn't like this fight, I question your MMA fan status. I'm not kidding either. For three rounds, fans were treated to big shots, well put together combinations, intricate ground maneuvering and just an out-an-out fantastic fight. Even though the scoring at the end left things to be desired, you can't fault the fighters (or even the UFC) for that. We'll get to see the continuation when these two gets back in the Octagon to finish this once and for all. I, for one, cannot wait. Joseph Benavidez -- For the entire first round, Benavidez was absolutely putting it on Yasuhiro Urushitani, a world class flyweight in his own right. As soon as the opening horn for round two sounded, Benavidez showed his finishing ability and killer instinct as he flew forward, caught his opponent with a big right hand on the button, securing himself a spot in the flyweight championship. He looked fantastic at 125-pounds. It will be very interesting to see who he will end up challenging for the belt, based on the results of "Johnson vs. McCall Part II." Martin Kampmann -- Wow. Talk about snatching victory out of the jaws of defeat! For two-plus rounds, Thiago Alves appeared to be way ahead on the scorecards by outstriking Kampmann at every turn. Kampmann seemed frustrated and unsure how to attack Alves. Then it happened. For no good reason, Alves went for the takedown. Maybe it was adrenaline. Maybe he just forgot that Kampmann is much better on the ground than he is. Either way, the quickness with which the "Hitman" choked him out said everything that needs to be said. The thing is: It doesn't really matter what happened in the first two rounds. Kampmann survived, waited for his opening and then took advantage of it to clinch the win. Great job. LOSERS: Miesha Tate -- For weeks, leading up to her championship bout with Rousey, we had to listen to Tate talk about how Rousey didn't deserve the title shot, how she wasn't experienced enough to face her and how one-sided their fight was going to be. She was right. It was one-sided, but not in her favor. The only real good thing she has going for her here is that there is such a serious lack of depth in the Strikeforce women's bantamweight division (and on the women's roster, in general) that it may not be all that long before she can get a rematch. The problem i that she is going to one-armed for a while and unable to train for a good deal of time. Tap sooner next time. Commissioner Craig Waller -- Due to Mr. Waller's math mistake, the Sydney fans were robbed of a sudden death round between Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall. McCall may actually be the one who was hurt the most by this error, as he was putting a good pounding on "Mighty Mouse" in the third round. He may have been able to carry that momentum into the final frame and secure a finish. Who knows? We'll just have to wait until next time to find out. Thiago Alves -- Bro. You had this fight won. All you had to do was keep things standing, stay on the outside, keep landing your leg kick and following up with good combos. But you got cocky. Maybe it wasn't even that. Maybe you just smelled blood and responded to stimuli. Either way, you all but gave away the win by diving neck first into a guillotine. If someone told you it was Kampmann's birthday, they were lying. The Strikeforce announcing team -- Maybe if I rail about this often enough, someone will listen and do something about it. Probably not, but it makes me feel better. Mauro Ranallo and Frank Shamrock are just the absolute worst. Pat Miletich does alright and I'm glad he was on the broadcast, but it wasn't enough (and never is enough) to overcome the axis of evil that is Ranallo and Shamrock. They're just the worst. I can't take it. If there was a radio broadcast, I'd mute the TV and go that route, but there isn't. The thing that excited me the most about the Zuffa takeover was that I felt sure that these guys would be the first ones to go. I was wrong and I just don't get what's taking them so long. Make the move, Zuffa. Scott Smith -- He's now lost four fights in a row. Even worse is how he's losing. He's getting finished and losing lopsided decisions. He also continues to show that if you take him down and have a decent ground game, you're going to be able to submit him. There's no progress or evolution. He gave fans some really fun fights and highlights. I'll grant you that. But those days are over. It's time for "Hands of Steel" to call it a day. Thanks for the memories, Scott. Paul Daley -- For someone who talks as much as this guy does, he sure doesn't back it up very often. The truth is that he's lucky to be fighting under the Zuffa banner at all after his egregious post fight antics in the UFC (versus Josh Koscheck) that led to him being dismissed by President Dana White. Daley was outstruck badly by Kazuo Misaki, who many fans had never even heard of before Saturday night. Don't be surprised if we don't see Daley around the Zuffa neighborhood for a lot longer. That's my list of big winners and losers from UFC on FX 2 and Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey." But we're just getting started. We're looking for you, the Maniacs, to keep the list going in the comment section. For full recaps of the UFC on FX 2 preliminary undercard and main card fights, click here and here. For detailed analysis of the Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" undercard and main card fights, click here and here. Ronda Rousey vs Miesha Tate full fight video highlights from last night's main event on Showtime here.

Posted in: ufc, fight, time, tate, rousey

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Following an exciting round of action between the two top female bantamweights in the world, Showtime has released highlights from the 4:27 the two spent inside the cage. Rousey was crowned champion after winning her fifth consecutive professional fight via armbar, and eighth consecutive if you include amateur fights. Rousey actually had Tate in an armbar within the first minute, but Tate was able to escape. From there, the pair put together an exciting round that continued the entertainment that Sarah Kaufman and Alexis Davis had provided earlier in the event. Kaufman defeated Davis via unanimous decision, and will face Rousey for the championship later this year. “Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey” re-airs on Tuesday at 10 PM EST on Showtime Extreme.

Posted in: tate, rousey, alexis davis, world showtime, cage rousey

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Last night felt like a big night for Women's MMA. Glancing around twitter at the beginning of the main event, there seem to be real energy in the hardcore fan base for Rousey vs Tate. What will be very interesting to me to find out how this fight played with non-hardcore MMA fans. Miesha Tate did this card no favors by telling everyone that Ronda Rousey was not a legitimate title contender every chance she got, it was a very odd way to try to hype a fight. But as Ben Thapa pointed out to me, to him it came off like a high school drama where a popular student is being threatened by the new girl, and this Mean Girls dynamic may have appealed to more fans than we give it admit. And it was a good thing the girls were there, because before Sarah Kaufmann and Alexis Davis took to the cage, it was a fairly pedestrian card. It was not bad by any stretch, but it was nothing to write home about. But Kaufmann and Davis gave Columbus, Ohio a shot of energy when they put on their wild, Forrest/Bonnar-esk brawl. And after that sloppy, but fun fight Rousey and Tate put on a fight that was technically brilliant. The girls stole the show last night and launched Women's MMA to the top of the discussion on a weekend that saw both a Strikeforce and UFC card. Rousey vs Tate was an excellent fight, one of the most enjoyable fights I've seen in a while. The ending was just brutal, Tate basically forced Rousey to not just break her arm but mangle it. Mark Matheny needed to step in and stop the fight on Tate's behalf before her elbow got turned inside out. I normally love a good armbar, but this one had me cringing. That arm will take a while to heal and could have a lasting impact on Tate's career. Rousey put on a judo clinic on Tate, throwing her all over the cage. Tate made a lot of the idea of Judo vs Wrestling in the lead up to this show, and I've heard this idea brought up before by other fighters. Ultimately judo, wrestling, catch wrestling, Brazilian jiu jitsu, sambo and other grappling arts are all just different approaches to the same thing: grappling. Some arts may be more complete than others but when two grapplers meet it is all about who is the better grappler. Tate is a good grappler, but it takes something special to get an Olympic medal in Judo or Wrestling, and we saw that something special last night. Josh Thompson, despite his own views on his fight, did a good job reminding fans that he is in fact a damn good lightweight. K.J. Noons had nothing for Thompson, as the Punk took Noons down pretty much anyway he wanted and took dominate positions seemingly at will. No matter how you scored the fight, Paul Daley did not look good. He worked more wrestling and takedowns than we've from Semtex before. This is a good sign for Daley because there is an expiration date on the pure sprawl-and-brawl style that he has used in the past. That is really the only good thing that Daley can take away from this fight. Jacare really put on a full ranging display of all his skills. His striking was more than up to the task to deal with Marunde, Jarcare also flexed some good wrestling and then performed a mercy submission in the third round. Not Jacare's best fight, but not a bad showing for him either. Part of this was due to Marunde appearing to know he had no shot at winning and focusing purely on not getting added to Jacare's highlight reel. Not going to get too much into this subject, but how the heck did a Neo-Nazi sex offender get on the main card? Seriously, does Strikeforce do background checks, or looking a guy's tattoos or just talki to the fighters for about ten minutes? If they did any of that it should have been pretty obvious what this guy was. That aside, it was deeply satisfying to watch Roger Bowling put a beating on that man, major props to Bowling. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey UFC on FX 2 after the jump... UFC on FX 2 Time for some bonus perspective as we had a second fantastic cards this weekend. Down in Sydney, Australia the UFC had a great night as far of action inside the cage was concerned. But all that has been overshadowed by a mistakes that took place out side of the cage. Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson was awarded a split decision over Ian "Uncle Creepy" McCall, when actually the fight had been scored a majority draw. By the rules of the Flyweight tournament, a draw demanded a fourth "sudden victory" round. Not only were fight fans robbed of five more minutes of excellent action, but the Flyweight tournament is on hold now until the two can be re-matched so a proper winner can be declared. And what makes this really galling is that the fight had been flat out excellent, good busy stand up and on the mats great scrambles, sweep attempts and epic ground and pound from Ian McCall had fans wanting more. And the fact that is all stems for a basic literacy error makes this just unforgivable. We can only hope their April rematch results in as much action, but looking back on such a fantastic night of fights I don't want to linger on this too long. Martin Kampmann playing the role of comeback kid should have been the talking point coming out of Friday night. It was awesome. This was an excellent fight to have on FX because the much talked about casual fan got a window into what makes this sport so exciting. Kampmann showed great heart and technique and I'm willing to bet he converted a few new MMA fans. To bring back up the McCall/Johnson debacle, I think this is an excellent example of why 10-8 rounds should be used more liberally in MMA. There is plenty of debate on who won the first two rounds, but I think we can all agree that McCall won the third round by a sizable margin. But according the the score cards, Johnson won the second round by the same margin that McCall won the third round and that is not an accurate reflection of what took place in the cage. The 10-point must system can work as the scoring system for MMA, but it needs to be used in a manor where scorecards can accurately reflect fights. Joseph Benavidez was my pick to win the Flyweight tournament, and it was mostly based on his ability to finish fights, both with submissions and with his hands. He looked great a Flyweight and his KO of Yasuhiro Urushitani was excellent. The undercard rocked, which is sad because I had to watch it after the fact because I don't have Fuel (thank you very much Comcast). I love armbars, they are my favorite submission to see done and pull off in rolling and T.J. Waldburger's made my Friday. And that was right after Daniel Pineda locked on a sweet mounted triangle that turned into a triangle armbar. It was a bad night for elbows, though not as bad as Saturday night. The Aussie crowd was a little odd, laughing at weird times and booing at the drop of a hat. But it appeared to be a full house, so despite the idicoy with scorecards expect the UFC to return to the Land Down Under. SBN coverage of UFC on FX 2

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Newly-crowned Strikeforce Women's Champion Ronda Rousey may get a little time off from training camp, but there are no reprieves in the world of pre-fight trash talk. Picking up where Miesha Tate left off, former 135-pound titleholder Sarah Kaufman is calling for another crack at the division crown after proving she was (still) championship material by defeating fellow Canadian Alexis Davis at the Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" event last night (March 3, 2012) in Columbus, Ohio. "The fans, they wanna see fighters. They wanna see two people get in there, swing, hit each other and get a little bloody. It's the first time I've been cut and I love it! It's my belt, I want it! It's my fault I lost it and no one else should have it. If Ronda Rousey wins that title, it will be sweet satisfaction to beat it back from her." Last night's majority decision victory was Kaufman's third win in a row and a strong statement for getting the next shot at the "Rowdy" one. Now, I don't want to sound overly pessimistic, but it should be noted that in 16 professional fights, Kaufman has just one loss. And it came by armbar. Video of Kaufman's post-fight interview, where she breaks down her performance against her fellow Canadian (and a whole lot more), after the jump. For complete Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" results and detailed blow-by-blow commentary of the televised main card fights click here. Undercard recap and wrap-up here.

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, rousey, ronda, kaufman

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Ronda Rousey won the Strikeforce 135-pound title last night (March 3, 2012) at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, submitting Miesha Tate with a bone-snapping armbar in the very first round live on Showtime. It was her fifth straight submission victory within the opening frame, although "Takedown" lasted the longest inside the cage with "Rowdy" than anyone else. Too bad it came at such a terrible cost. For what it's worth, prior to the finish, Tate performed admirably, exchanging punches and even momentarily taking Rousey's back and working for a submission of her own. The former Olympian's top-shelf judo and tosses proved to be just too much, however, as Rousey was able to literally flip the momentum in her favor at just about every turn. For a more detailed recap on the fight between Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey click here and for complete Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" results and detailed blow-by-blow commentary of the televised main card fights click here. To see a pic of the Tate arm break click here and to here Rousey detail how she did it click here.

Posted in: click, tate, rousey, columbus ohio, blowbyblow commentary

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A few observations from Strikeforce: “Tate vs. Rousey”: -I don’t know what’s more depressing: the fact that Bristol Marunde was inadequate as an opponent for Ronaldo Souza, or the fact that a win over Marunde puts Souza on track for a shot at the belt. -No, wait, I know.  It’s the fact that Strikeforce’s middleweight division sucks. -Sure, Lumumba Sayers looked good, but how hard is it to dominate someone who apparently stopped giving a shit about fighting over a year ago? -Scott Smith’s last win was a come-from-behind thriller against Cung Le back in 2009.  Please, no more. -Kazuo Misaki was better at being Paul Daley than Paul Daley was.  Hooray for dangerous Japanese strikers! -He may have been down on his own performance, but Josh Thomson at the very least proved that there’s still someone in Strikeforce who can legitimately challenge champ Gilbert Melendez. -Give credit to Miesha Tate, who managed to last far longer against Ronda Rousey than anyone else the judoka has faced. -Give Rousey your arm if she wants it.  She’s getting it whether you resist or not!

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, paul daley, fact, rousey

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Heading into their Strikeforce bantamweight showdown on March 3, 2012, Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey created high expectations for women's mixed martial arts (MMA), which still faces an uncertain future. And in a rollicking battle at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, they delivered. After an intense back-and-forth match, Rousey slammed home a crushing armbar for the submission win at 4:27 of the first round.With the victory, Rousey took the promotion's 135-lb. title, and the unofficial helm as the "face of women's MMA." The victory didn't come easy, as the game Tate refused to go, fighting off an initial armbar attempt earlier in the round that appeared to damage her arm, prior to the finisher, where her lib was visibly mangled and bent far beyond the point where most fighters would've tapped. In short, it was one hell of a performance by both and destroyed any lingering stigma that women's MMA can't be exciting or marketable. With a dizzying series of transitions on the ground, and Tate unloading early on the feet, the fight showcased women's MMA on a level that hinted at a massive upside if the sport can be harnessed, promoted and showcased properly. With the victory, Rousey upped her ledger to 5-0, all via armbar submissions in the first round. With her previous longest bout a mere 49 seconds, she showed a necessary reservoir of resilience. Tate popped her a couple times on the feet, and created some tough positions; taking Rousey's back on a couple occasions, she forced "Rowdy" Ronda to back up her pre-fight trash talk by escaping the potentially dangerous spots. Rousey did, en route to a brutal armbar finish.With the victory, Rousey took the mantle of women's MMA on her talented shoulders. With Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos' one-year suspension ticking away, Rousey now has Sarah Kaufman as her likely first defense. She'll need to work on her standup defense and overall game, but that's one hell of a women's superfight to look forward to. What's sobering to consider is that Rousey has plenty of time to improve and is obviously in the beginning of her improvement curve to become a well-rounded mixed martial artist. All in all, it was a memorable performance, and precisely what the ladies of MMA needed to make a statement that they belong on the big stage, with the attendant promotional mojo to develop the sport. For complete Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" results and detailed blow-by-blow commentary of the televised main card fights click here. Undercard recap and wrap-up here.Jason Probst can be reached at Jason@jasonprobst.com or twitter.com/jasonprobst.

Posted in: mma, tate, women, womens mma, rousey

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Post-fight reactions and video from newly-crowned women's champion Ronda Rousey, along with main card winners Ronaldo Souza, Josh Thomson, Lumumba Sayers, Sarah Kaufman and Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, who were all on hand for last night's press conference following the "Tate vs. Rousey" Showtime event on March 3, 2012, at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. For complete Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" results and detailed blow-by-blow commentary of the televised main card fights click here. Undercard recap and wrap-up here.

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, rousey, columbus ohio, undercard recap

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Posted in: fight, vs, tate, miesha, ronda

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The most anticipated female mixed martial arts (MMA) fight in years, perhaps ever took place last night (March 3, 2012) as Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate looked to defend her title against judo Olympian Ronda Rousey in the main event of Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" in Columbus, Ohio. Tate repeatedly proclaimed that she didn't feel Rousey had earned the shot, that others were more deserving of being her first title defense, that Rousey was only there because of her looks and her mouth. But look who's laughing now? In one of the more cringe-worthy finishes of 2012, Rousey took Tate's arm home with her to claim the championship belt as her own. So how did "Rowdy" Ronda pull it off? (literally) And what's next for both talented ladies?Follow me after the jump for our Ronda Rousey vs. Miesha Tate Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" post-fight review and analysis: Perhaps fueled by all the pre-fight trash talk, Tate came out swinging wildly, charging forward and throwing a flurry of lunging hooks. One cracked Rousey on the jaw, but the majority of them missed and they allowed Rousey to clinch and easily reverse a takedown attempt into a takedown where she immediately went to work with her elite judo ground skills. After slickly passing to side control, the Olympic bronze medalist latched onto Tate's arm and attempted to score her fifth straight first round armbar finish. It looked painful, but Tate turned into Rousey, forcing the challenger to transition to an omaplata which allowed Tate to get back to her feet. The champion, proving that she was not going to be overwhelmed early, clinched with Rousey and proceeded to drag her to the canvas, locking in both hooks and taking her back on the way down. Rousey remained calm despite the perilous situation, not panicking despite the threat of a rear naked choke and she escaped out the back door to return to her feet where she was able to take command in the clinch and score a trip takedown. Tate again showcased her own grappling ability by working her way back to her feet, but she once again got overzealous with her striking, overcommitting on some big hooks which took her off balance and Rousey capitalized with a beautiful hip toss which would eventually set up the finish to the fight. This time, Rousey would pass to mount and posture up, dropping nice short strikes, all targeting the left side of Tate's head. This was brilliant because the second Tate brought up her left hand to defend her head, Rousey snuck her own arm underneath and then once again transitioned to an armbar. Her knees weren't cinched together perfectly this time, but Rousey made up for it by using her knee to keep Tate's head in place and then torquing violently on Tate's arm, which led to one of the more gruesome-looking arm configurations we've ever seen and also forced a tap from the champion. It was competitive, it was action-packed and it lived up to all the pre-fight hype and billing. For Miesha Tate, first thing's first, she's going to need some time to heal. She played "tough-girl" for the cameras in her post-fight interview but she had that thousand yard stare and she likely suffered some pretty severe damage to her elbow at least. She held her own with Rousey, but her biggest mistake was letting Rousey get into her head which allowed her emotions to take over. In the stand-up, Tate was way too aggressive and this led to easy throws and trips by Rousey. She'll have to make sure to not let that happen the next time around. If her timetable for a return is not too severe, I'd love to see her step in against Alexis Davis, who put on an incredible performance in a losing effort to Sarah Kaufmann earlier in the evening. Other possibilities include former title challenger Liz Carmouche or top Brazilian prospect Amanda Nunes. For Ronda Rousey, this was an incredible performance. Other than a shaky minute where she had her back taken, she was nearly flawless in her execution of guard passing, takedowns and submission attempts. She is an absolute technician in the cage and she's got the athletic gifts to back it up. Rousey has the look, the talent and the charisma to be a superstar in women's MMA for quite some time. She will almost certainly be battling Sarah Kaufman next in her first title defense, as soon as Kaufman's superficial injuries heal and they want to set up a big championship fight. This likely won't have quite the buzz of Tate vs. Rousey, but now that Rousey is likely going to be a huge star in the division, there will be plenty of interest among casual MMA fans for all of her fights. If she can defeat Kaufman next, there's no telling how high Rousey's stardom in women's MMA can reach. So what did you think, Maniacs? Were you as impressed by Rousey's performance as most everyone else seems to be? Can she be the savior of women's MMA and help bring about a new era of female fighters? Sound off! For complete Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here, here and here.

Posted in: time, vs, tate, womens mma, rousey

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Did you miss Saturday's big title fight between Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate? Showtime officials have released a video showing highlights from the one-round barnburner. Check out the action as Rousey uses her patented submission to stop Tate and take her Strikeforce women's bantamweight championship. Or catch the event replays on Showtime today and Tuesday.

Posted in: title fight, tate, ronda rousey, showtime today, event replays

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Ronda Rousey backed up the trash talk inside the cage, defeating Miesha Tate for the Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight title. Tate battled Rousey's armbar attempts 'til the very end, but finally tapped at the end of round 1, after severely dislocating her elbow. Ronda Rousey improves her MMA record to 5-0, all first round armbar finishes. Further Reading: Full Tate vs. Rousey fight card

Posted in: tate, mma record, rousey, ronda, miesha tate

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Strikeforce returned to the Showtime airwaves last night (March 3, 2012) with "Tate vs. Rousey," broadcasting live from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. In the main event of the evening, Miesha Tate put her 135-pound title on the line against undefeated contender Ronda Rousey, who secured her shot at the division crown by winning four straight contests via first round armbar. Make it five. The "Rowdy" one, who not only talked the talk heading into last night's main event, but also proved she could walk the walk, got all she could handle from Tate, who shrugged off an initial arm-lock right out of the gate. In fact, "Takedown" was able to rattle off a few submission attempts of her own, proving her ground game was on par with that of the former Olympian. Well, at least for a little while. Rousey was able to once again secure a dominant position and lock up a limb with just over 30 seconds left in their frenetic opening frame, but this time, there was no giving it back. Tate showed an incredibly high tolerance for pain, grimacing and squirming as the clock ticked away, but the inevitable tap -- and horrific still shot of her broken wing -- came at the 4:27 mark of round one. Snap, crackle, pop. While one champion was being crowned, another was in the broadcast booth, keeping a keen eye on the 155-pound affair between Josh Thomson and Karl James Noons. It's been said that "heavy is the head that wears the crown." Well, even heavier is the eyelids that watched that fight. Because Thomson fought "like shit." That's according to "The Punk," who was visibly upset with his unanimous decision win over "King" Karl. The former lightweight champion attributed his poor performance, one that had the Columbus boo-birds harmonizing by the start of the second stanza, to a pair of Staph infections during training camp. Not that it stopped him from demanding a trilogy with Gilbert Melendez. Thomson stifled Noons with his wrestling-based attack and even had the former EliteXC straphanger gasping for air from an arm-triangle choke, but their inability to keep the fans in the game makes it difficult to generate any kind of excitement for a rematch against "El Nino." Especially with so many terrific (and fresh) match-ups awaiting Melendez in the UFC. One person who knows a thing or two about mixing it up inside the Octagon is Paul Daley. The British bomb-dropper made a name for himself under the ZUFFA banner by pasting more than a few careless welterweights. Kazuo Misaki would not become one of them. The Japanese import made a successful debut not just in Strikeforce, but in the 170-pound weight division as well. And he did it by beating "Semtex" at his own game. Daley, who's been criticized for having the ground game of a cigar store Indian, made a concerted effort to continually take the former PRIDE middleweight to the floor. Because he just couldn't hang on the feet. Misaki was quicker to the punch, lighter on his feet and simply out-struck his bewildered foe, who seemed more concerned with landing the knockout punch than finding his range and working his jab. Daley also allowed the "Hitman" to control the center of the cage, busted up nose and all. In the end, it cost him the fight. But it may not have cost him his job, which unfortunately can't be said for Scott Smith, who dropped his fourth straight fight under the Strikeforce banner when Lumumba Sayers strangled him en route to a first-round submission win. The Coloradan needed just over 90 seconds to melt the "Hands of Steel" with a lightning-fast takedown that Smith tried to convert into a guillotine choke. Instead, it got him scooped and slammed. In fact, Sayers used the gorilla press and subsequent canvas-crash to lock in a choke of his own. Smith pawed and clawed at the offending arm, but in the end he chose to tap, rather than nap. Based on his recent struggles, that tap may as well have served as his resignation. See you in Bellator. In the opening fight of the night, Ronaldo Souza wanted to prove he was still at the top of the very short list of 185-pound title contenders by finishing Strikeforce debutante Bristol Marunde. Mission accomplished. "Jacare" came out like a man possessed and despite his vaunted jiu-jitsu prowess, controlled the first three rounds of action through crisp striking and calculated aggression. Students of the ground game, however, did not go home disappointed. The Brazilian took advantage of his late replacement in the third and final frame, dragging his weary foe to the ground and sinking in an arm-triangle choke. While the win in "Discovery City" still leaves him one spot behind Tim Kennedy in the line of eligible contenders, it unquestionably put the remainder of the division on notice. Mr. Rockhold, take us to DEFCON 3. That's a wrap from Columbus. Now it's your turn to discuss Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" in the comments section below. And after last night's main event, there's certainly plenty to talk about. Have at it. For complete Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" results and detailed blow-by-blow commentary of the televised main card fights click here. Undercard recap and wrap-up here.

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, game, ground game, rousey

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If you happened to miss the most significant women's MMA fight since 2009, here are Ronda Rousey vs. Miesha Tate fight highlights, via Showtime Sports. Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey took place March 3, 2012 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH. Upstart challenger and former Olympian Ronda Rousey (5-0) took on reigning Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate (12-3) in an electrifying title fight. Check out the video highlights below. For more on Rousey's spectacular victory, check out the play-by-play from MMA Fighting's own Luke Thomas. Round 1: Tate swinging and lands a few strikes, but Rousey tosses her to the mat and moves to side control. Rousey steps out and moves to opposite side and attempts an armbar. It's close, but Tate survives and now has Rousey's back. Rousey removes the hook and stands but in a slam Tate still gets Rousey's back. In a scramble Rousey gets out the back door and is standing over a prostrate Tate. Tate stands and they clinch. Rousey takes a shot to the face, but hip tosses Tate to the mat with ease. Now in mount. Rousey goes to the Russian arm bar and then back down. Tate fights valiantly, but her arm appears to be badly dislocated. Tate taps. That's it. Ronda Rousey is your new women's bantamweight champion. Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey results: Ronda Rousey defeats Miesha Tate at 4:27 of round 1.

Posted in: vs, tate, miesha, rousey, ronda

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In case you missed the Strikeforce event which hosted what is probably the most important bout in the history of Women's MMA in Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey, here are official highlights from Showtime to get you up to date. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey Since the video probably won't be enough, here's how the play-by-play from the live blog of the event: Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Championship: Miesha Tate (c) vs. Ronda Rousey - Round 1 - They don't touch gloves and Tate wails away with punches. Rousey with a quick takedown and she moves to side control. Rousey steps over to get side control again. Armbar by Rousey and Tate survives! It looked bad but she survived. Tate was on top but Rousey stood up. Tate has the back now as she takes her down. Rousey gets free and stands. Rousey almost spikes her on her head but Tate is still on her back on the ground. Tate escapes and is on top now. Punch by Rousey and a few leg kicks. Rousey takes her back down. They trade punches as they stand. Hip toss by Rousey! Rousey moves to mount and lands some punches now to back control, punches and takes the arm bar. Tate's arm is all kinds of broken and this fight is over and so is Miesha Tate's time as champion. Ronda Rousey wins by technical submission (armbar/broken arm), Round 1. More coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey: - Photo: Ronda Rousey Breaks Miesha Tate's Arm- Strikeforce: Tate Vs. Rousey Results And Post-Fight Analysis - Ronda Rousey By Armbar - Josh Thomson Wins Lackluster Decision Over KJ Noons - Kazuo Misaki Takes Decision Over Paul Daley - Lumumba Sayers Submits Scott Smith - Jacare Chokes Out Bristol Marunde

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey, ronda

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Sherdog.com will report from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, at approximately 8 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey,” which is headlined by a 135-pound women’s title match pitting champion Miesha Tate against undefeated challenger Ronda Rousey.

Posted in: result, vs, tate, rousey, columbus ohio

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Following an exciting line-up from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, many of the event's biggest winners were in attendance for the Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey post-fight press conference...

Posted in: conference, vs, tate, rousey, columbus ohio

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Going into tonight's affair, the hype surrounding Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate was through the roof for us hardcore fans. Most of us had heard rumblings of Rousey a couple years ago when the Olympic bronze medalist started an amateur career in MMA in Tuff-N-Uff bouts. Some of us, myself included, wondered just how things would fare when the competition stepped up from Ediene Gomes and Charmaine Tweet to Julia Budd, but that wasn't even a speed bump. Some of us (self included again) still weren't just ready to leap onto the bandwagon just yet. Budd is a tough fighter, but both her and Rousey were in their 4th pro fight apiece... Miesha Tate had more than triple the ring and cage experience of either of those women to go with a credible and credentialed wrestling background. Ya know what? IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU THINK! I thought that Tate might make it a solid brawl - and for a little while, she did. Then Honda hit the Ippon and that was the beginning of the end. I am officially on the bandwagon, because if I'm not, I might get my arm turned into ramen. Rowdy snapped the arm of the stubborn Tate, and cut one of the better after-fight promos we've seen in some time. If I were Sarah Kaufman, I'd make sure I spent some time quickening my tapping hand, because there's no reason to get your arm mangled. Speaking of Sarah, she looked... I don't want to say "not great", but really, it wasn't that great. She showed all kinds of heart and chutzpah, but so did her opponent, Alexis Davis, who isn't exactly a world beater at a now pedestrian 11-5. I thought the judging in that was highly questionable, as one judge scored it a draw, but SK still got the deserved win over a game opponent. That said, while I think her boxing is technically decent, she doesn't have the power to stop Rousey and she doesn't have the grappling skills to avoid the takedown and not get submitted. The following winners get major props from me: Kazuo Misaki Lumumba Sayers Roger Bowling Ryan Couture I thought Misaki was a dead man walking. It's the first fight in almost a year for the man about to turn 36. The same man who'd been KO'd multiple times by heavy hitters and making his welterweight debut against one of the hardest 170-lb hitters in the world in Paul Daley. Paul was beside himself after the fight, because in his head, he got four takedowns, broke his nose and cut him up badly - what more can one do? Well, do something with those takedowns to start - Misaki was rarely in trouble on the ground and reversed Paul a couple times. Also there's the fact that Kaz outlanded him throughout the fight, even staggering him. Extra special props to Mr. Sayers for not inflicting any more long-term damage on Scott Smith than he's already absorbed. A first round submission is a lot better for my soul than watching you drub that man's head around like a basketball. Speaking of drubbing like a basketball, I'm kind of mad that the ref didn't let Roger continue to abuse the hell out of Brandon Saling. For those that missed it, Saling has a bunch of neo-Nazi tattoos, including the numbers 88 with lightning bolts and "white steel". Feel free to look those up on google if you'd like, but you can also just take my word for it. There's also the matter of him having been indicted in connection with a rape of a person under 13. Yea, I'm really not a huge fan of registered sex offender nazis being given a national audience. Moving along, Meh props to Josh Thompson, Pat Healy and Ronaldo Souza. They got the wins, and even stoppages in a couple cases, but none of them looked particularly dashing in victory. Thompson was honest about it, describing his performance as "sh*t" repeatedly, to which no one really argued. Souza looked like he was coasting through the first couple of rounds, and while Healy faced a tough test in Fodor and came out with his arm raised, I don't think anyone not related to him or in his camp is thinking he'll be the one to beat Gil Melendez based on tonight's performance.

Posted in: tate, arm, couple, rousey, miesha tate

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Here’s some advice. If Ronda Rousey ever puts you in an armbar, tap and tap immediately. Miesha Tate learned that lesson the hard way tonight in her bantamweight title defense against Rousey at Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey.” Tate actually escaped a nasty looking armbar early in the first round, but wasn’t so fortunate later in the round when Rousey snagged another one and torqued it to the point Tate’s elbow bent the complete opposite direction. As you can see from the gif’s below it was pretty painful to watch, let alone be trapped in. So moral of the story: Tap. Rousey’s striking may have a ways to go, but the girl knows how to put you on your back and rip your arm off. She’s had five professional fights and three amateur fights. She’s won every single last one of them via ambar in the first round. Crazy. Gif’s via IronForgesIron. Image via Dave Farra’s Twitter.

Posted in: round, tate, gif, ronda rousey, rousey

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COLUMBUS -- MMA Fighting spoke with Lumumba Sayers following his first-round submission win over Scott Smith at Saturday's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey event at the Nationwide Arena. Sayers discusses his second straight Strikeforce win as well as his unique hair style. Check out the interview below.

Posted in: arena sayers, scott smith, lumumba sayers, vs, tate

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I'm still in shock over the ending of the main event of tonight's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey card. I always favored Rousey to take the fight and a lot of us joked about her ripping Tate's arm off, but I don't know that I legitimately believed that it would end so violently. Ronda is an incredible fighter and she showed that she can deal with a fight that takes place in different areas in rapid succession. Tate came out hard and was landing some punches, Rousey got on top, worked for the finish, ended up on her back, got out of several bad spots including having her back taken, and still found a way to get on top and ruin Rousey's arm. Some people seem to be upset that Rousey didn't squash the beef between the two after the fight and instead said that she "didn't feel bad" about breaking (or dislocating) Tate's arm. I'm not sure why two people who have a grudge should suddenly bury it because one of them won the fight. Rousey backed up her talk and it was Miesha who chose not to tap when she was clearly beat. Why should Ronda feel bad about it? Rousey is a star. I'm curious how many people tuned in for the fight tonight, but no one who watched is going to avoid the next Rousey fight...unless they're squeamish. I'm glad Josh Thomson admitted his performance was lame (in, slightly more "mature" language) following his win over KJ Noons. In looking for a good fight for Gilbert Melendez, the last thing that Strikeforce could have wanted to see was Thomson spend the majority of the fight literally only holding Noons down. He deserved the win, but it was a bad, boring fight. Kazuo Misaki outstruck Paul Daley so Daley worked takedowns to try to get a decision via his top game. That really happened. It was like we were watching this fight on Htrae (Bizarro World for you non-nerds). Misaki's toughness really worked out well for him as he did have his nose crushed and face busted open but did enough to deserve the win. Much more after the jump.. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey Scott Smith will always hold a special place for me as a guy who was always exciting and had some incredible moments in his career. But the guy is done. He looked as bad as ever against Lumumba Sayers and he has looked pretty bad on other recent occasions. I don't want to tell a guy to retire, but I wouldn't be sad to see him gracefully hang 'em up. Ronaldo Souza getting the win is...whatever. He did what he had to do against a late replacement, but it wasn't really much of a fight for him. Sarah Kaufman and Alexis Davis put on one hell of a fight. Davis would have been smarter to try to get it on the floor sooner than the third round, when she had her best success of the fight, but her decision to go to war with Kaufman on the feet was certainly a win for all of us watching. Those two ladies gave everything they had and deserve all the credit in the world for their performances. Roger Bowling's win over Brandon Saling will be lost in the shuffle over Saling's neo-nazi tattoos and sex offender conviction. Someone in charge of this stuff at both Strikeforce and Showtime dropped the ball badly in putting this kid on TV. I get that he has the right to compete, but I have the right as a consumer to say that I want the money I spend on the programming, tickets and other things related to the network and promotion to not go into his pocket. Pat Healy is experiencing quite the run right now. Caros Fodor is no joke and Healy did very, very well in disposing of him by his usual method of grinding away and taking advantage of mistakes. Ryan Couture has improved considerably but I still don't think too highly of him as a fighter. Conor Heun also looked miserable in that fight. Still, credit to Couture who is looking to get better and certainly isn't trying to cost on his dad's name. And, hey, it's not like he's picking up DUI's like Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, tate, im, rousey

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Ronda Rousey breaks Miesha Tate's arm (GIF) at Strikeforce in Columbus, Ohio, last night (Sat., March 3, 2012). Amazingly enough, this was the second attempted armbar, as Tate escaped the first, though it looked as though her arm may have popped there as well. It's also possible it's only dislocated but either way, that arm is jacked up. For more click here and here. Check the comments section for another slo-motion angle. Props: Iron Forges Iron

Posted in: tate, arm, comments section, miesha, columbus ohio

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Rousey executed her fifth consecutive first-round armbar, earning the title at 4:27 of the opening five minutes.

Posted in: title, tate, armbar, rousey, ronda

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Ronda Rousey did precisely what she said she would do, submitting Miesha Tate with an armbar in the first round to win the Strikeforce women's bantamweight title.

Posted in: title, tate, ronda rousey, ronda, miesha tate

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In the end, Miesha Tate found herself in the same hopeless position as Ronda Rousey’s first four opponents in mixed martial arts.

Posted in: tate, miesha, rousey, ronda, strikeforce championship

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This is what it looks like when you think wrestling trumps judo nine times out of 10 and when you don't worry about getting armbarred when fighting Ronda Rousey. At tonight's (Sat., March 3, 2012) Strikeforce event in Columbus, Ohio, now former Women's Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate found out the hard way that having pride and waiting until the last minute to tap means getting your limb snapped. Especially when a "Rowdy" lady like Rousey has you in her grasp. The victory caps an insanely awesome run through the 135-pound division for Ronda, who talked her way into a title shot with no previous experience in the weight class and delivered on everything she promised ... and more. War women's MMA! For a more detailed look at the Rousey vs. Tate fight click here and for complete Strikeforce results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here. Check out another sick pic of Tate's arm after the jump.

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, ronda rousey, rousey, ronda

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Normally I dive right in to my post fight analysis when an event ends, but tonight calls for a little something different. Why? Because Ronda Rousey broke Miesha Tate's arm in an incredible moment of violence and we all need to stop and look at it for a few minutes. The picture (via Dava Farra's Twitter): Here's how we called the action in our live blog: Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Championship: Miesha Tate (c) vs. Ronda Rousey - Round 1 - They don't touch gloves and Tate wails away with punches. Rousey with a quick takedown and she moves to side control. Rousey steps over to get side control again. Armbar by Rousey and Tate survives! It looked bad but she survived. Tate was on top but Rousey stood up. Tate has the back now as she takes her down. Rousey gets free and stands. Rousey almost spikes her on her head but Tate is still on her back on the ground. Tate escapes and is on top now. Punch by Rousey and a few leg kicks. Rousey takes her back down. They trade punches as they stand. Hip toss by Rousey! Rousey moves to mount and lands some punches now to back control, punches and takes the arm bar. Tate's arm is all kinds of broken and this fight is over and so is Miesha Tate's time as champion. Ronda Rousey wins by technical submission (armbar/broken arm), Round 1.

Posted in: punch, tate, arm, miesha, rousey

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COLUMBUS, Ohio - After months of trash talk and boastful predictions and heated press conferences and promotional spots, Ronda Rousey ultimately did exactly what she said she would do. In one of the biggest fights in women's MMA history, the Olympic judoka secured one of her patented first-round armbars to defeat Miesha Tate and win the Strikeforce's women's bantamweight title. The title fight headlined"Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. It aired on Showime following prelims on Showtime Extreme.

Posted in: title, tate, rousey, columbus ohio, olympic judoka

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Ronda Rousey defeats Miesha Tate by submission (armbar). The submission came at 4:27 in the first round. "I understand we are not touching gloves" is said by the referee. Miesha Tate came out swinging wild puches to open the round. Rousey got tagged and then tripped Tate to the ground. Rousey with an armbar and it looked to have dislocated. Tate survives when Ronda looked for an omoplata. Tate drags Rousey to the ground and looked for a rear naked choke. Rousey with a backdoor escape and they clinched on the feet. Trip takedown from Rousey and they are back to their feet. Rousey landed a jab-cross and then a judo hip toss. Rousey passed to mount and Tate gave up her back. Rousey with punches and then an armbar. OH GROSS THAT IS BROKEN. Tate tapped but the damage was already done. Her arm is JACKED! Ronda Rousey is the new Strikeforce bantamweight champion. Impressive win for Ronda Rousey. Amazing grappling displayed by both women. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey

Posted in: tate, armbar, ronda rousey, rousey, ronda

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The highly anticipated main event of tonight's (Sat., March 3, 2012) Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" event in Ohio featured Women's Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate putting her title on the line for the very first time against fast-rising superstar challenger Ronda Rousey. Both ladies talked a lot of trash in the long lead up to tonight, especially Rousey. Tate tried to stay cool but looked flustered at times, including the weigh-ins when the two went forehead-to-forehead. But the time for talking ended tonight and they got busy in the cage to show us who the real deal Holyfield is. Turns out, Rousey wasn't playing around with that judo and did exactly like she said she would do by grabbing a hold of Tate's arm and breaking it inside the first round. At least Tate took her into deeper water than anyone else before. But now that we know Rousey can get past the first minute and still take a limb home with her, can anyone stop this woman? Does anyone even want to try? They came out fast and furious, as expected, with Rousey jumping in for that arm and getting a hold of it, just like she said she would. But Tate, like she said she would, battled through and got up to take Rousey's back a short time later. Whew. Ronda escaped, too, and back up to the feet they went. After a trip from Rousey, they battled back to their feet again and Tate started letting her hands go a bit. Of course, Rousey went back to the bread and butter and hit a judo trip. She transitioned quick to mount and worked hard punches. It wasn't long again before she grabbed a hold of Tate's arm and did just like she said she would and BROKE IT OFF. Ronda Rousey is the new Strikeforce Women's bantamweight champion. Get some. For a complete rundown of the entire Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, arm, rousey, ronda

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In a tremendous main event to Saturday night's Strikeforce card, a new women's champion has been crowned: Ronda Rousey has submitted Miesha Tate with a first-round arm bar. Rousey is now 5-0, with all five wins by first-round arm bar. But this was a much tougher fight than her previous four. None of the previous fights lasted even 50 seconds, but this one was a back-and-forth battle that lasted most of the first round. In the end, Tate didn't want to tap out, and she appeared to have an injured arm for her trouble. "She was much more savvy on the ground than I anticipated," Rousey said of Tate. "She's good, she's legit, but I don't feel that bad about it." More Coverage: Tate vs. Rousey Results | Rousey vs. Tate Live Blog It was a great fight: Tate charged in swinging but Rousey grabbed hold of her and did exactly what she wanted to do, using her world-class judo to throw Tate to the ground. Rousey then went for an arm bar, and it appeared that she would win this fight the way she had won all of her previous fights, with an arm bar in the first minute. But Tate fought it off and not only escaped but wound up in an advantageous position, taking Rousey's back. Rousey fought that off and got back to her feet, and after a brief exchange of punches standing Rousey used a judo throw to get on top of Tate on the ground. From there it was only a matter of time before Rousey got what she wanted, an opportunity to sink in an arm bar. Tate desperately wanted to survive and at first refused to tap, but eventually her arm bent in an ugly way, and Tate did tap. She stayed on the ground for several minutes as Rousey celebrated in the cage.

Posted in: fight, tate, arm, rousey, arm bar

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Holy shit! What a main event...one of the most entertaining fights I've seen. submitted by Audiophiliac [link] [28 comments]

Posted in: tate, discussion, ive, rousey, fights ive

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4:22 is what it took Ronda Rousey to reach into Miesha Tate's career and steal her Strikeforce women's bantamweight strap. That's longer than it took John Travolta to take over the planet in Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000. Granted, it was the longest fight of Ronda Rousey's career. Subsequently, it was the most mangled arm we've ever seen Ronda Rousey destroy. Here's a heads up, folks. If you ever encounter Ronda Rousey, don't give her a handshake if you value your appendages. A fist pound will do (or as FOX News calls it, a 'terrorist fist jab'). If Miesha Tate didn't have connective tissue that attached her shoulder to her arm, Rousey would have literally pulled it off her torso. Ronda Rousey would have made Miesha Tate into the new Jax. People need to realize Tate trained for months to prevent only one move in mixed martial arts: the arm bar -- and she couldn't do it. Actually, in the history of MMA, no one has been able to stop the Ronda Rousey arm bar. It's like she's evolved into Fedor Emelianenko circa 2007. Sure Miesha Tate exhibited a level of grappling that none of Ronda Rousey's opponents have in the past, but it literally cost her ability to pick up objects with her left arm for the next three months. As a tribute to Ronda Rousey being the champion of yet another sport and granting the MMA world one of the gnarliest arm bars we've ever seen -- we're going to show it again in an endless loop of awesomeness. We appreciate all the love you've shown MiddleEasy over the months, Ronda. Congrats on your new bling, playa. Props to ZombieProphet for the gif.

Posted in: tate, arm, ronda rousey, rousey, ronda

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This is the Strikeforce live blog for Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey, a female bantamweight bout on tonight's Strikeforce event from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Tate (12-2) is out to make her first defense after winning the title from Marloes Coenen in July 2011. Rousey (4-0) made her professional MMA debut in March 2011 and has won all her fights by armbar. Check out the live blog below. More Coverage: Tate vs. Rousey Results | Latest Strikeforce News Round 1: Round 2:Round 3: Round 4: Round 5:

Posted in: strikeforce, round, blog, tate, rousey

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Let's just say this up front: picking Ronda Rousey to beat Miesha Tate is a leap of faith. After all, what exactly do we know about Rousey the mixed martial artist? Sure, she is 4-0, but her fights combined have lasted little over two minutes. She's spent next to no time standing up and little time on the ground for that matter, her lighting quick arm bar transitions causing frantic taps. Rousey herself has even played up the mystery, acknowledging that the less Tate knows about her skills, the better. What we do know is that she is a killer, a fearless assassin who has shown no fear inside or outside of the cage. On the other hand, she's never faced anyone with the experience level of Strikeforce bantamweight champ Tate. That makes their Saturday night main event fight more of a guessing game than usual when it comes to predicting a winner. Rousey (4-0) comes in as a nearly 3-to-1 favorite to unseat Tate and that's based solely off of her ability to put the fight where she wants it and finish. Unlike some of her other opponents, Tate (12-2) has a wrestling background, and according to FightMetric, has never been taken down in her six Strikeforce fights.That's a stat that will be tested on Saturday. Will Rousey be able to pull off the trick? She's done it in every other fight, either with brute force or through judo technique. Given her background as an international judo competitor, you have to believe that anytime the fight gets in close quarters, Tate is going to be in danger of finding herself on the mat.In her most recent fight against Julia Budd for example, Rousey jabbed her way in close, got a hold of Budd and tried a hip throw. Budd was ready for it and kept her weight back. From years in judo, Rousey has a perfect understanding of leverage, and simply readjusted, using Budd's backwards force to push her down to the mat. Within seconds, it was game over. It's been the same sort of plan for every fight, Rousey quickly jabbing her opponent backwards as a means of getting a grip on them. She shows no fear of return fire from the woman standing across from her, but she hasn't show any polish as a striker, either. She certainly excels in the clinch, and that's going to be an area of concern for Tate. Given Tate's background as a wrestler, it will be interesting to see if she is more interested in keeping the fight standing up or has faith in her submission defense. Tate historically has good ground and pound, but as we've seen from Rousey, she has no problem working from the bottom and attacking there.The matchup problem for Tate comes in the fact that she's proven to be a fighter who likes to work her opponent against the fence, put them on their back and work from the top. Does that sound like a matchup tailor-made for Rousey? So it becomes a question of whether Tate willl adjust and choose to jab, use footwork and look to keep Rousey at distance, or fight her normal fight.Against Marloes Coenen, Tate showed a decent jab and a straight right hand behind it, but spent most of the fight using those to walk into a clinch. One thing that must be noted is that Tate found herself in a series of troubling spots on the ground against Coenen. In the first round, she worked her way out of a first-round anaconda. In the second, Coenen took her back, hooked on a body triangle and worked for a rear naked choke. She also used the position to mount her from the back and land strikes from the top. That Tate escaped the positions is a testament to her toughness, but Rousey is a bigger and stronger opponent than Coenen, and if she gets those positions, the possibilities of escaping will be slimmer.Because this could potentially be a five-round fight, the conditioning edge must go to Tate. Against Coenen, she looked strong into the championship rounds, sinking in a fourth-round arm triangle choke to win. It's also Rousey's debut at the lower 135-pound weight class, and we don't know how the cut will effect her conditioning.Of course, even that is speculative. So much of Rousey's game is still a mystery that it's impossible to know how good she really is. We do know that many of Tate's best qualities play into what Rousey does best. And so that's enough to guess that Rousey will get the fight to the ground and again win by submission. Given Tate's experience and toughness, it's not going to take her less than one minute, like all of her other fights. She will be tested, and maybe we'll learn something more about her. But a trend is a trend, so Rousey by arm bar.

Posted in: fight, ground, tate, rousey, coenen

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Lumumba Sayers may or may not have sent Scott Smith packing at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey on Saturday night, but he certainly made a statement.

Posted in: saturday night, tate, rousey, scott smith, lumumba

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It's not a fight that will win fans over, but Josh Thomson controlled K.J. Noons for the majority of their fight en route to a unanimous decision at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey.

Posted in: tate, kj noons, kj, rousey, josh thomson

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Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 12:30 a.m. ET/9:30 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop, MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger and Matthew Roth as they review tonight's "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey," which is headlined by a Strikeforce bantamweight championship bout between Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey. Also on the card is a lightweight bout between Josh Thomson and K.J. Noons. We'll review all the bouts while taking your calls, emails, tweets and comments. Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Get your Legacy Fight Shorts, seen on Yushin Okami, Vaughan Lee and Hatsu Hioki at UFC 144, only from Bad Boy at the brand new BadBoy.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you. How to listen: Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast) Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so: Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86 or @BrianHemmingerBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, elbow, boy, rousey

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Follow live Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey results as women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate faces (Rowdy) Ronda Rousey.

Posted in: strikeforce, result, vs, tate, rousey

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Ronda Rousey snapped Miesha Tate's in the first round Saturday, becoming the new Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion. Get full results

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, rousey, round saturday, miesha tates

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

Ronda Rousey snapped Miesha Tate's in the first round Saturday, becoming the new Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion. Get full results

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, rousey, round saturday, miesha tates

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Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, chat, rousey

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The Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey event got off to a roaring start with the prelims, where Sarah Kaufman staked her claim to the next shot at the bantamweight title.

Posted in: tate, rousey, sarah kaufman, kaufman, sarah

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Round-by-round and fight-by-fight coverage of the Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey main card starts at 10 p.m. Eastern here at HeavyMMA, including the women's bantamweight title fight between Miesha Tate...

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, fightbyfight coverage, blog roundbyround

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submitted by i_am_not_a_robot [link] [comment]

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, rousey, iamnotarobot link, iamnotarobot

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MMA Fighting has Tate vs. Rousey results for all of the March 3 Strikeforce fights, plus live coverage from Columbus, live blogs of all the fights and live Tate vs. Rousey twitter updates.In the main event, Miesha Tate will defend her women's bantamweight title against Ronda Rousey. In the co-main event, Josh Thomson will square off against KJ Noons.Check out the full Tate vs. Rousey results below. Main CardMiesha Tate vs. Ronda RouseyK.J. Noons vs. Josh ThomsonPaul Daley vs. Kazuo MisakiRonaldo Souza vs. Bristol MarundeScott Smith vs. Lumumba SayersUndercardSarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis (live blog)Caros Fodor vs. Pat Healy (live blog)Ryan Couture vs. Conor Heun (live blog)Roger Bowling vs. Brandon Saling (live blog)

Posted in: vs, tate, ronda rousey, rousey, kj noonscheck

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Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey live results and play-by-play on Saturday, March 3. The main event features Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey.

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, playbyplay, rousey

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Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey quick results on Saturday, March 3. The main event features Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey.

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One of the most anticipated female fights in years is only hours away from taking place with Strikeforce bantamweight champ Miesha Tate putting her title on the line against brash judoka Ronda Rousey in the main event tonight at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey. The bad blood between the two talented 135ers has been well-documented and nearly spilled over during weigh-ins after Tate decided to go face-to-face with her unbeaten challenger. Were the bout not enough, the card also features former middleweight champion Ronaldo Souza in action against Bristol Marunde, hard-hitting Brit Paul Daley duking it out with Kazuo Misaki, and a battle for top contendership in the lightweight division between K.J. Noons and Josh Thomson. The prelims, also ripe with potential from an entertainment standpoint, start up at 8:00 PM EST on Showtime Extreme with the featured fights firing up two hours later on Showtime. As always, Five Ounces of Pain will be tuned in from start to finish relaying real time results back to readers as things unfold from the arena. Read below for a full list of winners/losers from Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey: Roger Bowling vs. Brandon Saling Ryan Couture vs. Conor Heun Caros Fodor vs. Pat Healy Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis Scott Smith vs. Lumumba Sayers K.J. Noons vs. Josh Thomson Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki Ronaldo Souza vs. Bristol Marunde Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, time results, rousey

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Two of the baddest bantamweights on the planet are poised to face off for Strikeforce gold tonight in Columbus, Ohio, as divisional champion Miesha Tate puts her gold up for grabs against undefeated Olympian Ronda Rousey in headlining action at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey. Beyond the professional stakes at play, both women have been open about their utter disdain for one another making tonight’s tussle personal as well. Other scheduled match-ups include Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki and Josh Thomson vs. KJ Noons. The prelims start at 8:00 PM EST on Showtime Extreme with the featured fights firing up two hours later on Showtime. As always, Fighters.com will be glued to the set while delivering live outcomes to our readers. Check below for a full rundown of results: Roger Bowling vs. Brandon Saling Ryan Couture vs. Conor Heun Caros Fodor vs. Pat Healy Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis Scott Smith vs. Lumumba Sayers KJ Noons vs. Josh Thomson Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki Ronaldo Souza vs. Bristol Marunde Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE Tweet

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey, columbus ohio

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Round-by-round and fight-by-fight coverage of the Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey preliminary card starts at 8 p.m. Eastern here at HeavyMMA, including a women's bantamweight contenders bout between...

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, rousey, fightbyfight coverage, blog roundbyround

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Before Showtime takes to the airwaves tonight (Sat., March 3, 2012) with its Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" broadcast, catch a sneak peek of the pre-fight feature that will air before the big main event. In it, women's Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate puts her title on the line for the very first time against rising star Ronda Rousey. Naturally, some final banter was bandied about before they settle up inside the cage. Says "Rowdy" Ronda: "Everything about her is better on paper. Her fights look better on paper. Her photos look better on paper than she does in person. Her trash talking looks much better on paper than it is if you actually listen to her talk." Replies Miesha: "No talking happens in the cage. It's time to shut up and throw fists and see who really has the heart and the will. You know, you can talk all you want but actions speak louder than words." Are we ready to finally get this show on the road or what?

Posted in: tate, miesha, rousey, ronda, paper

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Get a look at tonight's Showtime preview video for Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey – before it airs on the broadcast! Miesha Tate! Ronday Rousey! The Strikeforce women's bantamweight title! Who ya got?

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, showtime, tate, rousey

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Like the swallows of Capistrano, faithful sports fans converge upon Columbus, Ohio every year to take part in the general festivities. In great numbers, these curiously bipedal and featherless migratory beings that call ourselves "humans" agree with each other that early March is the perfect time to see some fine feats of athletic strength, skill and competition - which makes Columbus a perfect place to have mixed martial arts events. The UFC has brought its show to town many times in the past and this year, Strikeforce is bringing the first title defense of the Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion against a fiery upstart challenger. Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey will feature Miesha Tate (12-2, 5-1 in Strikeforce) and Ronda Rousey (4-0, 2-0 in Strikeforce) as the five round main event in the battle for the women's 135 pound title. The nationwide broadcast on Showtime begins on March 3rd at 10 PM Eastern Time (9 PM CT) and possibly extending up to 12:30 AM ET (depending on how the five main card bouts unfold throughout the night). By now, the esteemed reader may have grasped that this event is hyped as the battle of the two hottest stars in women's MMA. The hype is actually right. With the sidelining of Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos, the meteoric rise of Ronda Rousey and the decisive method by which Miesha Tate became the champion, these are the two best fighters in the bantamweight division. Both are athletic, skilled, tough and attractive women. Both have the ability to talk some heat, stir up controversy and get inside the heads of their opponents. Only one will walk out as the champion, but women's MMA should benefit from both being fiercely passionate examples to emulate for current and future fighters. Hit the jump for a brief look at the last fights of Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey, their styles and the likelihood of success for both fighters. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey Miesha Tate won the bantamweight belt by submitting Marloes Coenen with an arm triangle midway through the fourth round of their bout at Strikeforce: Fedor vs Henderson. The title bout between Tate and Coenen was relatively even, as Miesha looked to push Coenen up against the cage and then take her down to begin her ground and pound progressions. Coenen attempted several submissions and even had Tate's back during the second round, but both fighters spent significant time in advantageous positions during those battles on the ground. The stand-up/striking portions were fairly limited due to Tate's success in evading Coenen's strikes and dragging Coenen to the ground. Throughout her career, Tate has had five wins by submission and two by knockout. The remaining five wins in her professional career were all unanimous decisions. Her last loss was back in 2009 to Sarah Kaufman at Strikeforce Challengers: Evangelista vs. Aina. Miesha has made significant strides in her game since then and now enjoys a wrestling advantage over just about everybody in the division as well as competent stand-up. Tate will want to plant her opponents onto the mat and swing her fists at their head and body until they give up position or submissions in every fight she takes. Lately, Miesha and her support team have been vocal about dismissing Rousey's worthiness as a title challenger and even going as far as tweeting some very provocative words on the eve of the fight. The weigh-in "headbutt" was really nothing more than a slightly more than normally intense stare-off and even reminded me of an Australian cockatoo gently confroting a Meyer parrot that has encroached upon its space. The big story of this event is how Ronda Rousey armbarred and trash-talked her way to the title. That simplistic telling of things does little credit to the years of hard work sunk into a world class judo career and the stunning swiftness with which Rousey has applied that judo success into MMA. None of Ronda's four professional opponents have managed to avoid being submitted by an armbar within a minute. This woman is blasting her opponents out of the cage and occasionally leaving them with mangled limbs. The list of fighters in MMA who have done things like this include names like Jon Jones, Junior Dos Santos and Rousimar Palhares. These are the bonebreakers, soulcrushers and legendmakers of MMA. Julia Budd, Ronda's last opponent, lasted forty seconds before having her elbow dislocated at Strikeforce Challengers: Britt vs. Sayers. However, the knock on Rousey is that she has not fought someone yet who can hold her off, make her play the stand-up game or plant her on the mat and unveil her defenses. Winning fights inside a minute with little to no damage taken is exactly the kind of career a professional fighter wants, but to be fighting for a title belt in a major MMA organization on a national title stage is a big step up for such a young prospect. The stand-up skills have been employed mostly as feints and blocks for Rousey to get within the clinch and then use her diverse array of trips and throws to gain side control or mount. From these positions, Ronda harvests arms with excellent technique and quickly - perhaps too quickly - applies the coup de grace that is her armbar. Rousey has been training all phases of the MMA game, as befits a professional, but time in the cage is a valuable learning tool and she just doesn't have it yet. Will that precociousness matter? Will Miesha Tate retain her belt by fending off Ronda Rousey's onslaught and dealing out damage in return? All signs seem pointed towards another Ronda armbar, but Miesha's coaches and team are smart people and probably have been drilling her in keeping her arms clenched inwards like the quasi-avian T-rex while on the ground. This is an interesting one and the later rounds could expose Rousey's conditioning to Tate's delight. This fight is the upstart judo hotshot facing an experienced wrestler/submission grappler in the most anticipated fight in recent women's MMA and it is the headlining bout of a Strikeforce show in Columbus, Ohio and televised on Showtime. Check this main event out. If the signs are right, we should be in for one very entertaining fight between two "birds". SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, miesha, rousey, ronda

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As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results, play by play and commentary for Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey. Our live coverage will start with the prelim card on Showtime Extreme (8 p.m. ET) through the Showtime main card (10 p.m. ET) so make sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event. This post will cover live results and thoughts for the Showtime main card. The evening's main event sees Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate put her title on the line against challenger Ronda Rousey in what has become a major grudge match. The co-headlining bout on the evening sees K.J. Noons square off with Josh Thomson in a lightweight fight. Welterweights Paul Daley and Kazuo Misaki meet on the broadcast in a fight that promises fireworks. Rounding out the main card is a pair of middleweight bouts as Ronaldo Souza faces Bristol Marunde and Scott Smith takes on Lumumba Sayers. Make sure to come back during the event and share your thoughts as the event goes down. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey

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The Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” takes place later tonight at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The event will air on Showtime at 10pm ET/PT. In the night’s main event, Miesha Tate puts his women’s bantamweight title on the line against Ronda Rousey. KJ Noons takes on Josh Thomson in a pivotal lightweight bout. Paul Daley and Kazuo Misaki meet in a welterweight match-up. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza faces off against Bristol Marunde in a middleweight bout. Scott Smith squares off against Lumumba Sayers in a welterweight match-up. Results and thoughts after the jump. Results Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey K.J. Noons vs. Josh Thomson Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza vs. Bristol Marunde Scott Smith vs. Lumumba Sayers Alexis Davis vs. Sarah Kaufman Caros Fodor vs. Pat Healy Ryan Couture vs. Conor Heun Roger Bowling vs. Brandon Saling Recap Scott Smith vs. Lumumba Sayers: Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza vs. Bristol Marunde: Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki: K.J. Noons vs. Josh Thomson: Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey:

Posted in: vs, tate, lumumba sayers, rousey, josh thomson

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Burnt out by the over-all great UFC on FX card from Sydney, Australia last night? Maybe you are fairly indifferent to tonight's Strikeforce event and have considered giving it a miss and will check the results and other sources for the fights on Sunday morning? Fear not, and prepare to get hyped by this amazing fan made fight promo video for the Miesha Tate vs Ronda Rousey Bantamweight Championship main event. Using a collection of promotional footage most should be familiar with by now, this fan made video is really well edited and synchs excellently with the Trent Reznor / Karen O cover of "Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin, that features as the main theme for the American adaptation of the wildly successful "Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" novel / movie. Unlike a lot of high quality promo videos released on Youtube the week of a fight, this hasn't been tweeted by Dana White and the account seems to belong to a genuine user, making me believe it's not a Zuffa-pretending-to-be-fan-made video. Strikeforce Tate vs Rousey airs tonight at 10pm ET on Showtime Strikeforce Tate vs Rousey Coverage on SBN Related Stories Bryan Caraway Calls Ronda Rousey An 'Unintelligent Bimbo,' Wants Her To 'Know Her Place' Strikeforce Weigh-In Results: Miesha Tate 134.5, Ronda Rousey 134.5 Strikeforce Fight Card Preview: Can Miesha Tate Stop Ronda Rousey? Strikeforce Tate Vs. Rousey: Staff Picks and Predictions

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey, ronda

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Miesha Tate is an underdog in her first Strikeforce bantamweight title defense. But no matter – she fights best under pressure, she says, and plans to prove it to Ronda Rousey.

Posted in: tate, miesha, ronda, miesha tate, matter –

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Tonight, for the first time in three years, the talented and underappreciated females of MMA will headline a prominent fight card on Showtime. Unfortunately, it seems the athlete who is mostly responsible for this fight receiving the top billing on this card, undefeated challenger Ronda Rousey, is not nearly getting enough respect heading into the match-up. Her opponent, Strikeforce bantamweight champ Miesha Tate, has made it known on numerous occasions \she doesn’t feel that Rousey is worthy of challenging her for the title. Rousey has only been competing professionally in MMA for a year, and, while she has finished all four of her opponents with an Armbar in the first round, she hasn’t tested herself against the elite of the division. It took Tate thirteen fights to get what Rousey received in four – a shot at the Strikeforce title, and thus Tate feels Rousey has essentially talked her way into their bout, disrespecting women’s MMA with her mouth along the way. It is undeniable Rousey’s brash behavior in addition to her good looks is what has put her in this position faster than the norm but that doesn’t mean she is not a worthy challenger. An Olympic bronze medalist in Judo, Rousey poses many difficult challenges to the champion, and, despite her relative lack of MMA experience, could upset Tate when it is all said and done. Tate is a phenomenal competitor and a fantastic role model for the sport but deep down inside she should be thankful of Rousey. Without Rousey, this fight would not be in the main event and would not be getting the tremendous amount of press that it has. Just imagine if Tate were fighting Sarah Kaufman instead. It would still be a very compelling collision but would also be positioned much lower on the card, even for a title fight, and it would not be talked about in the press very much. Think about this – Josh Thomson and K.J Noons who are two of the most exciting lightweights that Strikeforce has to offer are competing on this card and nobody is talking about it. Everyone is mesmerized with the Tate-Rousey match-up and this is something that hasn’t been seen in the sport since Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos ended Gina Carano’s run in 2009. If it is a good fight with the winner emerging as a star, but if it is a great fight they both could become household names meaning female fighters will be highlighted more often on the main card. It seems that Tate, many female fighters, and even fans fail to understand this concept because a majority of the female audience is against Rousey and believe she is a horrible representative of the sport. Maybe it just boils down to the fact that certain women can be very jealous people in nature and will downgrade anyone who is accomplishing something faster than them, or maybe Rousey really is such a horrible person and I’m just not seeing it. Either way, she is helping launch women’s MMA to higher levels whether the rest of the audience wants to admit it or not. Not taking anything away from Tate, as the champion has been a class act throughout her entire career and is truly one of the best ambassadors of the sport for both males and females, but every good girl needs a bad girl to spark the flames. We have seen many male fighters play the role of the heel or villain in their fights and fans have loved it so why is it so wrong when a woman promotes herself that way? I’ve seen people on Twitter verbally attack Rousey in Tweets and then sing the praises of fighters like Chael Sonnen. Where’s the sense in that? If you are going to dislike someone because they talk a lot of trash but call yourself a fan of another fighter who does the exact same thing on a much higher level, you are a compulsive hypocrite and the MMA community does not need people like that. Tate’s experience and championship pedigree might be too much for Rousey tonight, or the bronze medalist could shock the world, but regardless of the outcome women’s MMA is on the front line and this is a big moment for female fighters across the globe. “Rowdy” Ronda shouldn’t be criticized for her behavior – she should be praised for it. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE (Austin Hargrave)

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Main card (Showtime) Women's Bantamweight Championship bout: Miesha Tate (c) vs. Ronda RouseyEarl - In Ronda Rousey’s 7 fights (4 pro 3 amateur) she has armbarred all 7 of her opponents into submission in the first minute of the fight. That is certifiably insane. It may take more than a minute, but the result is going to be the same. Rondy Rousey, armBAR, Round 1.Luke - I think Rousey is going to be surprised at how strong and able Meisha Tate is. Rousey may have been training Judo with the boys but Tate has been wrestling with them since high school and I’m always impressed with her strength when I watch her fight. She choked out Marloes Coenen with a nice arm-triangle, and Coenen is a big girl with excellent grappling skills, so Tate has a great chance. Having said all that, Rousey might be shocked for a minute or two, but she’s just too good at her one move to not get it. Rousey, Submission, Round 1.Cory - Tate is being woefully undervalued here. She is not a noob at this fighting stuff and I think she’ll make this a much closer slugfest than anyone is predicting. And just because Rousey was a huge whiner about the result of the Diaz fight, I’m picking Tate to get a late TKO here. Tate - TKOJack- I’m not very familiar with either fighter but Tate has beaten Marloes Coenen and Rousey has beaten no-one. Hopefully a nice knockout from Tate so that I don’t have to hear about what either one said about the other on Twitter ever again. Tate, KO, Round 2Lightweight bout: K.J. Noons vs. Josh ThomsonEarl - This one is pretty simple in my eyes. If Noons can keep it on the feet, he is going to bust Thomson up something bad. I think that just might happen. KJ Noons, Brutal KO, Round 2.Luke - KJ Noons gave Nick Diaz a good fight last year, then regressed against Jorge Masvidal, (who is a tremendous fighter by the way) but I loved what I saw from him against Billy Evangelista. He seems determined to turn himself into a mixed martial artist. He was already very good at defending submissions and staying out of trouble on the ground and in that fight against Evangelista he showed that he’s trying to improve his kicks and his take down defense. I’ve always wanted to see KJ in the UFC and a big victory over Thomson might get him there. Noons, Unanimous Decision.Cory - Earl nailed it on the head about avenues to win, but I’ll guess that Thomson manages to take down a guy in Noons who hasn’t really demonstrated quality TDD and hasn’t really faced a decent grappler in some time like Thomson. Thomson - SubmissionJack - Noons is one of my favourite fighters and seeing how easily JZ Calvan dropped Josh Thomson, I consider KJ’s chances good. But considering how Thomson won that fight with Calvan while taking a spanking, KJ is going to have to make sure this doesn’t go to decision. Noons, KO, Round 1Welterweight bout: Paul Daley vs. Kazuo MisakiEarl - Speaking of brutal knockouts, Paul Daley is fighting. Paul was SO close to beating Nick Diaz for the belt just a few fights ago and now he will make his first Zuffa appearance since the Koscheck incident. Misaki will be fighting for the first time in nearly a year and Paul is not the guy you want to come up against after a long layoff. Semtex should be able to keep this on the feet using his ever improving takedown defense and plant a missile on Misaki’s mug. Paul Daley, KO, Round 1.Luke - If only Paul Daley had spent more time developing his mixed martial arts game, he’d have finished Diaz. Unfortunately, he spazzed out in the two moments that he had Diaz hurt and showed us what a difference having world class cardio can make. As for this little situation here, it seems like this fight is a good old fashioned squash match. I hope to see Daley fight Nate Marquardt while they are both under the Strikeforce brand. Daley, KO, Round 1.Cory - If he was 27 and not 35, I’d have much more confidence in Misaki. He’s not. I hope Kaz has plenty of liquid food at hand, because Daley is going to hit him very, very hard. Daley - Knockout of the NightJack - Daley has huge power, Misaki has a weak chin. Daley won’t learn or show anything new with this fight, designed to pad his record. Daley, KO, Round 1Middleweight bout: Ronaldo Souza vs. Bristol MarundeEarl - I don’t have a lot to say on this. Jacare has this one in the bag. Rockhold vs Jacare II incoming. Ronaldo Souza, Submission, Round 2.Luke - Jacare vs Rockhold II would be a nice fight. I like both guys and the first fight was very entertaining. There is a small chance that Marunde, being a late replacement, surprises Jacare but then again, it’s very difficult to surprise a guy who’ll be looking to take the fight to the ground anyhow, and there are no surprises on the mat for Jacare. Souza, Submission, Round 1.Cory - I’m almost surprised that the commission allowed this. Random tangent: go Google up "Bristol chart". This is going to be a loose 6, easy. Souza - SubmissionJack - Jacare should be able to get back on track with this. He could submit Marunde, or he could stand to a decision over 3 rounds while showing above average but ineffectual striking. Souza, Submission, Round 2 More after the jump Middleweight bout: Scott Smith vs. Lumumba SayersEarl - Scott Smith is fighting still and that makes me sad. Dude just takes way too much damage. This should be no different because that is what happens. Also, "Lumumba" is a fantastic name. Lumumba Sayers, TKO, Round 2.Luke - I agree with everyone who is a little hesitant to see Smith keep fighting. This could very well be his last fight with Strikeforce, as he’s up against a guy who finished his last opponent in less than 30 seconds. Sayers has never been to the second round in his career, winning quickly and losing quickly as well. I expect more of the same. Sayers, TKO, Round 1.Cory - I really fear for Scott’s long term health. He takes far too many shots than any human should absorb in their lifetime. Sayers - TKOJack - Smith’s chin is shot, and the more he tries to turn himself in to a faster starter, the worse he looks. Sayers, TKO, Round 1 Preliminary card (Showtime Extreme) Women's Bantamweight bout: Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis DavisEarl - Kaufman needs to make a real statement here after getting passed up for the title shot by Rousey. Sarah Kaufman, TKO, Round 1.Luke - I had no idea Sarah Kaufman ended up with a fight on this card until very recently. Kaufman feels like she was passed over by Strikeforce in favor of Rousey and she was very upset about it. It’s a pretty fair way for her to feel, considering that she has a win over Tate. I’d like to see her fight Rousey after she takes care of Davis. Kaufman, TKO, Round 2Cory - Give credit to the Strikeforce matchmakers here. They’re helping the next in line set up for a title shot by giving Kaufman what should be an easy win. Kaufman - SubmissionJack - Kaufmann gets caught in armbars too often and uses her power to slam out. Davis, Submission.Lightweight bout: Caros Fodor vs. Pat HealyEarl - While Healy definitely has the experience factor on his side, Fodor pretty much has the skill to beat him wherever the fight may go. Pat won’t get finished here but it should be a clearly dominant performance. Caros Fodor, Unanimous Decision. Luke - Surprised you are going with Fodor on this one Earl. Healy has been really good lately, with two of his last three losses coming to UFC fighters Jake Ellenberger and TJ Waldburger. He also has a loss to Josh Thomson. He’s got eight wins against the lower level competition that he’s fought in between thos fights and as far as I know, Fodor isn’t a type of burger, so he should be good here. Healy, Unanimous Decision.Cory - There might not be anyone left on Strikeforce’s roster that has the scalps that Pat "Bam Bam" Healy has. He’s got wins over Carlos Condit, Paul Daley, Dan Hardy, Lyle Beerbohm, Maximo Blanco, etc. BUT HE’S FIGHTING FEDOR!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, wait. Healy - DecisionLightweight bout: Ryan Couture vs. Conor HeunEarl - Couture has made his way off of the Challengers cards and onto SF proper’s undercard. Couture should continue to roll here. I just hope they don’t bring him up the ladder too fast. Ryan Couture, Submission, Round 3.Luke - Again, I’m pretty surprised to see you are going with Couture here. Conor Heun is an animal of a fighter and I think he’s way too much for Ryan Couture here. Heun arguably defeated KJ Noons and gutted his way through a busted up arm to win his last fight against Magno Almeida. Couture could land something slick but I just question if he’ll be able to against a gritty and game Heun or if he’ll end up spending most of the fight on bottom getting beat down.Cory - This is certainly a big step up the ladder for Couture, and one I’m not sure he’s ready for. Couture’s been hard to finish, so I’ll say Heun - DecisionWelterweight bout: Roger Bowling vs. Brandon SalinEarl - Bowling should crush this dude with the quickness. Roger Bowling, KO, Round 1.Luke - Don’t know much about these two except that Bowling has had a trilogy of fights with a guy named Bobby Voelker, all under the Strikeforce: Challengers, banner. Kind of weird to have that many fights against one guy in a feeder style show, but whatever. Bowling lost the second two fights by TKO. He’ll get back to the win column here. Bowling, TKO, Round 2.Cory - Dare I say it, Bowling will roll over Salin. Bowling - TKO Name Correct Picks # of Picks Made # of Events Chad 8 8/10 80% 1 Chris 17 17/28 60.7% 3 Cory 31 31/69 45% 7 Earl 47 47/73 64.4% 7 Jack 14 14/24 58.3% 3 Luke 41 41/63 65.1% 6 Rainer 15 15/20 75% 2

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submitted by xKrazExMNUx [link] [10 comments]

Posted in: xkrazexmnux, tate, rousey, rouseys teeth, teeth

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Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate says she has the edge mentally in her title fight with Ronda Rousey on Showtime on Saturday in Ohio.

Posted in: strikeforce, title fight, tate, ronda rousey, miesha

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With the women's bantamweight title on the line, Strikeforce's fight card later tonight (March 3, 2012) from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, brings some compelling mixed martial arts (MMA) match ups. But, regrettably, Strikeforce's future -- and that of women's MMA -- is uncertain. However, with Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey battling for the 135-pound championship, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White is expected to be in attendance, which means that like the rest of us, he can't wait to see these ladies fight. There's smack talk, and then there's the torrent of abuse Rousey has heaped on Tate, along with a who's who of other name female fighters. Rousey, a 2008 bronze medalist in judo, seems to have an inherent understanding of self-promotion. Now that she's brought the noise, she needs to bring the ruckus. And with her impressive career thus far -- four wins, with the longest a mere 49 seconds -- she seems poised to usher in a new era of women's MMA, especially with Cristiane Santos' likely suspension after testing positive for steroids, and Gina Carano's exit from the sport altogether. But, Tate has worked pretty hard herself to get the championship. With a gutty fourth-round submission of Marloes Coenen, Tate showed a blend of composure and commitment in a back-and-forth battle in July. Many great grapplers have been upended in MMA when striking or submissions come into the fray before their core skills can -- Kevin Jackson, for example -- and you get the feeling the prefight build up is going to either push Tate to a career-defining performance, or represents Rousey's attempt to get inside her head. Either way, this is a great fight for women's MMA between two very skilled athletes. The bad blood only makes it that much more interesting to the casual viewer. Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the Strikeforce title fight between Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey: The Breakdown Tate's striking and the ability to control the distance are critical in this fight, because if she ties up and clinches with Rousey, she's going to get tossed to the mat. Rousey, cutting down from 145 in previous bouts, is exceptionally strong with incredible core strength, typical of a world-class judo player. She'll upend you and practically be moving to advance into her next position while you're still heading to the floor, chaining submissions together expertly. The best tool to use against a superior tie-up artists is the cage, and Tate should gravitate there if Rousey can tie her up. I'm not sure striking will be that big a factor in this bout. One drawback of women's MMA, at least in terms of viewer entertainment, is that most women don't have the kind of upper-body strength to uncork big punches like the men. As a result, standing exchanges are often damaging as much because of poor footwork and positioning as solid technique and striking power (yes, we know Santos is an example, which sort of proves the point retroactively, doesn't it?). That said, what Tate can do is work a good Brazilian jiu-jitsu game if she ends up on the bottom, using sweeps to reverse position or to return to her feet. Rousey should have the stamina to go at least two or three rounds, but a five-round fight is a huge unknown. It's also a wild card if Tate can weather the early storm and go to work on Ronda, especially on the feet, and plant doubts in her head, which are especially fatiguing for a title challenger who's yet to go a full minute in a four-fight career. The Pick When Cassius Clay challenged Sonny Liston, he talked so much smack to the baleful champ that reporters literally plotted routes to the nearest hospital from the Miami arena. But what Clay-nee-Muhammad Ali was really doing was a couple things: Getting inside Liston's head, and convincing himself that he was ready for the biggest stage of his career. He wasn't talking to Liston. He was talking to himself. I think that's a fairly accurate guess on Rousey's approach here, and her background as long-time judo player gives her some resolute toughness to back it up. Mentally, Rousey has some big hurdles to get over with her lack of distance fights, but so does Tate in the sense of this being her first title defense. She was focused for her championship-winning effort for Coenen, and if she can make it through the first two rounds, I think she can take Rousey deep and outlast her for a late submission or decision win. But there are some athletes who just strike you with how they execute. That's precisely the reason I was high on Jon Jones early in his UFC career, and Rousey gives me that same feeling. She'll come up like gangbusters and take it to the mat, submitting Tate in a memorable, but ultimately one-sided battle that ends in the second round. And, hopefully, one that encourages White and the UFC to take a long look at women's MMA in some long-term capacity. Rousey via submission Be sure to join MMAmania.com later this evening for LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the Strikeforce main card action, which is slated to air at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 8:00 p.m. ET with the "Prelims" bouts on Showtime Extreme. See you then!

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Strikeforce returns to Showtime tonight (Sat., March 3, 2012) with its "Tate vs. Rousey" event, which will begin around 8 p.m. ET with its preliminary card broadcast airing LIVE on Showtime Extreme. Then it's time to kick it on over to the main Showtime channel for the main card portion of the event, headlined by a women's bantamweight championship fight featuring Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey, beginning promptly at 10 p.m. ET. Don't get Showtime as part of your subscription package? You can call up your local cable and/or satellite provider, of course, or you can click here to order it up so you can make sure you're able to tune in for tonight's mixed martial arts (MMA) extravaganza. However, if you need your Strikeforce results as soon as possible, and don't have a provider that carries the network and have zero desire to order the channel just for tonight's event, MMAmania.com will deliver up-to-the-minute results and live fight coverage, including round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of all the "Tate vs. Rousey" action before, during and after the event RIGHT HERE. More details on tonight's Strikeforce fight card and line-up after the jump. Main Event: 135 lbs.: Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey Main card (Showtime): 155 lbs.: K.J. Noons vs. Josh Thomson170 lbs.: Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki185 lbs.: Ronaldo Souza vs. Bristol Marunde185 lbs.: Scott Smith vs. Lumumba Sayers Preliminary card (Showtime Extreme): 135 lbs.: Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis155 lbs.: Caros Fodor vs. Pat Healy155 lbs.: Ryan Couture vs. Conor Heun170 lbs.: Roger Bowling vs. Brandon Saling For all the news and notes surrounding the Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" Showtime card check out our extensive news archive by clicking here.

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Strikeforce is all set to get it poppin' at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, tonight (Sat., March 3, 2012) with its "Tate vs. Rousey" event. And, thanks to each competitor on the card officially making weight at yesterday's weigh-ins, they can do just that. The main event of the evening will see Miesha Tate defend her women's bantamweight championship against Ronda Rousey, an undefeated judo player with a penchant for breaking arms. Will she add one more to her collection tonight? Also booked for the card are match-ups pitting Josh Thomson vs. K.J. Noons, Ronaldo Souza vs. Bristol Marunde, Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki and Scott Smith vs. Lumumba Sayers. Check out a photo gallery (via ShoSports) after the jump.

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Ronda Rousey tells HeavyMMA's Duane Finley that if she was a guy, no one would think twice about her confidence. But against Miesha Tate in tonight's Strikeforce women's bantamweight title fight,...

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Since signing with Strikeforce in 2008, Miesha Tate has only tasted defeat once. Five times she has had her hand raised at the end of the bout with two of those wins coming in the same evening. Amidst the cool Arizona summer night, "Takedown" bested two fighters in Aug. 2010 to earn a shot at the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion's 135-pound title. It would be nearly a year before she stepped inside the cage to make the challenge, but when she finally did, she made it count. Over the course of four rounds, she used her wrestling abilities to take control of the bout before ending the fight with an impressive submission. We'll take a closer look at the bout, a fantastic back and forth with Marloes Coenen that saw "Rumina" get submitted for the first time in her 24 fight career, as we prepare for tonight's (Mar. 3, 2012) Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" card. "Takedown" is set to make her first title defense against a rocketing prospect in "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey. Many are predicting the end of Tate's reign tonight. Many also incorrectly predicted there wouldn't be a reign to begin with. Let's dive right into Tate's incredible performance against "Rumina." Tate opens up with a leg kick before clinching up and bullying the champion against the cage. Coenen defends against the takedown attempt and Tate busts out some old school Marco Ruas foot stomps. "Rumina" desperately tries to create distance but "Takedown" more than lives up to her moniker as she is relentless in trying to get the fight to the mat. Coenen is the champ for a reason and soon works her way off the chain-link. A hook from "Rumina" catches the challenger who responds with a nice straight. They clinch for a second time and Coenen makes use of her Golden Glory training by latching onto a Thai clinch and delivering a knee to Tate's face. "Takedown" grabs the leg and drives the champion against the cage and finally onto the mat. From there, Coenen sinks in what appears to be a pretty deep modified guillotine choke. Tate avoids being submitted and pops her head out, transitioning quickly to sidemount. Not much action aside from the dominant grappling display from Tate. While some would decry her lack of offense, a five-round championship fight is often a marathon, not a sprint. Rather than expend her own energy in the opening round, "Takedown" seems content to make the champion get tired by trying to get back to her feet. A quick exchange to start the second round and Tate once again immediately clinches her opponent. While "Takedown" struggles to get the champion to the canvas, Coenen delivers solid knees to the challenger's body and thighs. Latched onto a single leg, Tate spins Coenen around but the balance of the champion is strong enough to turn the takedown around in her favor. "Rumina" takes her opponent's back and begins snaking her arm around Tate's neck. "Takedown" defends against the submission but is unable to keep Coenen from raining down punches from behind. With a minute left to go, the Golden Glory fighter flattens Tate out and drops huge punches. The horn sounds with "Rumina" still glued to her opponent's back as she had been nearly the entire five minute period. The champion begins to pepper Tate with leg kicks as the third round opens. "Takedown" times one perfectly and drops Coenen to her back. From there, Tate uses her wrestling prowess to smother her opponent, barely allowing even an inch of space between them. Unfortunately for the challenger, her offense is lacking enough the referee calls for a stand-up. It barely matters as the Team Alpha Male product secures a second takedown, dropping Coenen against the cage to pretty much end the round. The champion is able to sweep her challenger at the last second but the horn sounds before anything can come of the reversal of position. The first of two scheduled championship rounds begins unlike any of the others as the two combatants stay standing and opt to engage in striking exchanges. For the first minute, Coenen and Tate trade punches and kicks before "Takedown" does exactly that and once again gets the champion to the mat. "Rumina" threatens with a guillotine choke but Tate's position on top makes it basically impossible to fully sink in the submission. Tate transitions to sidemount and begins dropping short elbows while jockeying for position. She works towards controlling her opponent's head and arm but in a brilliant display of diversion, puts her knee on Coenen's stomach to make the champion think Tate is working towards getting full mount. Instead, she slides over and locks in a tight arm triangle choke. With three quick taps, "Rumina" loses the fight and her belt. It's been over six months since Tate's incredible victory that night. And while she won the title from a soft-spoken experienced veteran, she makes her first defense against a brash, outspoken newcomer in Rousey. The judoka has four victories to her name with each coming via armbar. Will "Rowdy" add a fifth arm -- and a title -- to her collection tonight in Columbus? Or will "Takedown" derail Rousey's hype train?

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Ronda Rousey is now the new Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Champion, after an impressive performance against Miesha Tate in tonight's main event, and another first round armbar victory. The fight opened with Rousey and Tate exchanging punches, looking to get out all the mutual hatred gathered from the build-up for the fight. Rousey was first to respond with a hip toss that got her straight into full mount. From there, the challenger tried to secure her trademark armbar maneuver, but Miesha Tate refused

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Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey kicks off tonight at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. MMAFrenzy will have live coverage beginning with the Showtime Extreme aired Preliminary Card beginning at 8PM ET and will continue through the Showtime aired main card starting at 10PM ET. MMAFrenzy will have live results, twitter updates, and play-by-play for tonight’s main event battle between Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion Meisha Tate and Ronda Rousey. Quick Results: MAIN CARD (Showtime) Miesha Tate (c) vs. Ronda Rousey Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Championship Josh Thomson vs. KJ Noons Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza vs. Bristol Marunde Scott Smith vs. Lamumba Sayers PRELIMINARY CARD (Showtime Extreme) Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis Caros Fodor vs. Pat Healy Ryan Couture vs. Conor Huen Roger Bowling vs. Brandon Saling Play-By-Play: Miesha Tate (c) vs. Ronda Rousey Round 1 - Twitter Coverage: <a href=”http://www.coveritlive.com/index.php?option=com_altcaster&task=siteviewaltcast&altcast_code=75e1eae8d5&height=550&width=470″ target=”_blank” >Click Here</a>

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After an exciting UFC card on Friday night, the UFC’s sister promotion, Strikeforce, takes center stage with Strikeforce: Tate vs Rousey. Featuring a women’s 135 pound championship bout between Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey, as well as an intriguing lightweight bout between K.J. Noons and Josh Thomson, this card could very well outshine Friday’s UFC card. With four preliminary bouts on Showtime: Extreme, and a five fight main card live on Showtime, fights fans will have no shortage of fights to watch this Saturday night. Let’s get down to business and take a look at the card: Roger Bowling (10-2) vs. Brandon Saling (8-5) Longtime Strikeforce fighter Roger Bowling welcomes newcomer Brandon Saling to the promotion to open up the Showtime Extreme portion of the card. Bowling is coming off a quick knockout of Jerron Peoples in December, and looks to make it two in a row here. A Chuck Liddell lookalike, Saling already has two knockout victories this year. Unfortunately for Saling, Bowling is just a better fighter, and will likely overwhelm him. Winner – Roger Bowling defeats Brandon Saling via TKO Round 1 Ryan Couture (3-1) vs. Conor Heun (9-4) The son of “The Natural” Randy Couture, Ryan, steps into the Strikeforce cage for the fifth time looking for his first victory over mid-tier competition. The test he must pass is that of one Conor Heun. “Hurricane” hasn’t had much luck in Strikeforce, and looks to build his first win streak inside the Strikeforce cage. Let’s be real here, Couture just isn’t very good, at least not yet. Heun will beat Ryan on the feet and on the ground, en route to a unanimous decision win. Winner – Conor Heun defeats Ryan Couture via Unanimous Decision Caros Fodor (7-1) vs. Pat Healy (26-16) An exciting prospect, Caros Fodor enters the cage on Saturday on the strength of a five fight win streak, and most recently blasted Justin Wilcox in 13 seconds. “Bam Bam” Healy has done it all. With victories over Dan Hardy, Paul Daley, Carlos Condit, and most recently Maximo Blanco, Healy looks for his fourth straight win. While Fodor may be “The Future”, I think the crafty veteran Healy gets the win here, but it will be a very close fight. Winner – Pat Healy defeats Caros Fodor via Split Decision Sarah Kaufman (14-1) vs. Alexis Davis (11-4) In the main event of the preliminary card, we’ll find out who gets the next shot the the champion. The former champ Sarah Kaufman looks to prove that she was overlooked for the title shot after dominating Liz Carmouche at Strikeforce Challengers 17. Davis looks for her fourth straight win and looks to earn her first Strikeforce title shot with a win over Kaufman. Although it was nearly five years ago, Kaufman has already defeated Davis. While they’ve both grown since, I believe Kaufman is the better fighter, and will have an easy night here, taking a decision and being first in line for the winner of the main event. Winner – Sarah Kaufman defeats Alexis Davis via Unanimous Decision Scott Smith (17-9) vs. Lumumba Sayers (5-2) Scott Smith needs to win, badly. Coming off of three straight losses to Cung Le, Paul Daley, and Tarec Saffiedine, the heavy handed Smith is likely fighting for his job. Smith can just about knock out anyone, and he tends to make these miraculous comebacks that are the stuff of legend. Smith returns to middleweight for this bout. Sayers, who made short work of Antwain Britt in November, looks to build off of that win and get his second straight victory. Known for his submissions above all, Sayers has heavy hands and may very well be ready to to make the move from mid-tier to upper-tier middleweights with a victory here. Smith doesn’t have much of a chin, but Sayers has suffered a quick knockout in his career as well. While most seem to favor Sayers in this fight, I feel as if he’ll get pulled into a brawl here. Someone will likely go to sleep, and I have a feeling that Smith will be the one landing a big counter that ends the fight. Winner – Scott Smith defeats Lamumba Sayers via Knockout Round 1 Ronaldo Souza (14-3) vs. Bristol Marunde (12-6) Jacare! The former middleweight champion looks to bounce back from his loss to Luke Rockhold. The grappling ace has victories over Jason Miller, Tim Kennedy, and Robbie Lawler, and undoubtedly wants his belt back. A victory here would be a step in the right direction, however, a loss would be devastating, and “Jacare” has a lot to lose here. Making his Strikeforce debut, Bristole Marunde, the IFL veteran, looks for his fifth straight win. The biggest challenge of his career, a victory over Souza would be a huge statement, and Marunde has absolutely nothing to lose in this fight. With nine wins in his last ten fights, Marunde is more than capable of taking home the W, and his well-rounded fighting style could take him far. I expect a very aggressive Marunde in this fight. I imagine him throwing leather with blatant disregard for his, or Jacare’s safety. Unfortunately for him, Souza outclasses him on the feet, likely hurts him, and follows up on the ground with his speciality. Winner – Ronaldo Souza defeats Bristol Marunde via Submission Round 1 Paul Daley (29-11-2) vs. Kazuo Misaki (24-11-2) Returning to Strikeforce for the first time since July of last year. “Semtex” looks for the third straight victory, and looks to get back into title contention in Strikeforce. The heavy handed striker has worked hard on improving his ground game, as we’ve seen in his last few fights, but his bread and butter is still, and always will be, his sledgehammer fists. The Japanese Misaki returns to Strikeforce for the first time in three years. The Pride, Sengoku, and Pancrase veteran has fought some of the best in the world including Dan Henderson, Jake Shields, and Jorge Santiago. With 15 finishes to his credit, the Haleo Top Team fighter looks for his third straight victory, and is more than capable of getting it on Saturday night. This has “Fight of the Night” written all over it. While Misaki may not be the fighter he used to be, he still can hold his own against anybody. The most likely scenario sees the veteran Misaki engaging Daley on the feet, but that will likely be as far as he gets. His desire to engage in a brawl will be his downfall as Daley lands one or two huge shots and puts Misaki away within the distance. Winner – Paul Daley defeats Kazuo Misaki via TKO Round 2 K.J. Noons (11-4) vs. Josh Thomson (18-4) The fast-moving boxer, K.J. Noons returns to the cage less than three months removed from his decision victory over Billy Evangelista. With victories over much of the lightweight division, Noons is a handful for anybody, and his striking, movement, and speed, can cause a lot of problems for his opponents. Looking for his second straight victory following two losses, Noons faces a tough challenge in Thomson. “The Punk” returns after over a year away from the sport due to injuries. The lightweight standout undoubtedly wants a rubber match with champ Gilbert Melendez, and a victory over Noons could be the start of his climb back to the top. The former champion believes he should be in the main event, and he’ll look to put on a great showing in the co-main event on Saturday. The possibility of ring rust aside, Thomson is a versatile fighter with a fantastic skillset. If Thomson can stay out of a slugfest and work the fight to where he is stronger, which is everywhere else, he should be able to overwhelm and confuse Noons. One of the closest fights on the card, this could go either way, but I give the slight edge to Thomson. Winner – Josh Thomson defeats K.J. Noons via Unanimous Decision Miesha Tate (12-2) vs. Ronda Rousey (4-0) The main event pits the 135 pound champion Miesha Tate against fast-rising challenger Ronda Rousey. Tate, who defeated Marloes Coenen to take the belt home last summer, makes her first defense of the title in the headlining contest on Saturday. The Team Alpha Male fighter, Tate tends to use her powerful wrestling and excellent submissions to dictate the pace of fights. She has the gas tank to go for five rounds, and is proficient in the ground and pound. The undefeated Rousey fights for not only a title, but also, respect. While many within the division have criticized Rousey for essentially talking her way into a title fight, she has the experience in combat sports, the athleticism, and the technical prowess to make short work of anyone. Having not had a fight get out of the first minute, Rousey is clearly a fast starter and a great finisher, who will look to continue her streak of collecting limbs. It goes without saying that we could very well have a new champion here. While Rousey lacks experience in MMA, she has been grappling her whole life, and that may play into her favor. Both fighters want this fight to hit the ground, as that’s where their strengths are, but Rousey may have the edge in that regard. Tate’s striking isn’t anything spectacular, and she can’t win the fight just standing with “Rowdy” Ronda. She does have dominate top control, and if she can score takedown after takedown, she could dominate the fight, especially in the later rounds. In the beginning of the fight, I heavily favor Rousey, but if the fight gets out of the first one or two rounds, Tate will continuously take Ronda down and grind out a decision. I like Rousey a lot, but I believe Tate retains the belt here. Winner – Miesha Tate defeats Ronda Rousey via Unanimous Decision No matter how the fights play out, Saturday’s Strikeforce card will round out an awesome weekend of fights, and features perhaps the best fight of the weekend in Tate vs Rousey. After this event, hopefully we’ll have a better idea of how Strikeforce’s divisions will progress, and have a better idea of the future of women’s MMA. Enjoy the fights! Things start on Showtime Extreme at 8:00 PM EST with the main card firing up at 10:00 PM EST.

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Everyone hit their marks for tonight's "Strikeforce: Tate vs Rousey" card, with Miesha and Ronda both looking predictably lean and mean and sexy at 135 lbs.  Unfortunately, the only one who needed to strip down to make weight was Caros Fodor, and the only nipple tweaking was between Thomson and Noons, but things did get a bit heated when Tate and Rousey squared off. Besides the cuties fighting for our hearts and a big golden belt, the main card also features Michael Knight vs The Punk, Paul Daley and Jacare getting fed what should be fairly easy wins, and Scott Smith returning to middleweight in an attempt to prove that he's not utterly shot, while two Canuck chicks and the usual suspects from the Challengers shows languish on the undercard. The complete weigh-in results are below.  I presume there'll be a chat tonight, but this old man will be out getting hammered for my birthday, so you'll just have to do without my clever and hilarious observations.  You kids stay outta trouble now. MAIN CARD (SHOWTIME):Women's BW Championship: Miesha Tate (134.5) vs. Ronda Rousey (134.5)K.J. Noons (156) vs. Josh Thomson (155)Paul Daley (171) vs. Kazuo Misaki (169.5)Scott Smith (186) vs. Lumumba Sayers (185)Jacare Souza (184.5) vs. Bristol Marunde (184) PRELIMINARY CARD (SHOWTIME EXTREME):Alexis Davis (135.5) vs. Sarah Kaufman (135.5)Roger Bowling (170) vs. Brandon Saling (170.5)Caros Fodor (155.5) vs. Pat Healy (155)Ryan Couture (154.5) vs. Conor Heun (155)

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COLUMBUS, Ohio - MMAjunkie.com was on scene for Friday's official "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" weigh-ins, where all 18 competitors made weight. The festivities took place at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. Held in conjunction with the annual Arnold Sports Festival, the weigh-ins built up to an intense staredown between two bitter rivals: Strikeforce champion Miesha Tate and fellow headliner Ronda Rousey.

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Let's just say this up front: picking Ronda Rousey to beat Miesha Tate is a leap of faith. After all, what exactly do we know about Rousey the mixed martial artist? Sure, she is 4-0, but her fights combined have lasted little over two minutes. She's spent next to no time standing up and little time on the ground for that matter, her lighting quick arm bar transitions causing frantic taps. Rousey herself has even played up the mystery, acknowledging that the less Tate knows about her skills, the better. What we do know is that she is a killer, a fearless assassin who has shown no fear inside or outside of the cage. On the other hand, she's never faced anyone with the experience level of Strikeforce bantamweight champ Tate. That makes their Saturday night main event fight more of a guessing game than usual when it comes to predicting a winner. Rousey (4-0) comes in as a nearly 3-to-1 favorite to unseat Tate and that's based solely off of her ability to put the fight where she wants it and finish. Unlike some of her other opponents, Tate (12-2) has a wrestling background, and according to FightMetric, has never been taken down in her six Strikeforce fights.That's a stat that will be tested on Saturday. Will Rousey be able to pull off the trick? She's done it in every other fight, either with brute force or through judo technique. Given her background as an international judo competitor, you have to believe that anytime the fight gets in close quarters, Tate is going to be in danger of finding herself on the mat.In her most recent fight against Julia Budd for example, Rousey jabbed her way in close, got a hold of Budd and tried a hip throw. Budd was ready for it and kept her weight back. From years in judo, Rousey has a perfect understanding of leverage, and simply readjusted, using Budd's backwards force to push her down to the mat. Within seconds, it was game over. It's been the same sort of plan for every fight, Rousey quickly jabbing her opponent backwards as a means of getting a grip on them. She shows no fear of return fire from the woman standing across from her, but she hasn't show any polish as a striker, either. She certainly excels in the clinch, and that's going to be an area of concern for Tate. Given Tate's background as a wrestler, it will be interesting to see if she is more interested in keeping the fight standing up or has faith in her submission defense. Tate historically has good ground and pound, but as we've seen from Rousey, she has no problem working from the bottom and attacking there.The matchup problem for Tate comes in the fact that she's proven to be a fighter who likes to work her opponent against the fence, put them on their back and work from the top. Does that sound like a matchup tailor-made for Rousey? So it becomes a question of whether Tate willl adjust and choose to jab, use footwork and look to keep Rousey at distance, or fight her normal fight.Against Marloes Coenen, Tate showed a decent jab and a straight right hand behind it, but spent most of the fight using those to walk into a clinch. One thing that must be noted is that Tate found herself in a series of troubling spots on the ground against Coenen. In the first round, she worked her way out of a first-round anaconda. In the second, Coenen took her back, hooked on a body triangle and worked for a rear naked choke. She also used the position to mount her from the back and land strikes from the top. That Tate escaped the positions is a testament to her toughness, but Rousey is a bigger and stronger opponent than Coenen, and if she gets those positions, the possibilities of escaping will be slimmer.Because this could potentially be a five-round fight, the conditioning edge must go to Tate. Against Coenen, she looked strong into the championship rounds, sinking in a fourth-round arm triangle choke to win. It's also Rousey's debut at the lower 135-pound weight class, and we don't know how the cut will effect her conditioning.Of course, even that is speculative. So much of Rousey's game is still a mystery that it's impossible to know how good she really is. We do know that many of Tate's best qualities play into what Rousey does best. And so that's enough to guess that Rousey will get the fight to the ground and again win by submission. Given Tate's experience and toughness, it's not going to take her less than one minute, like all of her other fights. She will be tested, and maybe we'll learn something more about her. But a trend is a trend, so Rousey by arm bar.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio - MMAjunkie.com is on scene and reporting live from tonight's "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" event. The event, which features bantamweight champion Miesha Tate vs, Ronda Rousey, takes place at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The main card airs on Showtime, and Showtime Extreme carries the prelims. Follow along with our round-by-round updates and official results beginning at approximately 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) for the preliminary card and 10 p.m. ET for the main card.

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Missed the fireworks at Friday's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey weigh-ins in Columbus, Ohio? Relive the heated action in this highlights video before tonight's card.

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Sherdog.com will report from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, at approximately 8 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey,” which is headlined by a 135-pound women’s title match pitting champion Miesha Tate against undefeated challenger Ronda Rousey.

Posted in: result, vs, tate, rousey, columbus ohio

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Sherdog.com will report from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, at approximately 8 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey,” which is headlined by a 135-pound women’s title match pitting champion Miesha Tate against undefeated challenger Ronda Rousey.

Posted in: result, vs, tate, rousey, columbus ohio

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Miesha Tate is the Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion, but Ronda Rousey doesn’t think she’ll be ready when they meet in the main event of Strikeforce’s March 3 card in Columbus, Ohio.

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, rousey, miesha tate, way tate

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After the exciting night of fights in Australia, it's time for some Women's Mixed Martial Arts action, as Miesha Tate defends her title for the first time, fighting Ronda Rousey at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey fight card also includes big names such as Paul Daley, Josh Thomson, KJ Noons, Jacare Souza, and many others. Don't forget to join us at LowKick.com for Play-by-Play Commentary and Chat with a full panel of LowKick.com writers starting

Posted in: tate, arts action, ronda rousey, lowkickcom writers, rousey

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Let's be real here, Maniacs. Strikeforce has sold us on the tonight's (March 3, 2012) women's bantamweight championship between 135-pound champion Miesha Tate against rising star Ronda Rousey based on sex. Or rather, how sexy they are in addition to how very lethal these lovely ladies can be as highly-trained mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters. So why not take it the full nine yards? That's right, we here at MMAmania.com present you the very first (and likely only) sexiness battle. Our Commander in Chief, Tommy Myers, has humbly accepted the difficult undertaking of judging this contest. Tough job. Tate and Rousey will collide for real in the Strikeforce main event from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, in short order. In the meantime, the dynamic duo will go pic-for-pic for fake right here, right now. This sexiness battle will comprise five rounds: Round one is for beauty, round two is for abs, round three is for booty, round four is straight up and round five for intensity. We need your votes, Maniacs, to determine the winner. Let's get to it: Round 1: Strikeforce quickly set up a photo shoot for Tate and Rousey to showcase the fact that not only are they tough enough to beat you up, they're beautiful enough to knock your socks off. Obviously. Judge Myers: Both of these badasses clean up nice, eh? The wind-blown, model-esque look and feel of these pics is very well done. Kind of gives you the feeling that they are lonely, innocent and scanning the horizon for their knights in shining armor. Or, more likely, I'm just demented. I like Tate's rope prop, perhaps a bit too much, and I'd give the round to her hands down if it were a fair fight, but it isn't because Tate isn't clinging to anything phallic. That's grounds for disqualification, or in this case, a dreaded draw. Scoring after round one: Tate 0, Rousey 0 Round 2: Tate's abs are world-renowned, as she frequently gets requests on her Twitter account to post pictures like you see above. Rousey, though, is no slouch, even if she's admitted to having previous weight troubles in her youth. Now that she's down to 135-pounds, they're even more defined. Judge Myers: Rousey looked amazing at the weigh in recently -- she has never looked trimmer, in fact. However, Tate and her chiseled abdomen always bring the heat, and this weekend is no different. While I'd much rather rest my head on Rousey's tummy if we were snuggle buddies, we're not, so I've got to go with the shredded six of "Takedown." Scoring after round two: Tate 1, Rousey 0 Round 3: Obviously, Tate gets some credit for going all Wonder Woman on us, but look how Rousey fills out that dress. Sure, you may find it a little dirty of us to use this as an entire round of scoring, but there's a reason they're both posing this way while taking a pic of themselves. Judge Myers: Both these girls, and all others, need to stop taking pics in front of the bathroom mirror. Immediately. It's retarded. Tate looks completely foolish (I know, it's Halloween), and her best rear-facing asset is all but lost in this costume pic. Don't get me wrong, the wagon that Tate's draggin' is off the charts, but Rousey's surprising curves are giving her a run for her money here. She looks simple and sinister. It's an odd mix. But, I like it, a lot, even though she may not. Upset special. Scoring after round three: Tate 1, Rousey 1 Round 4: Here they are weighing in, straight up. Look at the hair ... the hair! Tate's smile shines through while Rousey's cool demeanor certainly gives her a more mysterious appeal. Judge Myers: Gah, this is tough. Tate's super long finger is disturbing and her hands look filthy. I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt, however, and chalk it up to ... poor lighting? Rousey's alligator arms are also a little off-putting, so I'm going to go strictly on what I should be considering in the first place, which is reproduction. That's what we're all on this planet for in the first place, right? I've got two kids and I certainly don't want any more, but if both these fine ladies approached me and requested my DNA, Rousey would have to get to the back of the line ... for just a few seconds. Scoring after round four: Tate 2, Rousey 1 Round 5: Judge Myers: Grr ... These pretty ladies threw all their beauty aside for one ugly moment immediately after making weight at the Nationwide Arena. Who can blame them, really, normal females are a handful, much less trained killers who haven't eaten much in days. Rousey has been talking all sorts of smack in the build up to this fight, which is perhaps the reason Tate got right up in her grill as quickly as she did. It looks like Rousey ended up getting the better of the head-jarring exchange, but Tate gets all the credit for standing up for herself and letting "Rowdy" know she ain't havin' that. She also steals a very close round in a very close superficial fight. Scoring after round five: Tate 3, Rousey 1 There we have it, Tate wins the Strikeforce sexiness battle via unanimous decision (3-1-0). It hasn't been easy, but the 135-pound champion pulled it off with her all-around hotness and her last-minute kitty cat puffy tale trick at the weigh in. Too bad that means diddly once the cage door closes in the "Buckeye State." Be sure to cast your unofficial vote below: Who's sexier, Miesha Tate or Ronda Rousey? Poll Who wins the very first sexiness battle? Miesha Tate Ronda Rousey Judge Myers   2 votes | Results

Posted in: round, judge, tate, myer, rousey

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The Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" weigh-in event took place this afternoon (Fri., March 2, 2012) from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, where all 18 competitors tipped the scale to make their respective bouts official for tomorrow night's mixed martial arts (MMA) event on Showtime. Of course, Women's Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate and her angry counterpart, Ronda Rousey, stole the show with a pre-fight scuffle on the stage. Main card participants K.J. Noons, Josh Thomson, Paul Daley, Kazuo Misaki, Ronaldo Souza, Bristol Marunde, Scott Smith and Lumumba Sayers are all featured in the video above. For complete Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" weigh in results click here and for the intense haed-butt staredown pic click here.

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, lumumba sayers, rousey, columbus ohio

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Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey weigh-in resultsColumbus, OHMiesha Tate (134.5) vs. Ronda Rousey (134.5)K.J. Noons (156) vs. Josh Thomson (155)Paul Daley (171) vs. Kazuo Misaki (169.5)Lumumba Sayers (185) vs. Scott Smith (186)Bristol Marunde (184) vs. Ronaldo Souza (184.5)Alexis Davis (135.5) vs. Sarah Kaufman (135.5)Roger Bowling (170) vs. Brandon Saling (170.5)Caros Fodor (155.5) vs. Pat Healy (155)Ryan Couture (154.5) vs. Conor Heun (155)Miesha Tate (12-2) vs. Ronda Rousey (4-0)

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey, ronda

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Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey faced off and almost got their fight going 24 hours early as they both made weight ahead of their title fight on Saturday night in Ohio.

Posted in: saturday night, title fight, tate, ronda rousey, rousey

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Get "Rowdy!" That's what Ronda Rousey did earlier today (Fri., March 2, 2012) at the Strikeforce weigh-ins in Columbus, Ohio, as she headbutted her opponent, Women's Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate, during their staredown. It's not like it was unprovoked. Tate got right in Rousey's face and pressed her forehead up against her foe, likely in an attempt to signify her lack of intimidation at all the trash Ronda's been talking in the lead up to the fight. The Olympian didn't take kindly to it, of course, and responded by shoving her head forward, leaving a bright red spot on Miesha's dome. She took to Twitter afterwards to say the following: "Ronda thinks she's tough she tries WAY 2 hard, such a phony person & she'll probably get fined 4 trying 2headbutt me when I got in her face." She quickly deleted the tweet, as noted by our friends at Bloody Elbow, but you can't stop the Internet, folks. Once it's out there, it's out there. To see video of the two going head-to-head (literally) click here.

Posted in: tate, miesha, rousey, ronda, unprovoked tate

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All 18 Strikeforce fighters took to the scale Friday afternoon to make official their fights for Saturday's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey event in Columbus, Ohio. Watch highlights from the weigh-ins in the video below.

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey, columbus ohio

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The bad blood between Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate is no secret but things almost came to a head one night too early as the two faced off at the weigh-ins. The weigh-in faceoff saw Tate get in Rousey's face and Ronda was not too appreciative of that particular move. Here's the video, courtesy of MMA Fighting: Following the weigh-in it didn't take too long for Miesha Tate to hit up Twitter with the following: Ronda thinks she's tough she tries WAY 2 hard, such a phony person & she'll probably get fined 4 trying 2headbutt me when I got in her face Bloody Elbow will have plenty more coverage over the next day with our usual previews, predictions and live coverage of the event as well as all the fallout after the show ends. So make sure you keep your browser locked right here. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey

Posted in: tate, weighin, rousey, ronda, miesha tate

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What, you thought they would be civil? Women's Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate and number one contender to said title, Ronda Rousey, squared off at today's Strikeforce weigh-ins after successfully tipping the scale at 134.5-pounds, making their bout official for tomorrow night's (March 3, 2012) event in Columbus, Ohio. And they got a little testy in the process. When it came time to get in each other's face, Tate got a little too close and Rousey didn't appreciate the forehead-to-forehead action. When asked by Mauro Ranallo for thoughts, "Rowdy" kept it short and sweet. "I can't wait until it's legal for me to actually kick her ass," she said. Tate, meanwhile, maintained her even keeled approach to the match-up: "I'm excited to put on a great fight. I think we've done a great job of pumping this fight up and I hope y'all are really excited to see it. It's going to be an amazing fight." The time for talk is over. Now it's time to step inside the cage and scrap. It all goes down tomorrow night in Ohio, Maniacs. Y'all ready?

Posted in: tate, i cant, tomorrow night, mauro ranallo, fight i

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The Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” weigh-ins took place earlier today at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. All fighters made weight. The weigh-in results: Miesha Tate (134.5) vs. Ronda Rousey (134.5) K.J. Noons (156) vs. Josh Thomson (155) Paul Daley (171) vs. Kazuo Misaki (169.5) Lumumba Sayers (185) vs. Scott Smith (186) Bristol Marunde (184) vs. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (184.5) Alexis Davis (135.5) vs. Sarah Kaufman (135.5) Roger Bowling (170) vs. Brandon Saling (170.5) Caros Fodor (155.5) vs. Pat Healy (155) Ryan Couture (154.5) vs. Conor Heun (155) Fighters in non-title fights are allowed to weigh in one pound over the weight class limit. Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” will take place tomorrow, March 3, at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio and will air live on Showtime at 10pm ET/PT. The prelims will air live on Showtime Extreme. More Strikeforce weigh-in pics at CombatLifestyle.com

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, weighin, rousey

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All fighters were on weight for their Saturday fights at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey. Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey were each 134.5 pounds for their main event.

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, ronda rousey, rousey, saturday fights

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Miesha Tate tipped the scales at 134.5 pounds for her women’s bantamweight title defense against Olympic bronze medalist Ronda Rousey (134.5) in the Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” headliner on Saturday at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Posted in: title, strikeforce, tate, rousey, tate rousey

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Miesha Tate tipped the scales at 134.5 pounds for her women’s bantamweight title defense against Olympic bronze medalist Ronda Rousey (134.5) in the Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” headliner on Saturday at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Posted in: title, tate, miesha, rousey, ronda

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Everything about this video is genetically superior to anything you will watch today. If digital eugenics existed, this is the model that all other weigh-in videos should be cloned from. Everyone should drive to Home Depot, gather building materials, and construct a shrine in honor of Casey from MMAFighting. He's the guy that's been recording photons of light with his overly expensive camera ever since the Elite XC days. Today, he has manifested yet another gem and captured the sheer animosity Miesha Tate shares with Ronda Rousey. This is not manufactured beef, folks. The beef between Tate and Rousey is 100% grain-feed, free roaming beef. It's the type of beef that you can buy at Whole Foods and not feel bad about yourself when you get home. Check out Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey disrobe, hop on a scale in front of a live audience, and then literally butt heads in their soon-to-be legendary face-off. [Source] {iframe}http://mmafighting.vid.io/v/6ff615d8-64b9-11e1-9317-1231390e4da4{/iframe}

Posted in: tate, ronda rousey, miesha, rousey, beef

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One of the biggest women's MMA fights in the modern era was made official Friday afternoon in Columbus, OH, as Strikeforce 135-pound champion Miesha Tate and her opponent Ronda Rousey both made weight. The two are set to clash in the main event set to air on Showtime Saturday night. The 25-year-old Tate (12-2, 5-1 Strikeforce) is looking to make the first defense of the title she won by submitting Marloes Coenen last summer. In the 25-year-old Rousey (4-0, 2-0 Strikeforce), she'll face a challenger that she feels isn't the No. 1 contender, but one that has submitted every opponent in her way in both the amateurs and pros. All fighters made weight for what should be an entertaining show, set to air at 10 PM EST Saturday. Showtime Main Card Tate (134.5) (c) vs. Rousey (134.5) K.J. Noons (156) vs. Josh Thomson (155) Paul Daley (171) vs. Kazuo Misaki (169.5) Lumumba Sayers (185) vs. Scott Smith (186) Bristol Marunde (184) vs. Ronaldo Souza (184.5) Prelims (Showtime Extreme) Alexis Davis (135.5) vs. Sarah Kaufman (135.5) Roger Bowling (170) vs. Brandon Saling (170.5) Caros Fodor (155.5) vs. Pat Healy (155) Ryan Couture (154.5) vs. Conor Heun (155) Bloody Elbow will provide live play-by-play coverage all night long on Saturday, along with the usual analysis/commentary you expect throughout the weekend. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, saturday, tate, rousey

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Two of the most talented female 135 pound fighters in the world will meet tomorrow night (March 3, 2012) as Strikeforce champion Miesha Tate takes on "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey in the main event of Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" in Columbus, Ohio. Tate rose up through the ranks and earned her title shot after defeating too women in one night, then dethroned the champion last summer to claim the women's 135 pound championship. She feels incredibly disrespected to be heading into this fight as a major underdog and she's out to prove herself all over again. Ronda Rousey, despite just four career fights, has the looks, the swagger and the talent to be a superstar in women's MMA. She's not only finished every opponent from amateur to professional, she's done it all in the first round, in the first minute by the same maneuver, the juji-gatame or better known as the armbar. Rousey confidently talked her way into a title shot and now she gets to prove that she's legit against by far her most credible opposition. Will Tate be talented enough to retain her title? Can Rousey back up her talk with some ferocious technique as well? What's the key to victory for both talented young ladies tomorrow night? Let's find out: Miesha Tate Record: 12-2 overall, 5-1 in Strikeforce Key Wins: Marloes Coenen (Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson), Zoila Gurgel (Strikeforce Challengers 7), Hitomi Akano (Strikeforce Challengers 10) Key Losses: Sarah Kaufman (Strikeforce Challengers 1) How she got here: Miesha "Takedown" Tate got her professional career started in 2007, fighting in the Bodog women's one night bantamweight tournament. She would defeat eventual Strikeforce title challenger Jan Finney in her first fight via decision but would be brutally knocked out by a much sharper and more dangerous Kaitlin Young. Undeterred, she would win her next five bouts, four by stoppage before earning a fight against future Strikeforce women's 135-pound champion Sarah Kaufman. Tate would eventually lose the bout, but she was competitive and forced Kaufman to go to decision for the first time in her career. After reeling off three straight victories, including a very impressive submission against Zoila Gurgel, Tate was invited to the one night Strikeforce women's welterweight grand prix to determine the number one contender. The strong grappler would dominate the tournament with her wrestling and top control, winning a pair of decisions to earn a shot at the belt. After a delay due to a knee injury, she finally got her shot at Marloes Coenen last July and she capitalized, using her wrestling offensively and surprising the Golden Glory fighter with an arm triangle which forced Coenen to tap out for the first time in her illustrious career. Now, after a long waiting period, Tate is set to defend her title again against a brash, young challenger. How she gets it done: When your nickname is "Takedown," don't expect much less when it comes to your most reliable method of victory, but that might not be what she wants to do tomorrow night, at least not right away. While Tate doesn't have the most dangerous stand-up abilities, she also doesn't really have an opportunity to showcase them. Most of her opposition has been decent strikers so why would she risk standing and trading with them like she did early in her career when she got knocked out by the kickboxer Kaitlin Young? This time, she should keep her distance, try to work a jab and just stay away from Rousey's bullrush attack early. She should avoid any close-quarters fighting in the first round entirely and try to drag this fight into deeper waters. Tate has never had a problem with conditioning, so that would likely be her best plan of attack here, wait for Rousey to tire out a bit in the second or third (if she does) and then pounce with a more aggressive striking and wrestling attack. If Rousey begins to fade, Tate can definitely take over with her wrestling and it will be easier to defend against her submission game but she should try to avoid it at all costs in the first round. Ronda Rousey Record: 4-0 overall, 2-0 in Strikeforce Key Wins: Julia Budd (Strikeforce Challengers 20) Key Losses: none How she got here: Ronda Rousey had world class athleticism in her blood. Her mother was a world class judo player and Ronda followed her in footsteps. Starting early in judo, Rousey made it to the Olympics by the time she was just 17 years old at the 2004 games in Athens. In 2008, she not only qualified, but this time she medaled, earning a bronze in Beijing but when it was all over, she was done with judo and wanted to try something else. She began training in mixed martial arts and made her amateur debut in 2010, crushing all three of her opponents inside the first minute with her go-to move, the armbar. Upon switching to a professional in 2010, she didn't slow down, crushing all four of her opponents via first minute armbar, even Strikeforce fighters Julia Budd and Sarah D'Alelio at 145 pounds. With talk that she could be the one to dethrone the champion, "Cyborg" Santos. Instead, she announced she was first going to drop to 135 pounds and challenge for the title there, and she confidently talked her way into a title shot this weekend against Miesha Tate. How she gets it done: Rousey is so big, strong, powerful and skilled, she just needs to keep doing what she's been doing and that is rush in, overwhelm her opposition and force them to tap out. Dropping down to 135, her strength advantage could be even more severe in the cage against Tate and she could seriously turn some heads if she could do to the champ what she's been doing to all her competition prior. Rousey has been working hard to round out her game, but why not stick to what got her here? I'd like to see her close the distance early, wade right through Tate's punches and get in the clinch. From there, she needs to try to use her years of judo experience to leverage Tate onto the canvas and immediately transition to an armbar. If she can put Tate on the ground, she needs to take that arm home with her, even snap it because Tate won't be giving up without a fight. Fight X-Factor: The biggest X-Factor for this fight is experience and time. Ronda Rousey has been so good thus far in her career, she hasn't even had to go past the first minute of a fight against even the best of her opposition. That's a sign of how good she is, but this is a five round fight. What happens if Miesha Tate proves to be resilient and this fight actually goes into the second, third or even the championship rounds? It's all a gigantic question mark. Lastly, while she's had experience against world class judo players, Rousey has yet to really face anyone of significance in MMA. Her biggest career win was against Julia Budd, who has a 2-2 record in MMA right now. Miesha Tate has a ton more experience in actual MMA and that could potentially be a factor here. Bottom Line: This fight has just about everything MMA fans have come to love, skilled athletes, the threat of a finish at any moment and hell, both ladies are pretty easy on the eyes. There's a very high chance of some serious grappling getting showcased in this fight and maybe even some striking, although that all depends on if Rousey can close the distance early or not. The fact that there's a strong possibility that Rousey blitzes Tate with a first minute submission again is enough to warrant that you keep your eyes glued to the television at all times and if Tate survives the early onslaught, it will be extremely interesting to see what happens next as no one has done that before against the judo Olympian. This should be a good one. Who will come out on top at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey? Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Who will exit the cage tomorrow night as the Strikeforce women's 135 pound champion? Ronda Rousey Miesha Tate   5 votes | Results

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, tate, rousey, ronda

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Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, weighin, rousey

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The decade's most-anticipated women's bout has been cleared for launch. Reigning Strikeforce bantamweight champion Miesha Tate and undefeated challenger Ronda Rousey both made weight at Friday afternoon's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey weigh-ins in Columbus, Ohio, rendering their heavy-hyped title tilt official. Despite a steep drop from featherweight, Rousey found her mark easily, weighing-in at a trim 134.5 pounds. Likewise, Tate successfully tipped the scales at 134.5 pounds. In the co-main event, former Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson hit the stage at 155 pounds after a torturous 15-month injury layoff. His opponent, perennial ‘Fight of the Night' contender K.J. Noons, edged in at 156 pounds. Full weigh-in results are below. Main card (Showtime):Miesha Tate (134.5) vs. Ronda Rousey (134.5)K.J. Noons (156) vs. Josh Thomson (155)Paul Daley (171) vs. Kazuo Misaki (169.5)Bristol Marunde (184) vs. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza (184.5)Lumumba Sayers (185) vs. Scott Smith (186) Preliminary card (Showtime Extreme):Alexis Davis (135.5) vs. Sarah Kaufman (135.5)Caros Fodor (155.5) vs. Pat Healy (155)Ryan Couture (154) vs. Conor Heun (155)Roger Bowling (170) vs. Brandon Saling (170.5)

Posted in: pound, strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey

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The word “rowdy” is defined as, “A rough, violent person who engages in destructive actions.” As such, Strikeforce bantamweight Ronda Rousey could not have chosen a more appropriate nickname, especially in the face of her biggest fight to date. “Rowdy” Ronda has been on the warpath over the past few months, taking 135-pound champion Miesha Tate to task on a number of topics including comments the title-holder has made regarding the talented judoka’s skill-set (or lack thereof). The two will lock horns tomorrow night on Showtime in the main event of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey to finally settle the score and, according to Rousey, she’ll be out to prove a point when the cage door closes. “I’m an Olympic caliber athlete and she’s a high school wrestler. To assume that that cancels each other out, it’s wrong,” stated Rousey in an interview with the UFC’s website. “To say she has a few more years experience of fighting MMA and has fought ten more girls during that period of time, meanwhile I was fighting hundreds and hundreds of matches against Olympic caliber opponents. The girls I was competing with, it was their full-time job to train every single day, and their government was putting money into flying them around the world for training camps at the best facilities possible and to have the best coaching possible. It was professional. For her to beat a couple girls who train at a gym on the weekends and decided to pick up MMA and then having these long drawn out fights with them, she’s had a hard time with them. It’s not like she’s dominating them. For her to think that experience is equal is ignorant.” However, Rousey certainly isn’t underestimating Tate – she just isn’t overly concerned about what her 25-year old rival has to offer inside the cage outside of a few basics. “I think her advantages are she doesn’t get frustrated when she gets hit and she has good conditioning. Even when she is behind she keeps a cool head. You can tell she has experience in that she doesn’t panic,” began Rousey on the topic of Tate’s abilities before talk turned to the other side of the coin. “Her disadvantages are that she’s extremely slow, she’s not very explosive with any of her takedowns, her striking has a lot to be desired, and her submission game isn’t exciting either. I don’t think she has any real finishing power that I have to worry about. The main theme of this fight is about positioning on the ground and making sure I don’t get stuck in side-control or the mount and making it look like she’s controlling the action. I don’t have to worry about any submissions or knockouts or TKOs from her; I have to worry about her trying to eek out a decision victory.” See if Rousey’s assessment is spot-on when she tangles with Tate on Showtime. The main card broadcast begins at 10:00 PM EST. Prelims begin on Showtime Extreme two hours earlier. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE (Austin Hargrave)

Posted in: tate, cage door, rousey, action i, actions ”

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Full results from Friday's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey weigh-ins in Columbus, Ohio.

Posted in: strikeforce, result, vs, tate, rousey

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The main event of this Saturday's Strikeforce show sees Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight champion Miesha Tate (12-2) defending her belt against the undefeated Ronda Rousey (4-0). It's one of the most compelling fights we've seen from women's MMA in some time, and with Gina Carano quite possibly retired and Cris Cyborg's recent drug test failure, it's up to fighters like Tate and Rousey to carry the division. One of the things that makes this fight interesting is Rousey's record. 4-0 is an impressive start to your career, especially when 2 of those wins come in Strikeforce, but what's really impressive is how she wins. Four fights, four finishes, four armbars, all under one minute. Add in an additional four amateur bouts, all with the exact same sub-1 minute armbar victory. Whatever you may think of her level of competition, that is a scary degree of domination right there. So the obvious questions: Can Rousey do the same to Miesha Tate? And can the judoka's dominant run be stopped? Despite these impressive performances (and make no mistake, they are impressive), Rousey is vulnerable, particularly in her stand-up game. Once she has a hold of you, she has used her superb Judo skills to secure the takedown and quickly transition to an armbar. Where she leaves openings is in her ability to secure the clinch. Rousey's striking is predictable - she throws the left jab, often doubling it up, then grabs the head in a greco-roman style one arm clinch. But as she throws those jabs, she has two dangerous tendencies. First, she reaches out too much, leaving her defenses open for a counter. Second, she drops her head as she comes in, opening herself up for an uppercut. These are holes that can be exploited. More in the full entry... SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey What's tricky is that, while Rousey leaves these openings, they're also very small. So can someone find these openings? Absolutely. But it will need to be a precise technical striker. And in Miesha Tate, that's not what I see. Tate has improved her striking over the years, but she remains a slow puncher who is a bit flat footed. She also does not respond well to being hit, and has a tendency to go into pure defensive mode. Because of this, she has a tough time countering her opponent's strikes, and that is the exact skill needed to stop the Rousey clinch and takedown. In the end, Rousey can be beaten, but Tate is not the woman to do it. For that, you need a focused striker. And it just so happens that woman is also fighting this weekend. Sarah Kaufman has the power and she has the technique to put a stop to Rousey. So while Tate vs. Rousey is indeed a good fight, and one that holds my interest, it's not the women's fight I am most interested in. With a little luck, we'll soon see Ronda Rousey vs. Sarah Kaufman in a true test of Rousey's stand-up, and the best women's MMA fight out there today.

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, tate, opening, rousey

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If Miesha Tate could pinpoint one weakness in Ronda Rousey's game, it wouldn't be her takedowns. It probably wouldn't even be her striking. In fact, it wouldn't be a physical element at all. In Tate's mind, Rousey's weakness is her hubris. Sure, her athletic resume is impressive and she'll naturally be a tough opponent tomorrow night. But according to Tate, Rousey hasn't earned her spot the traditional way, which is to say, the right way. She hasn't paid her dues in the sport and even worse, isn't grateful for her spot. If anything, she carries a sense of entitlement. According to Tate, Rousey knows her opponents may be skilled athletes, but they don't have her athleticism or her skills and that's enough to look past them. In this interview with MMA Fighting, Tate pinpoints what she views is Rousey's biggest downfall: she's got "too big of a head" to take her opponents and the challenge of fighting in women's MMA seriously. Full audio and partial transcription below: Luke Thomas: Alright, joining me right now to talk about her upcoming title fight, which of course is gonna be March 3rd at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. It's gonna be Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey, the champion at 135 for Strikeforce, Miesha Tate. Miesha, how are you? Miesha Tate: I'm doing excellent, how about yourself? Luke Thomas: It was kind of interesting because your challenger, as talented as she is, kind of talked her way into challenging you. Let me ask you up front, it happens in boxing all the time, it happens in men's MMA all the time, in your judgment, what is wrong with talking your way into a fight provided you've got some credentials? Miesha Tate: Well, I think it takes away a little bit from the credibility of the sport itself in that, especially because I feel bad for Sarah Kaufman because she was promised this title fight. They even brought her into my last fight with Marloes and had her televised, interviewed, saying she was going to be taking on the winner of the two of us and she'd had two solid wins since her only defeat against the former champion who I defeated. She's 14-1 and I know she's paid her dues and I felt like she was next in line and I've said that time and time again. However, it just goes to show if you push your marketability aspect and you run your mouth a little bit, that you can be next in line for a title shot in a weight class you've never even competed in so I don't know if that explains how I feel about the situation a bit, but I do understand that there is an entertainment aspect and given that, I completely understand Strikeforce's reasoning for wanting to make this fight happen now because it garners the most momentum for women's MMA and the future of it. I think it'll make my fight with the winner of Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis that much bigger after this fight's happening because this fight's gonna draw a lot of attention to a lot of people that maybe haven't noticed MMA or particularly women's MMA before. This is really being talked about a lot. It's being covered a lot. It's really highly anticipated and I think it's going to make for a really exciting, very entertaining fight and I think Strikeforce has the best intentions in mind when it comes to promoting the future of women's MMA and so that's why they put this fight together when they did. Luke Thomas: I had just recently spoken to Scott Coker and he was actually pretty positive about the fight for a number of reasons, not least of which was that this was the first women's fight since Carano vs. Cyborg that headlined a major Strikeforce card. They've certainly headlined some Challenger cards but not a major card like this. That's a win for everybody, isn't it? I know Rousey may not have got in the way you would have liked but it seems to me that everyone kind of wins here including you. Miesha Tate: Exactly, and even though for that, I'm very grateful and as much as I have a dislike for Ronda, I do appreciate the attention that she's drawn in really stirring the pot, creating controversy and I'm by no means her biggest fan but looking at this situation objectively, I think she's doing overall good things for women's MMA and I don't think that she's really earned her keep at all in our weight division but she's next in line and I still do think that she will be a tough opponent, a tough match-up because she's a highly skilled judo player and a talented athlete and I think her one pitfall though is she's coming in with too big of a head. I think that she thinks she's gonna steamroll through me and it's not gonna be that big of a challenge and I can't emphasize just how wrong she is. Luke Thomas: Let's talk about Rousey a little bit. There's obviously judo tape on her and what tape exists in MMA. She's kind of a little bit different: look at her fights, it's not like she just goes for the armbar, it's that she goes for that Russian, sort of two on one and sort of jumps into the armbar or she goes for the two on one rush-in and then she goes for the trip. You don't see a lot of men or women doing that. Miesha Tate: Well, I think there's ways that with the wrestling experience that I do have that can nullify a lot of her judo. I don't want to go specifically into the game plan, but I have come up with a great game plan with my boyfriend Bryan Caraway who's been wrestling for a very long time and I'd also like to point out the difference between a lot of wrestling and judo is the gi so when you take the gi away, a lot her throws and everything else are a lot of the throws that you see in wrestling. It's not just judo. Wrestlers do hip tosses, wrestlers do lateral drops, wrestlers do foot sweeps, wrestlers do trips and a lot of people have the misconception that that's only judo. Judo gets all the credibility for any kind of throws but let me tell you what, freestyle is all about throws, Greco Roman is all about throws and I've been involved in wrestling since I was 15. I have world class submission wrestling skills. I took a silver medal in the FILA 2008 world grappling championships against 49 other countries or something like that and I also was about 142 pounds at the time and I competed in the 158 pound division against other women and despite being the smaller opponent, I was still able to take a silver medal and so I feel like that all is being overlooked because everyone sees the Olympic bronze medalist. The world is similar in that we don't have the Olympic for jiu-jitsu but that's about as close as it gets. It was an international competition and was also the same year that she competed for the bronze medal and I also feel that submission wrestling is more applicable to MMA than judo is in that we still start on our feet, we get the takedown and we have to get to work from the ground just like you would in a fight. With all that considered, I don't feel that I'm that much of an underdog and I don't feel that it's gonna be impossible by any means to deal with her judo. Luke Thomas: Do you feel like wrestling, as someone who's a really capable wrestler and obviously there are different types of wrestlers too, but it has more takedown opportunities? Certainly judo has sweeps, they have throws and they certainly have double leg takedowns but it's much more of a posture based sport particularly with the gi. Wrestling is a lot more hunched over. You can do leg attacks, body locks, all kinds of different things. Do you believe wrestling is superior in that regard? Miesha Tate: I think wrestling for MMA can be a lot more dynamic because you don't have to be holding onto someone or be having an over/under hook in order to take them down. As a matter of fact, you can shoot from far away and blast through with a double leg and it's a very powerful motion and not a whole lot of set-up necessarily needed. You can switch to single legs, you can go to body locks, you can do throws, you can do trips, you can do all of the above, and you can choose to stand up straight or you can choose to lower your elevation to go for the legs depending on the style of person you're fighting. Some people have better leg defense such as Sarah Kaufman. She is someone that's tougher to take down when you try to do the double legs. She's really good at pulling you up and whatnot. Other people who stand more tall such as Marloes Coenen are easier to attack the legs. It just depends and wrestling has that diversity so it's also easier to set up with your punches than judo is as well because judo, it seems like Ronda has to get inside and she has to have that over/under to be able to utilize it. Well, what if she can't get to that position? What if someone's just moving around too much and she can't get there? How is she going to set that up? Is she just going to bulrush right in every time? What if she runs right into a push kick? She's not setting it up real well. There's a lot of holes in her game I've seen. I've had a similar game plan before in rushing in with someone I don't want to stand with you know that I realized that my best advantage is to be on the ground and I just rushed in and I did the exact same thing she's doing and I know her game plan, I know what she's good at. I've done it before and it's no secret and I think having the experience in fighting will enable me to be able to counteract that with my wrestling and implement my game plan. Luke Thomas: Is it true or is it false that Ronda Rousey is a frontrunner and here's what I mean. All her wins in MMA have come very early. What I'm asking is, if you take her to the second round, does she fold? Miesha Tate: Well I hope so, but that's something that there's only one way to find out and I can guarantee you that this fight is not going to end in a minute unless it ends by my doing because I know my skill-set is much higher than she's anticipating and a big part of my game plan is just going to be to frustrate the hell out of her. I'm not gonna let her do what she wants to do. I'm not gonna let her be comfortable. I'm gonna force her to break out of her element. She thinks, "Oh, she can't knock me out," well she better keep her pretty little chin tucked because I do have knockout power. I've dropped guys in practice, I've dropped girls in practice and underestimating my striking is going to be a huge downfall for her as well as underestimating everything else which I know she's doing because she's coming in so confident. She thinks she has the edge on me in every aspect and I don't feel that that's the case. I feel like with the striking, it's called the game plan. Most of the people that I've fought have been stand-up fighters as well and when you close the distance, even if you are throwing punches, if you're coming forward so fast, you stuff a lot ‘em which takes a lot of your power away but that's your game plan. As soon as you get in close, that's where you have the advantage. You don't need to strike. That's not what you're trying to do. Striking to strike is different than striking to take someone down and you don't get as much power when you're striking to take someone down usually because you're not on the full end of your punches. You're starting there and you're rushing forward so fast that your punches end up being short and you're then eventually able to grab ahold of someone and take them to where your playing field is so her thinking I won't be able to knock her out is a huge, huge mistake on her part and it's gonna be different. If I choose to actually strike to strike, I don't think she's gonna like it.

Posted in: fight, tate, lot, dont, she

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Scott Neumyer breaks down Saturday's Strikeforce main event between women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate and favored challenger Ronda Rousey to see how Tate can keep her title.

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, miesha, rousey, saturdays strikeforce

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

The official weigh in event for Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" is set to take place today (March 2, 2012) LIVE from the Greater Columbus Convention Center (as part of the Arnold Sports Festival) in Columbus, Ohio. The first fighter is expected to tip the scale at 5 p.m. ET. As usual, MMAmania.com will provide up-to-the-second coverage of the Strikeforce weigh-ins, as well as provide a detailed recap of the festivities as soon as they conclude. "Tate vs. Rousey" will feature newly-minted women's champion Miesha Tate putting her 135-pound title on the line against undefeated Judo specialist Ronda Rousey. Other match-ups booked for "The Discovery City" include K.J. Noons vs. Josh Thomson, former women's champion Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis and Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki. Complete Strikeforce weigh in results after the jump. Main Event: 135 lbs.: Miesha Tate ( ) vs. Ronda Rousey ( ) Main card (Showtime): 155 lbs.: K.J. Noons ( ) vs. Josh Thomson ( )170 lbs.: Paul Daley ( ) vs. Kazuo Misaki ( )185 lbs.: Ronaldo Souza ( ) vs. Bristol Marunde ( )185 lbs.: Scott Smith ( ) vs. Lumumba Sayers ( ) Preliminary card (Showtime Extreme): 135 lbs.: Sarah Kaufman ( ) vs. Alexis Davis ( )155 lbs.: Caros Fodor ( ) vs. Pat Healy ( )155 lbs.: Ryan Couture ( ) vs. Conor Heun ( )170 lbs.: Roger Bowling ( ) vs. Brandon Saling ( ) MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Sat., March 3, 2012), which is slated to air at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 8:00 p.m. ET with the preliminary bouts. It's going to be a fun night of fights so don't miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight Strikeforce coverage you can handle For the latest Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" news and notes click here.

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, lb, tate, rousey

Read the full article at MMA Mania

"We've got to make sure we're trying to outdo the main event. There's a lot of hype around the main event so I think [we're] two males who really want to try to prove to ourselves and to everybody else that we should have been the main event. I think that's what we're trying to do." -- According to Josh Thomson, his Strikeforce Lightweight fight against K.J. Noons should have been the headliner at this weekend's (March 3, 2012) Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" mixed martial arts (MMA) event, at least that's what he told Sherdog.com. The event ,which takes place at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, is headlined by a female Bantamweight title fight between current champ Miesha Tate taking on Olympic Judo medalist Ronda Rousey. Feeling snubbed by the woman's title fight, "The Punk" is going to do his best to put on a show Saturday night and prove to the MMA world the reason(s) his bout should have received topped billing. The winner of the Thompson vs. Noons bout is expected to receive a title shot against Strikeforce 155-pound champion Gilbert Melendez. The event also includes an exciting welterweight scrap between Paul Daley and Kazuo Misaki. Anyone feel Thompsons' beef? Or did Strikeforce get the main event correct by letting the women get top billing?

Posted in: title shot, strikeforce, event, tate, rousey

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Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like "Judo" Gene LeBell and Ronda Rousey pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like Low Kick, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, Lowkick does a photoshoot with Ian McCall, Middle Easy debuts a Ronnie Mann documentary and Fight Line interviews UFC on FX headliner Thiago Alves. The full list of links is after the jump. - Photoshoot with UFC flyweight Ian McCall (LowKick) This weekend, Ian "Uncle Creepy" McCall (11-2) will make his UFC debut in Sydney, Australia, as part of the first ever UFC Flyweight tournament. As always, LowKick.com photographer Scott Hirano was on site to bring the following photo-report of Ian McCall's preparations for Demetrious Johnson. Ian McCall trains at Team Oyama in Orange County, CA. - Eight MMA fighters who have done porn (Cage Potato) - Ryan Couture ready to break Conor Heun's arm if necessary (Five Ounces of Pain) - Ronnie Mann documentary (video) (MiddleEasy) The good news is that we made this extensive documentary in conjunction with WHOA! TV that follows Ronnie Mann and his path to the Bellator featherweight tournament. Take some time off from work/school and let your eyes relax a little by watching this video. I'm sure they would appreciate it. They, of course, being your overworked eyes. - Bellator FC tryout video with Kahl-One (video) (The Fight Nerd) - UFC Japan: A wonderful show & a pyrrhic victory? (Fight Opinion) It should be noted that Japanese media coverage of the event was exclusively sports media & not entertainment media. This is different trend/protocol from what kinds of media attended PRIDE & K-1 events. There were some rather notable Japanese sports media outlets that were, in fact, silent or barely acknowledged the show. - The financial punch of delaying fights (MMA Payout) Larry Pugmire of the LA Times reported on the financial impact of delaying boxing matches due to injury. Its an interesting article that shows the differences between MMA and boxing when faced with injuries. - Tate owes Rousey a little bit of gratitude (BleacherReport.com/MMA) The key in this entire situation, and one that Tate seemingly cannot grasp, is that the two female fighters would not be in the main event of Saturday's card without Rousey constantly badmouthing Tate, Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos and various other female fighters. - Strikeforce: Tate vs Rousey preview (MMA Convert) The reports of female MMA's demise have been greatly exaggerated. This Saturday night, Strikeforce brings us the biggest, most compelling pairing of femme fighters since Cris "Cyborg" Santos stepped into the cage to take on Gina Carano. That's right, I'm talking about Miesha Tate versus Ronda Rousey, a matchup that pits the organization's 135-pound champ against an Olympic judo bronze medalist who rips off arms like you and I rip off pieces of toilet paper from the rolls hanging beside our respective crappers. - Interview with UFC on FX 2 headliner Thiago Alves (Fightline) "I know his style is predicated on his stand-up, but once he feels my power he's going to do what most of my other opponents try and do and that's take me down. I know it's going to be an awesome fight for the fans, but it's not going to be like any of his other fights because I plan on knocking him out or submitting him." - The Ultimate Fighter 15 evolution commercial (video) (5thRound)

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, tate, ian

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COLUMBUS, Ohio - MMAjunkie.com is on scene and reporting live from today's official "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" fighter weigh-ins. Today's festivities takes place at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio, in conjunction with the Arnold Sports Festival. Join us for live updates as the fighters hit the scale beginning at approximately 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT).

Posted in: vs, today, tate, columbu, columbus ohio

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The highly anticipated Women's Bantamweight title clash between division champion Miesha Tate and challenger Ronda Rousey will headline the stacked Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey fight card, set to take place tomorrow night from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Also featured will be former Lightweight Champion Josh Thomson taking on K.J. Noons and Welterweight power-puncher Paul Daley meets Kazuo Misaki.All fighters competing on the card stepped on the scales today for the official weigh-ins,

Posted in: tate, kj noons, rousey, scales today, columbus ohio

Read the full article at Low Kick

In the early stages of Hurricane Ronda’s verbal assault on Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate, you almost felt for the Washington state native, simply because she had never run into someone like Ms. Rousey, the Olympic medal winning arm collector who blasted onto the scene with four wins in 49 seconds or less. And “Rowdy” Ronda opened up with both barrels, letting the world know just what she thought of “Takedown” Tate, who didn’t feel that she should defend her crown against an MMA rookie.But once the fight was made for this Saturday night at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, something interesting happened. Miesha Tate got mean, and she began giving as good as she got to her challenger. And it wasn’t just selling a fight; it was a champion marking her territory and defending it. “I see right through Ronda,” said Tate. “She’s a lot of talk and she’s got way more talk than she could ever possibly walk. It’s just not even possible, inside one year, that as much as she runs her mouth that she could ever live up the expectations that she’s creating around herself. She’s setting herself up for failure, and she’s digging herself a hole faster than she could if she had a backhoe. I respect Ronda, I’m not underestimating her, I’m sure she’s going to be a challenging opponent in ways, and she’s good at what she does, but I don’t feel that she’s a well-rounded fighter, and I think that’s going to be pretty easy for me to exploit.”So far, through the aforementioned four pro fights and three amateur bouts, the 2008 US Olympic Bronze medalist in judo hasn’t needed to show off anything but her takedowns and armbars, and she’s passed every test with flying colors. Even her three amateur opponents couldn’t make it out of the first minute, and this Tyson with submissions understandably captured the imagination of the fight world. But when she armbarred Julia Budd in 39 seconds last November, she stunned many by calling out Tate, who ruled a division Rousey had never even competed in. But when it was confirmed that dropping from 145 to 135 pounds wouldn’t be an issue, Rousey got her title fight, and it didn’t sit well with the champion or the promotion’s veteran bantamweight contenders.“Ronda hasn’t paid her dues whatsoever in MMA,” said Tate. “There’s no way that she’s more deserving of a title shot over Sarah Kaufman or Alexis Davis, and Ronda, in my opinion, is not a fighter. She hasn’t fought a single fight yet. She’s 7-0 (pro and amateur) because she goes out there and plays into her strong point of judo against people who don’t have any kind of a wrestling or judo background, and who don’t understand how to defend against her techniques. So she goes out there and she outjudo’s these girls. I think I’ve seen her throw maybe five punches in her entire career. She has yet to take a solid punch and she has yet to throw a solid punch; therefore, I don’t consider her a fighter, and my intention is to basically make this into a fight because I don’t think she’s prepared for that.”Tate, on the other hand, has definitely put in her time in a sport still in the growing stages. A pro since 2007, Tate actually made her debut by fighting twice in one night in a HooknShoot tournament, beating Jan Finney before getting knocked out by Kaitlin Young. Nothing like getting your first pro win and first pro loss out of the way on the same night. From there, she made her Strikeforce debut in 2008, decisioning Elaina Maxwell, and she won four more bouts before losing to Kaufman in 2009. Undeterred, Tate soldiered on, putting together a five fight win streak that included another two fight / one night tournament, but this time she won both fights to earn a shot at Strikeforce 135-pound champion Marloes Coenen. It was in that bout last July that Tate showed that she had what it took technically to win a big fight, but more importantly, she displayed the heart of a champion as she submitted Coenen with an arm triangle choke in the fourth round. The victory was a stirring one, but you have to wonder, in the midst of Rondamania, has she been able to enjoy her title?“Yeah, I’ve really settled into it,” she said. “It feels nice and I don’t intend on going anywhere.”Tate is also gaining a groundswell of support from fans who haven’t exactly embraced Rousey’s ‘tell it like she sees it’ way of promotion.“I’ve been getting a lot of people on Twitter saying ‘well, I was really a big fan of Ronda at first, but the girl just doesn’t shut up, I’m sick of her mouth, and I want you to shut it on March 3rd. I’m on Team Tate now,’” said the champion. “And I’m just welcoming them. It’s kinda nice to see the shift. I thought she’d start to shoot herself in the foot, because with all the trash she’s been talking, and most of it is pure nonsense, there’s no way she could ever even live up to this legend she seems to be creating for herself. So I think people are starting to see that, and they’re getting tired of it.”No one’s more tired of it than Tate, who hasn’t just had to read Rousey’s quotes on the internet; she’s also had to spend time with her on numerous media events to promote the bout. That couldn’t have been too awkward, right?“I don’t like it, but I’m a professional and I can maintain a manner of professionalism,” said Tate. “But the ideal that I can hope for in a situation where I have to be around someone that I can’t stand, and the best way that I feel I can represent myself is to just ignore them to the best of my ability. It’s kind of that old rule your mother tells you, ‘if you don’t have something nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.’ I don’t say anything at all because I don’t have anything nice to say to that girl. I don’t like her, and I don’t like what she stands for. She stands for ‘hey, if you’re cute and you run your mouth, you can get a title shot,’ and I don’t agree with that. I think that it should be skill set first, and then whatever else outside the cage second. Call me old school or traditional or whatever, but I feel strongly about that and I’ve always done it that way. I’ve earned this belt, and I earned this shot.”And now the only thing left is for Tate to introduce her challenger to the deep water she hasn’t experienced in MMA yet.“There are certain things that you can’t make up for, one of which is experience,” said Tate. “You can’t recreate time in the cage, no matter how many times you spar in practice or how many times you drill. When you haven’t faced adversity in that kind of situation where the spotlight is on and someone’s taking it to you, and you’ve got to pull it together and find a way to win, you can’t replicate that, and you can’t do that any other way than by doing it. And she’s really lacking in that area experience wise, and I think she has a false sense of security because what she’s been doing has been working against the girls she’s been fighting. But stylistically, none of them have been like me, have had a background like I have, or near the pedigree.” That’s a world champion talking, one who doesn’t plan on relinquishing that belt anytime soon, especially not to Ronda Rousey this weekend. And when you’ve earned your spot as the best bantamweight in the world, the desire to keep it is even more motivating than silencing a bitter rival.“I’ve earned this position, but I have to keep working to make sure that I stay on the top because there are a lot of really badass women out there, and they’re all hungry and they’re all gunning for me,” said Tate. “So I’m the best for now, but in order to stay there, I have to make sure to not get too comfortable.”

Posted in: fight, way, ’t, tate, ’m

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The reports of female MMA’s demise have been greatly exaggerated (wait, have I used that lede before?).  This Saturday night, Strikeforce brings us the biggest, most compelling pairing of femme fighters since Cris “Cyborg” Santos stepped into the cage to take on Gina Carano.  That’s right, I’m talking about Miesha Tate versus Ronda Rousey, a matchup that pits the organization’s 135-pound champ against an Olympic judo bronze medalist who rips off arms like you and I rip off pieces of toilet paper from the rolls hanging beside our respective crappers.  There are, of course, other things on the card that will get the blood flowing, like former champ Josh Thomson’s return, Brit slugger Paul Daley’s collision course with Japanese warrior Kazuo Misaki, and Ronaldo Souza and Scott Smith’s impending handling of young upstarts.  But what’s motivating me to tune in to Showtime this weekend is that marquee bout involving the fairer sex, and yes, it has everything to do with the violence one is surely going to be visiting upon the other – particularly, that other fighter’s limb.  Preview time! -Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey – Let me start off by saying some good things about Tate.  She hasn’t tasted defeat since a decision loss to Sarah Kaufman back in May of 2009; she’s experienced; she won the Strikeforce belt by tapping out Marloes Coenen, so she’s no slouch when it comes to submissions; and, she’s a solid wrestler.  Okay, with that out of the way, let’s state the obvious: Rousey is going to throw her down and transition into the kind of armbar that requires rehab and physical therapy to recover from.  In just four pro fights and three amateur ones, the judoka has finished all who stood before her, all via armlock, all in under a minute.  That’s the kind of feat that more than warrants her title shot.  Heck, with that kind of streak going, Rousey deserves credit for turning a run-of-the-mill Meisha Tate title defense into “Oh man is that lady going to get her arm broken for sure” fight.  And folks, that kind of hype, though morbid, is just what female MMA needs to make it more than just “two attractive chicks fighting”.  I see Rousey coming away with the belt (obviously), but the question remains: Can Tate last longer than a minute? -Josh Thomson vs. KJ Noons – Miraculously, Thomson’s body has held together enough for him to face Noons (note: Thomson has had to drop out of about a thousand fights due to injuries, and he spent all of 2011 suspended in a nutrient tank a la Luke Skywalker in the Rebel base on Hoth).  But here he is now, a former champ and perennial badass, taking on someone who possesses some of the best hands in the business.  For Noons, the keys to victory are to keep Thomson from taking him down, and keep him at the end of his fists.  This is very doable, especially if the duct tape holding Thomson together spontaneously comes undone.  However, Thomson could just as easily be the one pushing the pace and imposing his will, so it could go either way.  I predict a decision here, but I can’t decide which way the decision will go. -Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki – As one of the most exciting British fighters in the game, and, despite his extracurricular actions against Josh Koscheck (which got him banished from the UFC), one of the most likeable Brits in the game, Daley is right up there among the best welterweight properties Strikeforce has under contract.  But signing Misaki, and pairing him up against Daley… that’s a stroke of genius, so let’s all give Strikeforce a little golf clap.  *Claps effetely*  Twice Misaki went to the well with Jorge Santiago in Sengoku, and twice it was an epic Braveheart-esque battle replete with carnage and heads being lopped off.  Therefore, putting Daley and Misaki together should be a sure-fire recipe for thrills, and honestly, I haven’t the faintest clue how it’s going to end.  It won’t be boring, though! -Ronalda Souza vs. Bristol Marunde – Souza was the Strikeforce middleweight champ until he laid an egg against Luke Rockhold, but his road back to title contention looks to be paved with cans of the tomato variety.  First it was to be against wrestler Derek Brunson.  Unfortunately, the athletic commission took issue with Brunson’s imitation of Mr. Magoo, so now it’s going to be Bristol Marunde who faces the vaunted jiu-jitsu of “Jacare”, and the common denominator between the Brazilian’s two opponents is that they both pose the same amount of threat – nil.  Souza is going back to basics and getting the submission, and soon Strikeforce will once more have someone legitimate to fight for Rockhold’s crown. -Scott Smith vs. Lumumba Sayers – The clock is ticking on Smith and his time in the cage, and that’s a shame because he brings it, win or lose.  However, although Sayers put away Antwain Britt in impressive, hard-hitting fashion, he’s still got a ways to go before he can step to the likes of Smith, who’s managed to score knockouts even after being knocked out and/or gravely wounded himself.  Smith is taking this one via TKO after doing his best “Walking Dead” imitation.

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Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey squared off on the microphone on Thursday ahead of their main event fight Saturday night in Columbus, OH.

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If I get another text from my grandmother asking me what time this weekend's Strikeforce fight is airing, I'm going to -- call her up and tell her because she's elderly. The only reason why she knows GSP is because her favorite fighter, Nick Diaz, talks about him. Her second favorite fighter is Waachiim Spiritwolf. I don't understand it either, but she also followed NFL Europe like it was an ancient religion. Coincidentally she's also a fan of Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey, so it's going to be interesting when I tell her about this newly released MMAFighting video of today's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey press conference filmed somewhere in Ohio. Don't tell her I'm giving you guys first dibs on the video. She may get angry and swing her cane towards the general direction of my head, again. [Source] {iframe}http://mmafighting.vid.io/v/40b60c46-63fc-11e1-9ecc-123139282fa5{/iframe}

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MMA Weekly caught up with Miesha Tate, Ronda Rousey, Paul Daley, KJ Noons and Kazou Misaki to get their thoughts on their upcoming fights at Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” this Saturday night.

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Today they're in jackets, tomorrow they're in skivvies. Strikeforce for held a special pre-fight press conference earlier today (Thurs., March 1, 2012) in advance of the "Tate vs. Rousey" Showtime event scheduled for Saturday night at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. And (surprise), neither Miesha Tate nor Ronda Rousey had anything nice to say about the other when the mic was turned on. Says the champion: "I don't care for Ronda's personality. I've fought people I haven't liked before but not to this extent. But I'm careful not to be overzealous and let tempers change my game plan. Ronda is a self-righteous person. She cares more about herself than the sport. She talked her way into a title fight. Clearly, she doesn't deserve it. She's not the No. 1 contender. She hasn't even fought at this weight before. I mean, she's 4-0 and has been moderately impressive but she hasn't faced anyone like me." Responds the challenger: "I wasn't looking to make friends in this sport. I just wanted to make a living so I didn't have to catch coins. But it doesn't matter if people don't like me because it's mostly current or former champs who think everyone should throw petals at their feet. Honestly, I don't care if a bunch of girls I don't know don't like me. I'm doing this to support myself and not work night shifts at the gym. I don't have respect for Miesha's inconsistency. One minute it's about the sport, the next she is wearing booty shorts on her website and it's the entertainment business." Oh, and there are a couple of other fighters competing this weekend as well, like Josh Thomson vs. K.J. Noons: More Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" news and notes right here.

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For all the talk that's led to the main event for Strikeforce this weekend, Miesha Tate is glad to put all the drama to bed and just punch Ronda Rousey in the face.

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Watch below as the main card stars of Saturday night's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey, including headliners Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey, meet with the press one final time before fight night.

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Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop, MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger and Matthew Roth as we are joined by Gals Guide to MMA contributor and Bloody Elbow commenter Nolan "mountaineers101" Howell for a preview of this weekend's two big shows. We'll preview tomorrow's UFC on FX card, which is headlined by a welterweight bout between Martin Kampmann and Thiago Alves and also will feature the semifinals of the company's first flyweight tournament. We'll also preview Saturday's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey, which is headlined by a Strikeforce bantamweight title fight between Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey and a lightweight bout between Josh Thomson and K.J. Noons. We'll preview all the fights while taking your calls, emails, tweets and comments. Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Get your Legacy Fight Shorts, seen on Yushin Okami, Vaughan Lee and Hatsu Hioki tonight at UFC 144, only from Bad Boy at the brand new BadBoy.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you. How to listen: Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast) Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so: Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86 or @BrianHemmingerBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss. SBN coverage of UFC on FX 2 SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey

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During the build up to their title-fight this weekend, Strikeforce bantamweight champ Miesha Tate and undefeated challenger Ronda Rousey have been anything but cordial towards each other. However, Rousey has come forward to say the bulk of her verbal jabs at Tate have been a means of promoting the match-up rather than representing any sort of personal attack. Tate, on the other hand, doesn’t see things that way as she made clear in a recent interview where she said Rousey has crossed the line too many times to go back now. “She’s made it personal for me. She says it’s not personal, but it is,” explained Tate in a conversation with MMAWeekly. “The difference between her and Chael Sonnen is that Chael’s been around for a long time, and I think people understand that it’s more of a gimmick. He’s a funny guy and he says things that are funny. The difference with Ronda is that she’s rude. She’s not necessarily comical in everything that she says; she’s kind of a bitch to be honest.” “Not only am I not a fan, I cannot stand the girl,” Tate continued. “She is full of it. I think she runs her mouth way too much. She says things that just make her look absolutely ridiculous and I think she gives women’s MMA a bad name. I don’t think she’s good representation or a good role model for the sport, period” “Not only do I not like her, but I don’t respect her at all,” the 25-year old added. Strikeforce Releases “Greatest Hits” Video for Tate-Rousey When it comes to their actual scrap this Saturday night where real jabs will be thrown rather than those of the verbal variety, Tate is confident in Rousey’s inability to live up to her hype. “I think she’s going to fold under the pressure, when after the first minute and she hasn’t submitted me, or even worse, she’s taking punches and thinking ‘Damn why can’t I finish this girl? I did it to everyone else’,” said Tate, alluding to Rousey’s lack of experience in the cage and ease in which she’s put away her previous opponents. Fans can watch the two talented women settle their score on Saturday night with the Showtime-bound broadcast starting at 10:00 PM EST. Prelims will air on Showtime Extreme two hours earlier. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE (Austin Hargrave) Tweet

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Ronda “Rowdy” Rousey’s trash talk coupled with 4 win streaks that ended via armbar in under a minute landed her a fight for the Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Championship. Her opponent, Miesha “Takedown” Tate, aims to teach this rookie a lesson and expose that Ronda’s talk is cheap. Don’t miss out on what will probably be [...]

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There is no hype and no fake trash talk here according to Strikeforce champion Miesha Tate who unloads on opponent Ronda Rousey ahead of their March 3 fight in Ohio

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- Strikeforce Photo Gallery: Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey, Face to Face (CagePotato)"This Saturday, Miesha Tate puts her Strikeforce bantamweight title on the line against sassy armbar-savant Ronda Rousey, in the first major MMA event to be headlined by two women since Carano vs. Cyborg. Will Tate’s experience and wrestling win the day, or will “Rowdy Ronda” continue her phenomenal rise? Check out these stunning promo photos from our buddies at Showtime and let us know what you think..."-

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submitted by alphahouse44 [link] [12 comments]

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Well this is certainly an interesting development. Strikeforce female number one contender Ronda Rousey will challenge Miesha Tate for the 135-pound title this Saturday night (March 3, 2012) live on Showtime from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. And she'll do it as the -350 favorite, according to our fiscal friends at Bet US (via Best Fight Odds). That leaves "Takedown" as the +250 underdog, despite her six-fight winning streak (with four stoppages) and marked advantage in experience. Perhaps the four consecutive (and agonizingly brutal) armbar submission wins by the "Rowdy" one has tipped the line in her favor? Or have the bookies fallen under the spell of her pre-fight trash talk? Either way, Tate fans are no doubt salivating at these odds, but does anyone out there think the challenger is getting too much respect? Who's looking to make some coin on this fight over the weekend? Get up to speed on all things "Tate vs. Rousey" right here.

Posted in: tate, rousey, columbus ohio, doubt salivating, development strikeforce

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This Saturday night sees a return to action for Strikeforce and, perhaps most importantly, the return of "big time" women's MMA. Not to take anything away from those women who have been featured by the promotion over the past few years, but since the Cristiane Santos vs. Gina Carano bout, there has been a real lack of fights that felt bigger than that singular bout. With Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey set to square off for Strikeforce's 135 pound title, their bout was already important. But the trash talk between the two has elevated it to something slightly bigger than just "the next women's title fight." Rousey is currently a heavy favorite at anywhere between -285 and -350 based on her aggressive judo game which does utilize a great deal of submission attacks. Luke Thomas of MMA Fighting had a chance to catch up with Rousey and talk about a variety of topics, but they did dive into the judo vs. wrestling aspects of the bout: Luke Thomas: There's obviously a lot of overlap between amateur wrestling, folkstyle, freestyle, Greco Roman and judo but I guess my question to you would be, why does your judo beat Miesha Tate's wrestling? Ronda Rousey: I think it's because I have a very unorthodox style of judo in that I kind of have a weird European-Japanese-Brazilian jiu-jitsu mix that is extremely hard to prepare for and I train with world champion and Olympic medalist wrestlers several times a week and there's no way that she could have judo players of my caliber to train with. It's just such an unorthodox style that I don't think she can be nearly as prepared for me as I am for her. Luke Thomas: You come in reaching for her arm, I've never seen you change elevation at least not yet in your career. More than just being a different style, I mean the particular application of it. Is she not going to be as strong as you, is she not going to be able to understand the angle at which you come to grab her, what do you mean? Ronda Rousey: Well, yeah, like you were pointing out, for judo players, you don't change levels when you come in for the takedowns, you telegraph a lot less. What was the rest of your question, just the advantage that judo players have in general? Luke Thomas: I guess I'm just wondering, I talked to [Tate] and her sense was that her wrestling really had a lot of different tools to stop your judo and what you're telling me is quite the opposite in a sense that she doesn't even know what she's getting into. Ronda Rousey: There's no way she can know because I'm not a normal judo player and she, I think it's ridiculous to assume that you know how to defend a style that you've never fought against or had any experience training with. Full audio of the interview can be found after the jump... SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey Full interview audio:

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This weekend will mark the most-hyped women’s bout in MMA since Gina Carano clashed with Cristiane Santos in 2009, as Strikeforce bantamweight champ Miesha Tate and unbeaten Olympian Ronda Rousey will meet in the main event to settle their personal score with the divisional belt adding yet another layer of intrigue to the match-up. In their continuing quest to hype the fight Strikeforce has released a clip featuring career highlights from both of the bad-ass beauties, again showing the organization has stepped its own game up in terms of creating well-produced video packages. Rousey is 4-0 in her career with four first round finishes while Tate holds an overall mark of 12-2 including six straight wins. Each has been very critical of the other leading up to their scrap this Saturday night, a factor likely resulting in fireworks when the two lock horns inside the ring. “Rowdy” Ronda Takes Tate to Task for Calling Her Pampered Fans can catch Rousey-Tate on Showtime at 10:00 PM EST with other featured fights like KJ Noons-Josh Thomson and Paul Daley-Kazuo Misaki. Bouts being shown on the prelims, set to air on Showtime Extreme starting at 8:00 PM EST, include Conor Heun-Ryan Couture, Sarah Kaufman-Alexis Davis, and Pat Healy-Caros Fodor. Check out the full Tate-Rousey “Greatest Hits” package below: Tweet

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, ronda, conor heunryan, strikeforce releases

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Get geared up for Friday's Strikeforce card in Columbus, Ohio, with these highlights of main event bantamweight title fighters Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey.

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Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey Video Preview - Ronda Rousey in "The Righteous Wrath of an Honorable Man" by Colin Stetson HT: Damon O.

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Miesha Tate will defend her Strikeforce title against Ronda Rousey on Saturday when the two meet at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH. The two have exchanged some heated trash talk in the time leading up to the event and that did trash talk did not cease when the champion recently spoke about her opponent, who it should be noted is coming in as a huge favorite over the champion. (-350 to Tate’s +250) “She’s not a fighter.  You know, I haven’t seen Ronda fight anyone

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Watch the greatest hits, kicks, and one serious armbar from two of mixed martial arts' top women: Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey.

Posted in: tate, hit, miesha, ronda, hits video

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Strikeforce breaks out the highlight reel in advance of its Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey 135-pound title fight on Showtime this Saturday night (March 3, 2012) from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Who's sticking around to watch this one and who's firing up the DVR? More on Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" right here.

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Ahead of Saturday's "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" event, Showtime Sports has unveiled a "greatest hits" video. It focuses on Strikeforce bantamweight champion Miesha Tate and challenger Ronda Rousey, two top female fighters who meet in the Showtime headliner at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Check out a video for some of the ladies' recent finishes.

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Get all of your Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey information here. Play by Play, results, videos, news, fight card, start times, and more!

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Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” takes place this Saturday, March 3, at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio and will air on Showtime at 10pm ET/PT. The latest Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” fight card can be found in our fight cards section.

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Strikeforce is close to pulling the trigger on its upcoming Showtime-televised fight card on Sat., March 3, 2012, from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. "Tate vs. Rousey" will feature newly-minted women's champion Miesha Tate putting her 135-pound title on the line against undefeated Judo specialist Ronda Rousey. MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the Strikeforce main card action below on fight night, which is slated to air at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 8:00 p.m. ET with the "Prelims" bouts on Showtime Extreme. Other match-ups booked for "The Discovery City" include K.J. Noons vs. Josh Thomson, former women's champion Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis and Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki. That's not all. Here is the complete Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" fight card and line up: Main Event: 135 lbs.: Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey Main card (Showtime): 155 lbs.: K.J. Noons vs. Josh Thomson170 lbs.: Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki185 lbs.: Ronaldo Souza vs. Bristol Marunde185 lbs.: Scott Smith vs. Lumumba Sayers Preliminary card (Showtime Extreme): 135 lbs.: Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis155 lbs.: Caros Fodor vs. Pat Healy155 lbs.: Ryan Couture vs. Conor Heun170 lbs.: Roger Bowling vs. Brandon Saling It's going to be a fun night of fights so don't miss it. We're still a few days away from fight night; therefore, feel free to share your thoughts and predictions for "Tate vs. Rousey" in the comments section below. And remember that MMAmania.com will be the spot for the latest news and event-related highlights before, during and after the event. For all the latest Strikeforce news and notes be sure to hit up our event archive right here.

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Strikeforce women’s bantamweight top contender Ronda Rousey talks about champion Miesha Tate's allegations she was "pampered and protected." Rousey challenges Tate on Friday in Columbus, Ohio.

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Miesha Tate will put her Women's 135-pound title on the line when she meets Ronda Rousey in the Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey headlining bout, set to take place this Saturday night from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

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Strikeforce champion Miesha Tate and challenger Ronda Rousey, as well as fighters Josh Thomson and KJ Noons field questions from the media, leading up to their respective fights.

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Miesha Tate will defend her Strikeforce title against Ronda Rousey on Saturday, March 3. Recently Tate offered her take on her opponent, saying that she felt that she had the advantage over her opponent due to the fact that Rousey, “has yet to taste her own blood in a grueling MMA bout. She's yet to prove she can battle back from any adversity at all.” MMATorch via Strikeforce Rousey seems to have taken exception to the comments of Tate and answered her in a blog of her own where she detailed

Posted in: tate, rousey, rousey “, strikeforce rousey, ” mmatorch

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Well, as it turns out, Derek Brunson is blind as a bat. That could explain why he failed his medical exam prior to his Strikeforce fight against Ronaldo Souza at the upcoming "Tate vs. Rousey" event on March 3 in Columbus, Ohio. No worries. While Brunson gets a laser shot into his eyes to keep himself in the good graces of future fight commissions, International Fight League (IFL) veteran Bristol Marunde will get a chance to dazzle fans at the Nationwide Arena as he answers the call of "Jacare." Marunde is 9-1 over his last 10 fights and the winner of four straight, including a unanimous decision win over UFC veteran Jay Silva at Superior Cage Combat 3 last November. The bad news is that two of his losses have come by way of triangle choke, which could be blood in the water for a grappling shark like Souza. Prior to coughing up his 185-pound title to Luke Rockhold last September, the Brazilian won four of his first five fights under the Strikeforce banner. Here is the revised Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" fight card: Main Event: 135 lbs.: Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey Main card (Showtime): 155 lbs.: K.J. Noons vs. Josh Thomson170 lbs.: Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki185 lbs.: Ronaldo Souza vs. Bristol Marunde185 lbs.: Scott Smith vs. Lumumba Sayers Preliminary card (Showtime Extreme): 135 lbs.: Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis155 lbs.: Caros Fodor vs. Pat Healy155 lbs.: Ryan Couture vs. Conor Heun170 lbs.: Roger Bowling vs. Brandon Saling For all the news and notes surrounding the Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" Showtime card check out our extensive news archive by clicking here.

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Superior Cage Combat middleweight champion Bristol Marunde has signed with Strikeforce and will replace Derek Brunson against former Strikeforce titleholder Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza at next Saturday's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey event. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker confirmed the signing on Wednesday via Twitter. Brunson was scratched from the contest after failing his pre-fight medicals by testing below the commission's minimum vision threshold without his contact lenses. Ohio Athletic Commission Executive Director Bernie Profato revealed that Brunson's vision is 20/400, which fails to meet the state standard of "uncorrected visual acuity." Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey is slated for March 3, 2012, at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate defends her title against former Olympian Ronda Rousey in the night's main event. The late match-up switch marks an enormous leap in competition for Marunde (15-6), whose biggest previous wins came against UFC veterans Jay Silva and Rich Attonito. Training out of West Coast Fight Team, the 29-year-old journeyman recovered from early turbulence to amass nine victories in his last ten appearances, including three first-round stoppages, with his only stumble arriving via a submission loss to Jordan Smith in 2009. Souza (14-3, 1 NC), meanwhile, looks to rebound after dropping his Strikeforce middleweight title in a unanimous decision loss to Luke Rockhold last September. The setback snapped a four-fight win streak for the Black House fighter, which included dramatic wins over Tim Kennedy, Robbie Lawler, and Matt Lindland.

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, brunson, derek brunson, rousey

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Full audio from today’s Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” conference call via BJPenn.com. Also, here are some choice quotes from the call via MMA Fighting. Miesha Tate on looks playing a role in this fight: “I’m not in denial about that. I understand the logistics behind it and why this fight would want to be put together and how it has the ability to do bigger things than if Sarah Kaufman and I were fighting each other. Just the hype, the selling points, the marketing points — I understand all of that, because it’s not just a sport. To me, the sport is the most important part. But honestly, like I said, if nobody wants to watch it, it’s more of a detriment than anything else.” Ronda Rousey on the same: “I think that’s part of what makes this fight so exciting, so anticipated. We’re pretty much getting into unarmed combat, anything’s possible. Someone could die. When you see two girls that pretty much look like Xena: Warrior Princess going at it, that was a show on TV for a reason. People want to watch it. It’s going to be a huge fight and it’s going to change women’s MMA.” Rousey on her quick rise through the ranks: “This day a year ago I was working three jobs and struggling to train and do all this stuff, and I just wanted to be done with all of that. I just wanted to be able to support myself through fighting and I wanted to do it as quickly as possible. I didn’t want to sit around and do that for a few more years and slowly work my way up while telling everybody ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and bowing my head. I knew that I could win the title the day that I started, and the quicker I could get it the better. If giving a couple more entertaining interviews than some of the girls helps me out, then I’m going to do that.” “I’ve been being pretty much overtly rude. I haven’t been lying or saying anything I didn’t think [was] true, but I’ve been saying things I wouldn’t say to people’s faces usually because it’s not polite.” Tate on making the most of the opprtunity: “We have a responsibility as women to stick together and really try to help other girls… Ronda and I are getting the opportunity for the limelight. The thing about women’s MMA, when you have very little opportunity for mass exposure, you’ve got to make the most out of it. It’s got to be the most bang for your buck.” It was also revealed today that KJ Noons has yet to be medically cleared to fight on the card, Derek Brunson is off the card because he failed medicals and Roger Bowling vs. Brandon Saling has been added.

Posted in: fight, ’t, anything, tate, rousey

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All that fussin and feudin' between Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate certainly does distract us from the fact that they are totally babelicious. Fortunately, Showtime would like to remind you just how fine these two ladies are with a ton of promo photos. You can check em out here and here. Oh Ronda, you judo threw my heart in under a minute.

Posted in: tate, ronda rousey, ronda, miesha tate, promo photos

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K.J. Noons has been cleared to compete at next week's "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" event. As MMAjunkie.com reported earlier today, Noons hadn't received medical clearance that would enable him to fight Josh Thomson because of an earlier suspension. However, a California State Athletic Commission rep today told MMAjunkie.com the suspension has since been lifted.

Posted in: vs, tate, california state, kj noons, noon

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During today’s conference call for the upcoming Strikeforce: “Tate vs. Rousey” event, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker announced that undefeated middleweight Derek Brunson has been scratched from his scheduled matchup with Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. Coker announced that Strikeforce officials are now looking for a replacement opponent for Souza. Brunson (9-0) announced that he failed an eye exam during his state-ordered physical. He mentioned that in the past, he was allowed to wear contact lenses during his fights, but the Ohio State Athletic Commission refused to clear him for the fight scheduled for March 3rd. With his current state of vision, Brunson announced that he will likely undergo Lasik eye surgery sometime in the near future, and he plans to return as soon as possible. Souza (14-3-1), the former Strikeforce middleweight champion, was scheduled to make his return to the organization for the first time since losing his belt to current champion Luke Rockhold last September. While an opponent has yet to be announced, Coker mentioned that he is confident they will find an opponent and that Souza will remain on the card. Strikeforce: “Tate vs. Rousey’ is headlined by the biggest female MMA fight in years, with current Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate defending her belt for the first time against the undefeated Ronda Rousey. For complete coverage of Strikeforce: “Tate vs. Rousey”, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, souza, rousey

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Back when Ronda Rousey started pushing for a title fight with Strikeforce 135-pound women’s champion Miesha Tate, she built her case on a very simple logic. Despite her relative inexperience in MMA, she argued, the two of them should fight because people would want to see it. Whether those people wanted to see it because it was a compelling match-up or because they just wanted to see two pretty girls in sports bras sweating on each other hardly mattered, she insisted. Women’s MMA needed fans more than it needed the ethical high ground. The fact that she got what she asked for tells us that someone, somewhere agreed with her. On Tuesday’s media call, even Tate had to admit that Rousey’s argument made some degree of sense. The sheer amount of PR work the champ has been called upon to do is proof that people are interested, she admitted. "I’m not in denial about that," Tate said. "I understand the logistics behind it and why this fight would want to be put together and how it has the ability to do bigger things than if Sarah Kaufman and I were fighting each other. Just the hype, the selling points, the marketing points -- I understand all of that, because it’s not just a sport. To me, the sport is the most important part. But honestly, like I said, if nobody wants to watch it, it’s more of a detriment than anything else."And yet, Tate repeated several times over the course of the more than 40-minute call, "I don’t feel she’s earned it, at 4-0 and having never fought at 135 [pounds]." Maybe the question is: does it matter? If Rousey is right, and this fight becomes the most anticipated women’s MMA bout since "Cyborg" Santos-Gina Carano, will it make any difference why it happened, or why fans wanted to see it?Not if you believe Rousey, who makes a convincing, if admittedly self-serving case for the importance of exposure over legitimacy. She picked a fight with Tate because it was the biggest match-up out there, she said. If the two had met under different circumstances, Rousey said, "then we probably would have ended up being friends.""But I created this rivalry on purpose because I have enough friends," she added. "What I really could use is a few enemies. I think the result of how much attention this fight has been getting proves me right."She has a point. The Strikeforce women’s title itself typically isn’t enough to move the needle with fans and media. When Tate took the belt from Marloes Coenen in July, the fight took a backseat to the non-title affair between Dan Henderson and Fedor Emelianenko. In fact, in the four title fights that the former champ Coenen fought under the Strikeforce banner, not one was a main event bout. Barring Challengers events, the only other time two women have occupied the top spot on a Strikeforce card was also the first time, when Carano and Santos did it.The fact that Tate and Rousey have generated enough heat to change that now must mean something, even if it’s just that fans are more interested in women’s MMA when the participants are both good-looking."I think that’s part of what makes this fight so exciting, so anticipated," said Rousey. "We’re pretty much getting into unarmed combat, anything’s possible. Someone could die. When you see two girls that pretty much look like Xena: Warrior Princess going at it, that was a show on TV for a reason. People want to watch it. It’s going to be a huge fight and it’s going to change women’s MMA."At the same time, that one quote tells us that Rousey doesn’t consider any potential appeal to be off-limits. Whether you’re tuning in because you want to see death and dismemberment or something with a more erotic feel to it, she doesn’t particularly seem to care. All that matters is you’re watching and she’s getting paid.Or, as she put it: "This day a year ago I was working three jobs and struggling to train and do all this stuff, and I just wanted to be done with all of that. I just wanted to be able to support myself through fighting and I wanted to do it as quickly as possible. I didn’t want to sit around and do that for a few more years and slowly work my way up while telling everybody ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and bowing my head. I knew that I could win the title the day that I started, and the quicker I could get it the better. If giving a couple more entertaining interviews than some of the girls helps me out, then I’m going to do that."In hyping the fight with Tate, Rousey admitted, "I’ve been being pretty much overtly rude. I haven’t been lying or saying anything I didn’t think [was] true, but I’ve been saying things I wouldn’t say to people’s faces usually because it’s not polite."You have to admit that it’s worked. Or at least, it’s worked if the goal is to advance the career of Ronda Rousey. As for the goal of shining a bigger spotlight on women’s MMA? It’s doing that too, for the moment. Then again, as the Carano-Cyborg fight showed, that spotlight doesn’t necessarily carry over to the rest of the division once the big fight is over.Does that matter? Tate seems to think so. She acknowledged the appeal of a fight between herself and Rousey reluctantly at first, and still rarely misses an opportunity to point out that she doesn’t think Rousey deserves it. While Rousey seems primarily motivated by self-interest, Tate insisted that the fight needed to deliver for the good of the division as a whole, especially considering how rare these chances are."We have a responsibility as women to stick together and really try to help other girls," Tate said. "...Ronda and I are getting the opportunity for the limelight. The thing about women’s MMA, when you have very little opportunity for mass exposure, you’ve got to make the most out of it. It’s got to be the most bang for your buck."It’s a consideration that, at least in the present day, men’s MMA simply doesn’t have. You don’t hear male fighters talking about the need to put on a good show in order to help other men. You don’t hear them pushing for certain fights purely on the basis that it will get more people interesting in the sport in general. You definitely wouldn’t catch two male fighters in a promo video that seems like it should have the phrase ‘...after dark’ tacked on somewhere.And yet, for a women’s sport appealing to a primarily male audience, it’s an angle that works. It’s working for Tate and Rousey so far, as well as for Strikeforce and for Showtime. That’s good news if you think that what women’s MMA needs is more eyeballs on the final product, by any means necessary. If you’re the type who can’t help but think about how the hype sausage is made, however, the answers aren’t so simple. Especially when it’s this difficult to even agree on which questions we should be asking.

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Lightweight K.J. Noons has yet to submit a medical clearance that will enable him to fight Josh Thomson at "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey." Until he does, Noons remains on a national database of fighters under medical suspension, a rep from the California State Athletic Commission today told MMAjunkie.com. "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" takes place March 3 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Posted in: vs, tate, california state, kj noons, commission today

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A welterweight bout between Ohio natives Roger Bowling and Brandon Saling is a late addition to next week's "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" event. Event sources today confirmed the matchup with MMAjunkie.com. "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" takes place March 3 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, and coincides with the annual Arnold Sports Festival. The main card airs on Showtime, and prelims air on Showtime Extreme.

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, welterweight bout, tate, rousey

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Undefeated Derek Brunson has been forced out a "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" fight with fellow middleweight Ronald "Jacare" Souza. Officials today announced that Brunson failed his medicals for the fight, though the undisclosed ailment is "not severe" in nature, according to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker. A replacement is being sought for next week's card.

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, brunson, derek brunson

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Strikeforce will today (Feb. 21, 2012) hold a media conference call to promote next Saturday's (March 3, 2012) Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" event which will air live on Showtime. The conference call will begin at 1 p.m. ET. Scheduled to attend will be the main event fighters of the evening: Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey as well as Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker. Tate is the current Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion, having defeated veteran Marloes Coenen to capture the title late last summer. "Takedown" is one of the strongest female wrestlers in MMA and will be looking to legitimize herself as champ with her first title defense. Her challenger, Ronda Rousey, is a reigning Judo Olympic bronze medalist. She transitioned to mixed martial arts after Beijing and hasn't looked back, winning all four of her professional fights (and all three amateur bouts) inside the first minute via armbar. She talked her way to the title and has become an MMA media darling in the process. Rousey talking her way to the title doesn't sit well with Tate, who was hoping to defend her belt against former champion Sarah Kaufman, the last woman to defeat her. This should make things interesting on today's call. We'll have complete updates of the Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" conference call after the jump: Brian Hemminger here. The conference call is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Posted in: title, strikeforce, conference, tate, rousey

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The biggest bout in recent years featuring a pair of female fighters is less than two weeks from taking place and both participants have been on fire as of late, taking shots at each other through the media while showing a level of intensity/desire unmatched by many of their peers. With March 3 looming, Strikeforce bantamweight champ Miesha Tate and unbeaten contender Ronda Rousey will face off over the phone today before things get physical as part of a conference call with media where they’ll discuss their headlining title-fight. They will also be joined by Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker and lightweights K.J. Noons-Josh Thomson, also set to scrap on the Showtime broadcast. As always, Five Ounces of Pain will be on the line when things start up at 1:00 PM EST and reporting highlights/soundbytes back to readers as they unfold in real time. See what all of the involved parties had to say below… Ronda Rousey: Miesha Tate: Josh Thomson: K.J. Noons: Scott Coker:

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, rousey, time conference, showtime broadcast

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Miesha Tate has glared deep into the eyes of her upcoming challenger, and according to the champ, she's not buying what Ronda Rousey is selling. Just 4-0 in her short professional career, Rousey harnessed the power of the media to aid her quest for a title shot. Though her trash-talking campaign has since paid dividends in the form of a scheduled showdown with Tate, "Takedown" says that after coming face to face with her less experienced opponent, she suspects talking is Rousey's primary talent.

Posted in: tate, ronda rousey, rousey, career rousey, tate takedown

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She may not turn 30 for a few more months but Gina Carano is unquestionably one of the true pioneers of women’s MMA. Though she only fought eight times professionally, the beautiful brawler brought a level of attention onto her gender’s contributions to the sport that paved the way for the March 3 main event between Strikeforce bantamweight champ Miesha Tate and undefeated contender Ronda Rousey. Carano recently offered up her opinion on the upcoming bout, expressing both her interest in the outcome as well as a desire to attend the match-up live. “Both of those women are hard workers and have strong personalities,” said Carano of the fight as a guest on MMAWeekly Radio. “I hope that it does well. I’m super excited about it.” Check Out the Preview for Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey Though Carano will definitely be tuning in to the Showtime broadcast when things go down in two weeks, the humble fan-favorite understands her mere presence in the crowd would diminish the spotlight Tate/Rousey have earned. “I would love to,” explained a wishful Carano before continuing, “The only reason I haven’t gone to a bunch of the women’s fights, cause I absolutely love them, but I don’t want to show up and people are like ‘Gina’s trying to show up to steal attention’ or trying to challenge anybody. They usually put the camera on me and that’s their moment.” “Conviction” Carano stopped short of making a pick while admiring Tate’s title-winning performance against Marloes Coenen and Rousey’s Olympic background in addition to her aggression. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE Tweet

Posted in: gina carano, tate, carano, gina, rousey

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In two weeks the biggest female fight in years will go down in the form of a bout featuring Strikeforce champ Miesha Tate putting her gold up for grabs against unbeaten Olympian Ronda Rousey. With the title-tilt growing ever closer, Strikeforce and Showtime have amped up their promotion and now dropped a sensational preview for the main event pairing. Featuring Tate and Rousey dressed to the nines, the video presents both bantamweights as beautiful but dangerous. “It’s not just looks that kill,” adds an overlaid voice. Tate-Rousey face off in headlining action on March 3 on Showtime with other featured fights including K.J. Noons vs. Josh Thomson, Derek Brunson vs. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, and Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki. Check out the full preview below:

Posted in: vs, preview, tate, miesha tate, event pairing

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Women's Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate is less than one month away from defending her title against the loudest dog in the 135-pound yard, Ronda Rousey. The two will square off in the main event of the Strikeforce event on March 3, 2012, at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. And according to Strikeforce General Manager Scott Coker, it's the biggest women's fight of all time. In keeping with that, and her desires to drown Rousey while taking great pleasure in it, Tate is in the training rooms preparing herself for a war. Scott Hirano of LowKick.com was recently on the scene snapping pics and you can check out a few after the jump. Head on over to LowKick.com to check out more photos.

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, rousey, training rooms, jump head

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Strikeforce bantamweight champ Miesha Tate knows a great deal about her upcoming opponent Ronda Rousey, already being aware of Rousey’s Olympic judo background, overall power, and love of latching onto arms. However, what she’s not so sure of is how much heart “Rowdy” Ronda actually as. Tate, who has been through some wars in her career, called Rousey’s desire into question in a recent blog entry where she pointed to the outspoken grappler’s inexperience as potentially being key in their headlining fight. “My March 3 challenger and opponent, Ronda Rousey, has never faced this type of make or break moment during her 4-0 mixed martial arts career,” began Tate. “Yes, she was very accomplished as a judo player, winning a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics, but she has yet to taste her own blood in a grueling MMA bout. She’s yet to prove she can battle back from any adversity at all. Questions have never been asked of her.” “All four of her MMA wins so far have arrived inside the first minute, and she has yet to face anybody that has so much as tested her, let alone come close to disfiguring her face and beating her,” Tate viciously continued. “She’s been carefully matched, she’s been pampered, and she’s been protected. The truth is, going into this world title fight with me, Ronda is still (looking) to discover whether she is even a real fighter.” It looks like the 25-year old Tate plans to test that theory in a few weeks by grinding Rousey down, adding, “(She) will learn just how hard and horrible the sport of mixed martial arts can be. I will take great pleasure in dragging her into deep waters for the first time in her life and then drowning her there.” The two bantamweight beauties will meet in the main event of a card on Showtime also featuring names like K.J. Noons, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, Paul Daley, and Josh Thomson in other bouts. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: tate, rousey, ronda, bantamweight beauties, heart “

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Strikeforce bantamweight champion Miesha Tate and challenger Ronda Rousey, along with CEO Scott Coker, recently met with the press discuss their March 3 title fight. Check out a video of their discussion below.

Posted in: fight, title, press, tate, ronda

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Strikeforce women’s bantamweight top contender Ronda Rousey talks about her judo background and what she thinks about champion Miesha Tate. Rousey challenges Tate on March 3 in Columbus, Ohio.

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, rousey, ronda, judo background

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All four of her MMA wins so far have arrived inside the first minute, and she has yet to face anybody that has so much as tested her, let alone come close to disfiguring her face and beating her. She's been carefully matched, she's been pampered and she's been protected. The truth is, going into this world title fight with me, Ronda is still to discover whether she is even a real fighter. However, on March 3rd, the night we meet for my Strikeforce world bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey will learn just how hard and horrible the sport of mixed martial arts can be. I will take great pleasure in dragging her into deep waters for the first time in her life and then drowning her there. -- Miesha Tate blogs for Strikeforce leading up to her March 3, 2012, bantamweight title defense against Ronda Rousey at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The feud between these two lethal ladies has served a wide ranging purpose for women's MMA in the sense that it's reignited interested not just with fans but with executives at the Zuffa offices. Indeed, UFC President Dana White is now promoting the fight himself, telling anyone who will listen how pumped he is to see what should be an explosive match-up. He'll also have more control over the entire Strikeforce promotion for the March 3 card, and with Showtime pulling out all the stops with unique video promos leading up to the fight, all signs point to a smashing success for all involved. Oh, and it helps that Tate and Rousey are verbally sparring before climbing inside the cage to rip each others heads off (or arms, as it were). For her part "Takedown" is looking forward to dragging "Rowdy" into deep waters for the first time and says she'll take great pleasure in watching her drown. Sick sadism aside, who's predicting that as the outcome of the bout? Anyone? Or will Rousey do what she's always done and take Tate's arm home with her, along with the 135-pound title?

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, rousey, ronda, she

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [10 comments]

Posted in: mma, tate, mattyblayze, miesha, ronda

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Strikeforce bantamweight champ Miesha Tate has no doubts that she is a fighter, though not simply because she draws a paycheck as a professional Mixed Martial Artist. Tate has weathered numerous storms inside the cage, coming out on top in twelve of her fourteen fights. However, she isn’t so sure about the heart of her upcoming opponent, unbeaten Olympic judoka Ronda Rousey. Tate questioned Rousey’s fortitude in a recent blog entry where she made it clear she plans to test “Rowdy” Ronda’s will when they meet on March 3 in Columbus, Ohio. “My March 3 challenger and opponent, Ronda Rousey, has never faced this type of make or break moment during her 4-0 mixed martial arts career,” Tate wrote on Rousey’s experience. “Yes, she was very accomplished as a judo player, winning a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics, but she has yet to taste her own blood in a grueling MMA bout. She’s yet to prove she can battle back from any adversity at all. Questions have never been asked of her.” “All four of her MMA wins so far have arrived inside the first minute, and she has yet to face anybody that has so much as tested her, let alone come close to disfiguring her face and beating her,” Tate continued, her venom spilling over onto the page. “She’s been carefully matched, she’s been pampered and she’s been protected. The truth is, going into this world title fight with me, Ronda is still to discover whether she is even a real fighter.” In closing, “Takedown” Tate pulled no punches in saying she expects to introduce Rousey to the type of adversity she’s already overcome inside the cage. “On March 3rd, the night we meet for my Strikeforce world bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey will learn just how hard and horrible the sport of mixed martial arts can be. I will take great pleasure in dragging her into deep waters for the first time in her life and then drowning her there.” Strikeforce Releases Preview for Rousey vs. Tate Fans can catch Rousey-Tate on Showtime along with a number of other featured bouts including KJ Noons vs. Josh Thomson and Ronaldo Souza vs. Derek Brunson. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE Tweet

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, march, rousey, ronda

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Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate talks about her first MMA bout and how she knew she was going down the right path in her first blog entry. Tate defends her title against Ronda...

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, mma bout, miesha, right path

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Miesha Tate talks about how her first fight in MMA inspired her, and her plans to show opponent Ronda Rousey just how hard MMA really can be.

Posted in: mma, tate, miesha, rousey, ronda

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When Miesha Tate steps into the cage on March 3 to defend her Strikeforce title against Ronda Rousey it will mark her 15th professional MMA bout. Tate is brimming with confidence heading into her first title defense, with that confidence being something she gained very early in her career. Tate recently revealed when she discovered that she was a true fighter, the moment of clarity coming as she was beaten bloody in her first amateur MMA bout. Fighting with a badly broken nose, with her blood pooling below

Posted in: mma, bout, tate, mma bout, ronda rousey

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On March 3rd, Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey will collide at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, in what would be the biggest bout in the history of Women's Mixed Martial Arts. Tate currently spends her preparations at the Art of 8 training center in San Diego, California, under the patronage of Melchor Menor. Known for her excaptional grappling skills, "Takedown" Miesha Tate is also working on her striking with Menor, looking to improve her already-intimidating arsenal of MMA skills. As always,

Posted in: tate, ronda rousey, miesha, alreadyintimidating arsenal, melchor menor

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Go behind-the-scenes with the cameras of Showtime Sports as Strikeforce women's champion Miesha Tate and challenger Ronda Rousey shoot a promo for their upcoming fight.

Posted in: tate, showtime sports, miesha, rousey, miesha tate

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Posted in: tate, photo, miesha, rousey, behindthescene

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One of the most anticipated female fights in a few years is only a few weeks away from going down and now the pairing has an appropriately awesome preview. Set for March 3, Strikeforce bantamweight champ Miesha Tate is set to put her belt on the line against unbeaten and outspoken Olympian Ronda Rousey in main event action of a card also featuring stars like Paul Daley, Ronaldo Souza, KJ Noons, and Josh Thomson. In the preview both women are shown dolled up in evening gowns before informing unknowing fans, “It’s not just looks that can kill,” before showing highlights from some both fighters. Tate holds a 12-2 record and is on a six-fight winning streak including victories over Zoila Gurgel, Hitomi Akano, and Marloes Coenen. Comparably, Rousey has won all four of her bouts since transitioning from judo with each instance of success involving an opening round Armbar. Tate: “This bitch is not going to beat me.” Check the full preview out below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: preview, tate, rousey, fans “, event action

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Showtime gets you ready for the main event of their March 3 Strikeforce card with this amazing promo featuring Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey.

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, promo, rousey, miesha tate

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Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” takes place next Saturday, March 3, at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio and will air on Showtime at 10pm ET/PT. The latest Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” fight card can be found in our fight cards section.

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey, columbus ohio

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Showtime finds the mark with this "sexy" promo for the upcoming Strikeforce event on March 3, 2012, at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, that features Women's Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate defending her title against overnight sensation Ronda Rousey. There's no love lost between these two beautiful badasses and in less than a month they'll finally settle their differences inside the cage. It may not be as big as Gina Carano vs. Cristiane Santos but there's no doubt it's the most heavily hyped women's fight since then. Who takes it, Maniacs? "Takedown" Tate or "Rowdy" Rousey?

Posted in: tate, strikeforce event, rousey, columbus ohio, womens fight

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submitted by jonbuchan [link] [5 comments]

Posted in: vs, tate, miesha, ronda, jonbuchan

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For the sake of this article and in honor of Valentine's Day, you can replace Cody McKenzie with yourself in the banner picture. That's you with your arms wrapped around Strikeforce champion Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey. I understand why you're giving us two thumbs up. I'm sure Siskel and Ebert would approve of this picture also (RIP Gene Siskel). I wish it was me in that banner, but fortunately for today it's you. Congratulations. You're looking at your reward. Evidence that you were in the vicinity of two of the greatest female fighters in MMA. Backstage at UFC 143 I finally saw Ronda Rousey, but when LayzieTheSavage offered to introduce me to her, I geeked out like a 6th grader at a middle-school dance and declined. I'm not sure what happened that weekend, I had my cootie-shot and everything. I was enchanted with the aura of 'Circle, Circle, Dot, Dot.' Check out this official promo for next month's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey released on the day when all single people will focus on how irresponsible they are to maintain a relationship. Props to Pegson for the tip.

Posted in: day, tate, rousey, ronda, valentines day

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With just over two weeks until the Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" event in Columbus, Ohio, promotion officials will ask Gegard Mousasi to step down, with little time to find him a replacement for Mike Kyle, who was forced to withdraw from the March 3 extravaganza due to injury. In their absence, the undercard bout between Scott Smith and Lumumba Sayers has been promoted to the Showtime televised fight card, according to a report from MMA Weekly. Smith (17-9) is no stranger to bright lights and big cities; however, "Hands of Steel" has been on a dramatic downturn as of late, dropping three straight fights and getting pasted in two of those three defeats. He'll need that big game experience to handle Sayers (5-2), who turned some heads with his knockout finish over Antwain Britt back in November. Here's a look at the revamped Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" fight card and line-up. Main Event: 135 lbs.: Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey Main card (Showtime): 155 lbs.: K.J. Noons vs. Josh Thomson170 lbs.: Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki185 lbs.: Ronaldo Souza vs. Derek Brunson185 lbs.: Scott Smith vs. Lumumba Sayers Preliminary card (Showtime Extreme): 135 lbs.: Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis155 lbs.: Caros Fodor vs. Pat Healy155 lbs.: Ryan Couture vs. Conor Heun For all the news and notes surrounding the Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" Showtime card check out our extensive news archive by clicking here.

Posted in: vs, lb, card, tate, smith

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Women's 135-pound champion Miesha Tate will put her title on the line when she meets Ronda Rousey in the Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey headlining bout, set to take place March 3rd from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Also featured will be heavy-handed Welterweight contender Paul Daley taking on Kazuo Misaki in the co-main event, and a Lightweight clash pitting K.J. Noons against Josh Thomson. Photo: Scott Hirano

Posted in: tate, kj noons, comain event, ronda rousey, rousey

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The co-main event for March’s Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey card has hit a snag, as it appears Mike Kyle will not be able to face Gegard Mousasi due to damage sustained while training for the fight. Kyle (19-8-1) and Mousasi (32-3-2) were first expected to face off against one another last April before a hand injury knocked Kyle out of that bout too. MMAJunkie was the first to report Kyle’s status. A replacement for for the hard-hitting light heavyweight was not revealed nor is it known whether Strikeforce will seek a new opponent at all. The fight promotion is still without a champion at 205 pounds with Dan Henderson vacating the title last year to sign with the UFC. Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey takes place March 3 from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The main event pits champion Miesha Tate against unbeaten Olympian Ronda Rousey for the bantamweight title. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, rousey, kyle, mike kyle

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

Mike Kyle vs. Gegard Mousasi appears to be no more. According to a report from MMA Weekly, "MAK" has been injured and forced to withdraw from his Light Heavyweight fight against "The Dreamcatcher" at the Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" event on March 3, 2012, from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The nature of the injury has not been disclosed and Strikeforce has yet to confirm the change, but an announcement is expected shortly. This is the second time the promotion has tried -- and failed -- to put this fight together. Third time's a charm? The Showtime-televised event will feature newly-minted women's champion Miesha Tate putting her 135-pound title on the line against undefeated Judo specialist Ronda Rousey. Other match-ups booked for "The Discovery City" include K.J. Noons vs. Josh Thomson, former women's champion Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis and Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki. For all the latest news and notes on Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" click here.

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey

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If this feels like a familiar dance, that's because it is. You should know the story by now. Miesha Tate is the Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion and will defend her title at Strikeforce in Columbus on March 3 against Ronda Rousey, an Olympian judo player with just a few fights under her belt. They were all impressive one minute armbar finishes but how much can one glean from so little action? It's rather simple for Tate -- wrestling beats judo almost every time. Problem solved. "I think nine times out of 10, wrestling trumps judo. There's a lot of things I can do as a wrestler to just shut her judo down, nullify it. And my grappling is world class. So far she's shown she has an armbar and she lasts about a minute. She seems real desperate to get the armbar right off the bat, so that leads me to believe maybe she's not well-rounded or doesn't feel confident in her other skills, which I know I am. I've been in the championship rounds, had 20 fights, had six years of experience. I'm really confident going into this fight and I'm excited." Easier said than done, of course, as Rousey's previous opponents can attest to. World class grappling is all well and good but everyone makes mistakes and against a shark like "Rowdy," it could cost Tate her arm. Literally. The bigger story here is that this is likely the biggest women's fight since Gina Carano was soundly defeated by Cristiane Santos all the way back in 2009. So it's kind of a big deal. Hear Tate talk about all that and more after the jump.

Posted in: fight, tate, judo, ronda rousey, world class

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Posted in: interview, tate, miesha

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Miesha Tate says Ronda Rousey is "gonna get what she asked for, but I don't think she's gonna want it." The two square off at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey on March 3.

Posted in: tate, i dont, ronda rousey, miesha, ronda

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Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate thinks challenger Ronda Rousey is pushy, selfish and immature -- and too pretty.

Posted in: champion, bantamweight, tate, rousey, ronda

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Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate thinks challenger Ronda Rousey is pushy, selfish and immature -- and too pretty.

Posted in: challenger, champion, tate, rousey, ronda

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Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate recently called Ronda Rousey, who will challenge "Takedown" for her 135-pound title on March 3 in Columbus, Ohio, a "one trick pony." She said this, of course, because Rousey has finished all of her opponents inside the first minute of the first round via judo throw into an armbar. Like clockwork. But Rousey asserts that Tate is only saying that because she has no footage to study and it simply shows her lack of knowledge: "I think it's funny that she says that because it's really because she has no footage to study of me. She doens't know anything that I do. She's only seen one of my tricks. And what she doens't realize is with a lot of those matches I did a different takedown, almost every single time, I did a different entry into the armbar a different time, and I did it from a different position every single time. So it might look like one trick to somebody else but there's a lot of knowledge and training that goes into being able to (do that). If you only see the finish, then you're not seeing the whole thing. I think that her saying that kind of speaks to what she doesn't know." So yes, Rousey is ripping arms off left and right but she's doing it in a completely new and beautiful way each and every time. And Tate's lack of acknowledging as much shows she's uninformed on such things, right? Either way, all this catty talking will come to an end in less than a month when the two meet in the Strikeforce cage to settle their differences. Anyone think "Rowdy" will add another limb to her already large collection?

Posted in: time, tate, rousey, she, trick

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Watch below as Ronda Rousey discusses her upcoming Strikeforce bantamweight title fight against Miesha Tate on March 3, having to do media with Tate leading up to the fight, her response to Tate's comments that she is just a one-trick pony, her new found fame and more.

Posted in: tate, ronda rousey, miesha tate, eye contact, tates comments

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While countless individuals may be impressed with what they’ve seen thus far from unbeaten Olympic judoka Ronda Rousey, one person who won’t be found among them is Strikeforce bantamweight champ Miesha Tate. Tate defends her belt against Rousey on March 3 in the main event of a stacked Strikeforce lineup where the 25-year old plans to drag “Rowdy” Ronda into deep waters when they face off to see how she reacts to an actual fight rather than an quick submission win. “I just want to frustrate her. I want to push her outside that minute and make her second-guess and wish she never wanted to take this fight,” said Tate while serving as a guest on Inside MMA. “I have yet to see Ronda actually fight. I’ve seen her go out there and do her judo or what not but she hasn’t ever brought a fight and that’s what I’m gonna do, I’m gonna make this a fight.” Though Rousey is 4-0 no opponent has lasted more than 49 seconds with her, leaving her cardio as being somewhat of a mystery. “Not to mention the weight cut,” Tate added. “This is his first drop to 135. Also, (there’s a) no-pound allowance. That’s going to change her body dynamics. The way she’s used to throwing people and having that weight behind her is gonna change.” In terms of the trash-talk from Rousey, Tate explained it motivates her when she hears it but for the most part she has her upcoming adversary tuned out. “I don’t really listen to much of anything Ronda says. I don’t watch her interviews,” stated Tate on the topic. “I get a little bit of that drift that comes through Twitter…half the time I really honestly think it makes her sound like an idiot. That’s just being brutally honest. I think she’s pretty delusional.” Check out the complete interview below: PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: fight, ’t, tate, fight ”, ronda

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

Strikeforce bantamweight contender Ronda Rousey has done an excellent job drawing attention from fans and media based on her outspokenness on a number of topics including fellow female fighters Cristiane Santos and Miesha Tate, the latter of whom she faces in headlining action at a Strikeforce event on March 3 in Columbus, Ohio. The organization’s divisional champion, Tate has been tuned in since the beginning and even fired back a few times, criticizing Rousey’s selection for a title-shot while pointing to the judoka’s lack of experience inside the cage. However, in the end it appears Tate has been more appreciative than upset regarding Rousey’s trash-talk, as it has lit a fire in her she hadn’t felt burning for some time. “I think it’s just what I need, actually. I think that I’ve been fighting for long enough that sometimes I get a little bit comfortable, that’s the truth of the matter. And when you don’t like someone, the idea of losing to them is just unbearable,” said Tate in an interview with MMA Heat. “I cannot think of losing to this girl, it cannot happen. My pride is on the line here, people. You don’t understand. It’s not just winning the fight or keeping my title, it’s like, this bitch is not going to beat me, there’s no way this is going to happen.” “I think, for me, it’s just going to make it that much more exciting because you’re going to see a much more exhilarated me, you’re going to see a much more pumped and vicious,” she continued. “I don’t want to just fight this girl, I don’t want to just beat her, I want to really hurt her. I really do, I want to mar her face if at all possible, that’d be nice.” Tate-Rousey Talk Future Match-Up The 12-2 Tate has won her last six fights while Rousey is 4-0 with four first round finishes, all by way of Armbar. Other bouts scheduled for the March event include Gegard Mousasi vs. Mike Kyle, Ronaldo Souza vs. Derek Brunson, and Josh Thomson vs. KJ Noons. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE Tweet

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, tate, hadn ’t, rousey

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Fight fans who have watched Strikeforce fighter Ronda Rousey do her thing in the cage have certainly felt compelled to give her a hand for her efforts to this point in her combat sports career. Harmless enough, but what you don't want to do is give her an arm. If you do, she's likely to break it -- out of habit if for no other reason. Rousey has taken the women's mixed martial arts (WMMA) scene by storm, winning all four of her professional fights by way of first round armbar submissions. Accordingly, one wouldn't think there would be a long line of ladies who are dying to get into the cage with her, after seeing the havoc she has wreaked on the limbs of those gone before them. That might ring true for most female fighters, but not Strikeforce's Miesha Tate, who will take on Rousey at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey on Sat., March 3, 2012, in Columbus, Ohio, for the Women's Bantamweight Championship. Tate was a guest tonight (Feb. 6, 2012) on HDNet's "Inside MMA" to discuss her upcoming fight, in which she confidently believes she should be favored: Rousey essentially got her title match by calling out the champion and getting the attention of the Strikeforce matchmakers with her bravado and aggressive tweeting. She's made it known that she thinks she can beat Tate and has even sounded a little cocky at points. According to Tate, she's not bothered by the banter. It just adds more fuel to her fire: "I don't really listen to much of anything that Ronda says. I don't watch her interviews. I get a little bit of that drift that comes through Twitter. When people say, 'Oh, you know she said this, she said that.' Half the time, I honestly think it just makes her sound like an idiot. I mean, that's just being brutally honest. I think she's pretty delusional. I have yet to see Ronda actually fight. I've seen her go out there and do her Judo and whatnot. But she hasn't ever actually brought a fight and that's what I'm gonna make her do...fight. Anything that she says is motivation, definitely." Everyone knows Rousey has ridiculous judo, jiu-jitsu and submission skills. Tate comes from a wrestling background, but she believes it's more than just her wrestling that gives her the edge: "That's why this fight makes for an interesting match up, because our strengths are in similar areas. We're both really great on the ground. I have wrestling, she has judo. I also feel like I have the edge on the feet and the experience overall. I've been doing this a lot longer. I feel like I'll be able to put it together better. When it comes to mixing everything and meshing it, it's gonna make for an awesome fight. I think people are really gonna enjoy and be entertained." On top of what she believes is a skill set advantage, "Takedown" also sees problems for Rousey that will be caused by her having to make the weight cut to 135 pounds; a reduction she's never had to make before in her MMA career: "Yeah and not to mention the weight cut. This is her first drop to 135. Also, no pound allowance. That's gonna change her body dynamics, the way she's used to throwing people around, having that weight behind her is gonna change. So it could even affect her in her training camp. The people she used to throw around...she's gonna be smaller. So, a lot of things are gonna be changing for her, this fight. We're gonna see how that works for her. I just wanna frustrate her. Push her outside that minute and make her second guess and make her wish she never wanted to take this fight." Of course she wants to win for herself and for the sake of successfully defending her recently acquired belt, but she also realizes that this fight is bigger than just her. It's bigger than Ronda Rousey. It's bigger than any of that. It's about putting WMMA on the map and maybe sending a message to UFC President Dana White in the process: "It's a huge opportunity. If the women can deliver, like I believe we're going to, it can say big things for our future -- not only in Strikeforce, but hopefully, eventually in the UFC." White has long said that there will never be WMMA in the Octagon, citing the lack of diversity and the amount of high-level female fighters in the sport as his reason for not wanting to promote it. Even if Tate and Rousey put on an amazing show, it still does not remedy the issue of the need for depth on the roster of really talented female fighters. Let's enjoy this female fight, and all others, while they last.

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, tate, rousey, she

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When Strikeforce returns to Showtime on March 3, 2012, at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, it will do so with a fight card headlined by a women's bantamweight championship bout. Miesha Tate will put her 135-pound title on the line against the Chael Sonnen inspired Ronda Rousey. And because "Rowdy" is doing so much talking, even dragging Tate's boyfriend into the discussion, "Takedown" wants to do more than just retain her belt. "I think it's just what I need, actually. I think that I've been fighting for long enough that sometimes I get a little bit comfortable, that's the truth of the matter. And when you don't like someone, the idea of losing to them is just unbearable. Like, I cannot think of losing to this girl, it cannot happen. My pride is on the line here, people. You don't understand. It's not just winning a fight or keeping my title, it's like, this bitch is not going to beat me, there's no way this is going to happen. I think, for me, it's just going to make it that much more exciting because you're going to see a much more exhilarated me, you're going to see a much more pumped and vicious, I think. I don't want to just like fight this girl, I don't want to just beat her, I want to really hurt her. I really do, I want to like mar her face if at all possible, that would be nice." Tate originally campaigned to defend her title against Sarah Kaufman, a woman she lost to earlier in her career and has been champing at the bit to avenge said defeat. Kaufman was going to get the fight, too, until Rousey stepped in and started popping off at the mouth, creating a firestorm on Twitter that helped reignite interest in women's MMA. In fact, she's been on a press tour the likes of which hasn't been seen since Gina Carano was in her heyday. All this to the dismay of Tate, of course, who is using Rousey's big mouth as all the motivation she needs to get up for their pending clash next month. If all goes well, it will be one of the most watched women's fights in the history of the sport. And, if all goes well for Miesha, Ronda will leave with a disfigured face. Should be fun. Hear more from Tate on her upcoming title defense after the jump.

Posted in: fight, title, tate, dont, rousey

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The dance card for Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” is now set, as promotion officials Friday announced the nine-fight bill.

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, dance card, bill, rousey

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With the event just a little less than a month away, Strikeforce officials have confirmed the bout arraignment for Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey, which goes down March 3 from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The main event features Miesha Tate defending her bantamweight title against Ronda Rousey. Tate is 12-2 in her career and 5-1 in Strikeforce, while Rousey is a perfect 4-0 and a former Olympian. In other main card bouts, Mike Kyle will square off with Gegard Mousasi in the co-main event, while K.J. Noons-Josh Thomson, Paul Daley-Kazuo Misaki, and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza-Derek Brunson complete the Showtime-televised card. The prelims for the evening, scheduled to be televised by Showtime Extreme, feature Alexis Davis-Sarah Kaufman, Caros Fodor-Pat Healy, Lumumba Sayers-Scott Smith, and Ryan Couture-Conor Heun. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, rousey, showtimetelevised card, bout lineup

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The lineup, including the preliminary and main cards, is set for next month's "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" event. The show takes place March 3 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The main card, including a title fight between female bantamweight champion Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey, airs on Showtime. Prelims air on Showtime Extreme.

Posted in: title fight, card, tate, rousey, columbus ohio

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The main card for the upcoming Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey card has been announced, as well as the preliminary card set to air on Showtime Extreme.

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, card, tate, rousey

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Undefeated prospect Derek Brunson will jump into the deep end of Strikeforce's middleweight division on March 3 as he faces former champion Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey.

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, derek brunson, derek

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It's always good to wake up to a story, and it's even better to wake up to a fresh bowl of Acai and my Shoyoroll gi freshly cleaned. Ah, wait -- that's everything I would say if my name was Ralek Gracie. I often wake up under the impression that I've somehow inhabited the body of Ralek Gracie and I instantly feel the need to drop another hip-hop single on YouTube. However, I was met with the stark reality that I'm not undefeated in MMA and I haven't defeated Sakuraba. I'm just a guy that loves MMA betting odds like any red-blooded American out there. Granted, if you're American and you don't have red blood -- you obviously need to tell me the secret of how you changed the color of your blood. I want to know. Today, it appears the betting lines for Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey have spread farther apart and now Ronda Rousey is a -375 favorite against a +275 Miesha Tate. To put it in perspective, James Toney was only a +350 underdog in Las Vegas before his MMA debut against a multi-title, hall of famer. That's only +75 higher than Miesha Tate, the current Strikeforce bantamweight champion. Below are the odds for the future match-up obtained from BetUS.com. Props to Esther Lin for the banner picture.

Posted in: mma, odd, tate, ronda rousey, miesha

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Luke Thomas talks to Scott Coker about Rousey vs Tate, King Mo and Cyborg's failed steroid tests and more. Read it at MMA Nation.

Posted in: luke, tate, scott coker, king, rousey

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Strikeforce women's bantamweight champ Miesha Tate readily admits she doesn't think Ronda Rousey is deserving of a shot at her belt. That said, she also realizes Rousey does possess legitimate grappling skills that must be addressed in their March 3 headlining contest. But Tate also believes her own skillset is being greatly underestimated by many MMA fans and pundits, not to mention Rousey. And while "Takedown" earned her fighting nickname due to her wrestling pedigree, she thinks "Rowdy" best be ready to throw hands.

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, mma fans, ronda rousey, rousey

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Strikeforce 135-pound women's number one contender Ronda Rousey makes an appearance on "Attack of the Show" in advance of her March 3 title fight against Miesha Tate at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The "Rowdy" one talks about her pending battle against "Takedown," the Twitter war against "Cyborg" and getting jumped in a movie theater. More on Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" by clicking here.

Posted in: tate, rousey, columbus ohio, show video, twitter war

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It might be happening a year later than expected, but Mike Kyle is set to square off with Gegard Mousasi once again. The light heavyweight battle, which could determine who fights next for the vacant Strikeforce 205 strap, will take place in Columbus, Ohio and serve as the co-headliner for the Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey event. News of the bout was confirmed by Kyle on his Twitter account. Kyle spent the majority of 2011 on the sidelines nursing a broken hand, but he returned in September to defeat Marcos Rogerio de Lima by unanimous decision. Since dropping to light heavyweight in 2009, “Mac” has won the King of the Cage and XMMA light heavyweight belts and defeated former Strikeforce 205 champion Rafael Cavalcante. In 10 bouts since 2009, the only time Kyle has suffered defeat was at the hands of Fabricio Werdum and Antonio Silva, which were both contested at heavyweight. When Kyle was just moving to 205, Mousasi was ruling the division in Strikeforce, having captured the title from then champion Renato Sobral. After losing the belt to Muhammad Lawal in April 2010, “The Dreamcatcher” has gone 4-0-1 in the fight fights since, winning the DREAM light heavyweight championship in the process. His most recent victory came this past December when he defeated Ovince St. Preux by unanimous decision. Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey is scheduled for March 3 at the Nationwide Area in Columbus, Ohio. The night will be headlined by a women’s bantamweight title fight between champion Miesha Tate and top contender Ronda Rousey. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, heavyweight, tate, kyle

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@danawhite @Strikeforce it's on march 3 Ohio baby. Mak Kyle and mossasi beast mode gerrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!about 3 hours ago via EchofonReplyRetweetFavorite@Mak4afightMikekyle Strikeforce’s March 3 card got two new additions today. The first lucky pair is Mike Kyle and Gegard Mousasi. MMA Junkie confirmed the bout will serve as the co-main event after Kyle announced the fight on Twitter. It’s unclear if the fight will be for the vacant light heavyweight title, but with King Mo likely out for the next year, it remains a possibility. As for the other match-up, MMA Fighting is reporting that Ryan Couture will take on Conor Heun in a lightweight bout. It’s unclear it will serve as a main card bout or a preliminary bout, but the latter seems more likely. Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” will be headlined by a women’s bantamweight title fight between Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey and will feature other match-ups such as Josh Thomson vs. KJ Noons, Kazuo Misaki vs. Paul Daley and Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis.

Posted in: strikeforce, bout, vs, tate, kyle

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A lightweight bout is headed for Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey with Conor Heun taking on Ryan Couture.

Posted in: tate, conor heun, heun, rousey, conor

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A lightweight bout between Conor Heun and Ryan Couture has been added to March's "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" event. MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the bout with event sources. "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" takes place March 3 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Columbus, and coincides with the annual Arnold Sports Festival.

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, conor heun, rousey

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: gegard mousasi, tate, mike, rousey, mike kyle

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Strikeforce returns March 3 to Columbus, Ohio, with a women's bantamweight title fight – and grudge match – between Miesha Tate and unbeaten Ronda Rousey.

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, march, miesha tate, columbus ohio

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” is official. Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” is scheduled to take place at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, March 3, and will air on Showtime at 10pm ET/PT. The card will be headlined by a women’s bantamweight title fight between Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey. “The energy in the city of Columbus is always incredible during the weekend of the Arnold and we can’t wait to get back there with this championship fight,” STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker said. “Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey is the title fight fans wanted and we were happy to give it to them. Miesha made a big statement when she submitted Marloes Coenen for the title last year. Now she meets one of the fastest-rising stars in all of mixed martial arts, unbeaten judo ace Ronda Rousey. Columbus, get ready, because we’re bringing a great night of fights to your city once again.” “I feel like Ronda will definitely be a challenge for me, but not one that I can’t handle,” said Tate. “Her Olympic experience is great, but this is MMA and her MMA career has been short. She hasn’t truly been tested yet and I plan on doing just that when we meet in Columbus.” “Miesha is a seasoned and respectable fighter, but she’s not a dangerous fighter,” said Rousey. “If she thinks she’s going to submit me, she’s got another thing coming. She’ll have her chance on March 3 and we’ll all find out who the best female MMA fighter in the world is.” A Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix final bout between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier was expected to headline the card, however Strikeforce officials had been waiting on Cormier’s medical clearance before they could make it official. Apparently they didn’t get it in time. Other bouts announced for the card include Josh Thomson vs. KJ Noons, Kazuo Misaki vs. Paul Daley and Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis. Ticket release dates: UFC Fight Club Presale: Wednesday, Jan. 18, 10am ET Public On-Sale Date: Friday, Jan. 20, 10am ET Tickets will be priced at $125, $75, $45 and $25. They can be purchased at the Nationwide Arena Ticket Office, all Ticketmaster locations, at ticketmaster.com or 1-800-745-3000. The latest Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” fight card and event info can be found in our fight cards section.

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Strikeforce on Tuesday made its March 3 event for Columbus, Ohio, official. Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey takes place at the Nationwide Arena the same weekend as the Arnold Sports Festival.

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey, strikeforce firms

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Tickets for the next Strikeforce event go on sale this week. With a heavyweight grand-prix finale between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier still in doubt and not currently slotted for the March 3 card, the show now has been dubbed "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey." The event, which takes place at Ohio's Nationwide Arena in Columbus, features a title fight between women's flyweight champ Miesha Tate and undefeated challenger Ronda Rousey.

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, daniel cormier, rousey, columbus features

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Event: Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" Date: Sat., March 3, 2012, at 10 p.m. ET on ShowtimeLocation: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio Main card (Showtime): 135 lbs.: Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey155 lbs.: K.J. Noons vs. Josh Thomson170 lbs.: Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki135 lbs.: Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis Preliminary card (May not be televised): TBA* *Fight card and line-up subject to change Note: The Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier heavyweight grand prix final has been rumored for this event but Cormier's hand is taking some time to heal and it appears entirely possible the bout won't be taking place on this card. If it does, however, it will be the main event of the evening. For all the news and notes surrounding the Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" Showtime card check out our extensive news archive by clicking here.

Posted in: vs, lb, card, tate, rousey

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It's official: Miesha Tate will defend her Strikeforce bantamweight title against Ronda Rousey in March. But Tate thinks Sarah Kaufman deserves the first shot.

Posted in: tate, march, ronda rousey, miesha tate, sarah kaufman

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It will be a grudge match in Ohio when Strikeforce bantamweight champion Miesha Tate faces Ronda Rousey on March 3rd at the promotion's next major event.

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, ronda rousey, rousey, ohio

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Rumors have been swirling for some time now that Miesha Tate would be defending her women's bantamweight championship against Ronda Rousey on March 3 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. And now it's confirmed. Strikeforce announced the bout last night (Sat., Jan. 7, 2012) during the "Rockhold vs. Jardine" telecast on Showtime, noting that Tate vs. Rousey would be the main event of the evening. That wasn't the plan originally, as the idea was to headline the annual show that coincides with The Arnold Sports Festival with the finale of the heavyweight grand prix. Unfortunately, Daniel Cormier, one half of that final, still hasn't healed up enough from his recent hand injury to lock his bout against Josh Barnett in for that date. Something tells me the lethal ladies will do just find in their place. These two have been going at it for some time now, both on Twitter and in interviews, most notably when they made a joint appearance on The MMA Hour where Ariel Helwani gave them the opportunity to air their grievances against one another. Rousey's main point was simple: she's a beautiful women who can tear opponents to shreds and she can give a damn good interview afterwards. That's enough to market a great fight and help women's MMA along in the process: "Sarah Kaufman kind of gives boring interviews, she's not a supermodel and the way she fights, she doesn't finish matches in extraordinary fashion. It's just kind of being realistic. I'm sorry that I have to say things bluntly and offend some people. I just want there to be a highly marketable, exciting women's title fight, and I want to be part of that because I feel like I could do a really good job, and you could, too. I think the two of us could do a better job of that than you and Sarah Kaufman. I really feel 100-percent that a fight between her and me needs to happen. It'll be great for women's MMA. It'll be the first highly anticipated fight in women's MMA for a long time ... We need to capitalize on the opportunity while we still have it. I don't want to risk her losing the title and us not being able to fight each other for the title." Tate, meanwhile, still doesn't believe Rousey should be able to move down to a weight class she's never fought in with just three wins under her belt as a professional and earn a title shot. "Takedown" wanted a rematch against Sarah Kaufman, not a showdown against the "Rowdy" one. "What happens when she gets a failed arm bar and someone ends up on top pounding her face in? Is she going to tap out or quit? We don't know. We haven't seen that yet. I think it's kind of silly to put her in with me because that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to take it to her. A lot of people are underestimating me. That's fine. That always seems to be the case. Make no mistake; if Ronda is my next fight, I'm going to come in with a vengeance you've never seen before, because to be quite honest, it's probably going to piss me off." Sounds juicy. Considering how wonderfully this fight has been marketed in social media circles, just think of the potential it has once the marketing gurus at Zuffa get their hands on it and start pushing. From now until March 3, it's all about Miesha Tate defending her title against Ronda Rousey. Anyone complaining?

Posted in: fight, title, tate, women, rousey

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Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate will face undefeated contender Ronda Rousey at Strikeforce’s March 3 event in Columbus, Ohio, the promotion announced during Saturday’s “Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine” broadcast on Showtime. Also confirmed for the Showtime-televised card were welterweights Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki, former lightweight champion Josh Thomson vs. KJ Noons, and former women’s bantamweight champ Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis. For the latest Strikeforce news and Strikeforce rumors stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com. Pictured: Meisha Tate

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, columbus ohio, showtimetelevised card

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Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsContrary to what Miesha Tate and Sarah Kaufman may think, Ronda Rousey is officially Strikeforce's No. 1 contender female bantamweight contender. During Saturday night's Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine telecast on Showtime, it was announced that Rousey will meet current 135-pound champion Tate on March 3. News of the fight was first reported by MMAWeekly.com earlier in the week. The announcement comes after weeks of debate from all corners of the MMA world about who Strikeforce should match Tate up against next. In the end, matchmaker Sean Shelby chose Rousey, the former Olympic judo bronze medalist who's 4-0 as a professional and has undeniably breathed new life into women's MMA due to her bravado. Tate (12-2) won the Strikeforce title in July when she submitted Marloes Coenen in the fourth round via arm-triangle choke. She enters the bout riding a six-fight winning streak. While not officially announced, the fight is expected to take place in Columbus, OH. Both Rousey and Tate appeared together on a recent episode of The MMA Hour to discuss who truly deserved a shot at the title. You can relive the episode here. As for Kaufman, she spoke to MMAFighting.com earlier this week about being passed over for Rousey. You can read her side of the story here.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, strikeforce, tate, rousey, miesha tate

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Tate will survive the first round after being taken down once or twice, and maintain distance with jabbing and front kicks. Rousey will be gassed by the third minute but will tough it out for 3 rounds, if it's a five rounder, the fight will stop by TKO at around mid-way of the fourth round in Tate's favor. Post your own predictions, they have to be at least as specific as mine, and the closest acceptable post will get Reddit gold on my dime. submitted by skaijo [link] [10 comments]

Posted in: round, tate, reddit gold, decision tate, meisha tate

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It’s looking like a much-anticipated Strikeforce women’s bantamweight championship bout between champion Miesha Tate and rising star Ronda Rousey is going to happen sooner rather than later. MMA Weekly reported earlier this evening that the bout is set for a March 3 Strikeforce event, however Rousey responded on Twitter claiming she hasn’t signed anything yet. Nevertheless, MMA Junkie is reporting that although it’s not finalized, Strikeforce has the bout is in the works. MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has confirmed with multiple sources that Rousey and Strikeforce 135-pound female champion Miesha Tate (12-2 MMA, 5-1 SF) are in ongoing discussions to meet at an as-yet-unannounced event expected to take place March 3 in Columbus, Ohio. However, at this time bout agreements have not been finalized and the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Assuming it comes together, it would mark the most hyped women’s bout in quite some time. Tate recently stated that Rousey doesn’t deserve the shot with only four professional wins, however women’s MMA needs all the big fights it can get these days and this is certainly one of them. Rousey may not deserve it on record alone, but you can’t dismiss the buzz she’s generated by winning each of those four fights in under a minute via violent armbars. I’ll admit it. I’ve struggled to get excited for women’s MMA in the past year, but this is definitely one fight I’m looking forward to. Image via Esther Lin for Strikeforce/Showtime

Posted in: mma, strikeforce, bout, tate, rousey

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The most discussed women's MMA match since Gina Carano vs. Cristiane Santos has been booked for Strikeforce's March event in Columbus, OH, as 135-pound champion Miesha Tate will defend against Ronda Rousey. MMA Weekly reported the news Wednesday night, but there have been no confirmations from either side as of this writing. Rousey (4-0) has risen to prominence by finishing all of her opponents by armbar in less than three minutes combined. The 2008 Olympic bronze medalist in judo asked for the Tate fight following her 39 second victory over Julia Budd in November, setting off a slew of social medial discussion on whether Rousey was ready and the state of women's MMA. Tate (12-2) has won six in a row, but hasn't fought since defeating Marloes Coenen by fourth round submission in July 2011. It was expected at one point that Tate would defend her title against former champion Sarah Kaufman, but that fight never materialized. Kaufman (14-1) hasn't competed since winning a decision over Liz Carmouche in July. On Twitter Wednesday night, Rousey said, "I haven't signed anything nothing is official everybody calm down" Wednesday while Tate alluded to the fight in some conversations with fans without any confirmation. The March event is expected to be on Saturday, March 3rd -- the same night as the Strikeforce Grand Prix Finals. With Strikeforce set to return to action this Saturday, a formal announcement could come this week.

Posted in: strikeforce, event, tate, march, rousey

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submitted by sicount [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: tate, march, rd, ronda, sicount

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Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey is easily one of the biggest, if not the biggest, women’s MMA fights on the horizon. If you ask Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate though, she doesn’t think Rousey is deserving of the title shot after only four professional fights. Video via FightHubTV

Posted in: title shot, tate, ronda rousey, miesha, fights video

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Current Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate spoke to our Fight Hub TV cameras recently in Las Vegas. Tate who was all dolled up for a MMA awards show, voiced her opinions on Ronda Rousey and a few other topics. Tate believes that Rousey has not earned a title shot at her belt and believes [...]

Posted in: title shot, tate, ronda rousey, rousey, topics tate

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Strikeforce Women's 135-pound Champion Miesha Tate, who was last seen in action submitting Marloes Coenen in July, discusses the ongoing challenges issued by Ronda Rousey, and explains why she feels "Rowdy" has not yet earned a title shot. Tate insists that, like herself and many other contenders in the division have had to do, Rousey must first pay her dues, and says that once she has done so, she'll have no problem accepting the fight.

Posted in: tate, marloes coenen, ronda rousey, rousey, miesha tate

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Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker talks about who gets the next crack at champion Miesha Tate. Is it Sarah Kaufman or Ronda Rousey?

Posted in: tate, miesha, rousey, sarah kaufman, sarah

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Ronda Rousey may very well get her wish to fight Strikeforce champion Miesha Tate after all.

Posted in: fight, champion, tate, rousey, ronda

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I've got bad news for myself all the depraved fight fans who thought they had a sneak peek at some Miesha Tate cheek. The portly posterior pic seen above, which made the rounds on the mixed martial arts message boards, is not a candid photo of the Strikeforce women's 135-pound champion. "Hell no," it isn't. Tate tweets: No that photo isn't even me that's the ridiculous part. I saw the pic n I don't think it looks anything like me I'm in way better shape, even outta shape ... hell no! If u wanna see what my butt looks like u can see it in FIGHT Magazine, not a trampy free pic like that. You can see the FIGHT! Magazine pics in question here. Looking good and kicking ass has become a hot-button issue in recent weeks thanks to the introduction of Ronda Rousey (and her incendiary comments) into the female fight scene. Does being one of the "beautiful people" create more opportunities? Or only if you exploit your physical appearance? And is it any different for men? Anyone think Georges St. Pierre and Junior dos Santos, both dominant UFC champions, are on an even playing field? Your thoughts on this topic?

Posted in: fight, tate, pic, part i, photo isnt

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [5 comments]

Posted in: tate, mattyblayze, finale, rousey, tuf finale

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Cris Cyborg hasn't fought in a year and a half and Gina Carano is off making action thrillers. Strikeforce was purchased earlier this year by a guy who hasn't been shy about his distaste for WMMA...Yet somehow, some way, the Strikeforce women's division is dominating just about every MMA messageboard like it was 2009. That's in large part thanks to amazing performances by Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey. Between the champ, Sarah Kaufman and Ronda, women's MMA is experiencing a revival so powerful you might think a necromancer is involved. LayzieTheSavage dropped by the Tapout training center in the surprisingly chilly Las Vegas and sat down with the Strikeforce women's bantamweight champ for a revealing and interesting interview about life, love and everything in between. Wrap yourself in a blanket, cozy up to your monitor and relax while Miesha Tate tells us stories. [Source]

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, women, miesha, miesha tate

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Jonathan Snowden asks "Is Ronda Rousey Vs. Miesha Tate A Money Match For Strikeforce?" Read it at MMA Nation.

Posted in: money, jonathan snowden, snowden, tate, rousey

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Ronda Rousey has sparked a lot of discussion about women's MMA since she stepped into the Strikeforce cage for the first time earlier this year. Two armbar wins in under a minute have earned him a lot of accolades, but Rousey's directness and honesty have earned her a lot of detractors. Namely, pretty much every other WMMA fighter. She has made no secret of the fact that she she's willing to market her looks in addition to her skill to get herself ahead of the pack. Last week Ronda was a guest on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, and she mades no bones about the fact that she wanted a shot at 135 lb. champion Miesha Tate, and she thinks she would beat her. Rousey believes, despite never competing at 135 pounds and only having four career fights, that a bout between her and Tate would sell better than a a second bout between Tate and Sarah Kaufman, despite Kaufman being the number one contender. This week, Ariel invited both Tate and Rousey onto the show. And as expected, they disagreed on just about everything. Tate believes that Kaufman and Alexis Davis should be ahead of Rousey, and Ronda needs to fight and win at 135 first. Rousey believes it's a better business idea to fight now: "I really feel 100 percent that a fight between her and me needs to happen," Rousey said. "It'll be great for women's MMA. It'll be the first highly anticipated fight in women's MMA for a long time ... We need to capitalize on the opportunity while we still have it. I don't want to risk her losing the title and us not being able to fight each other for the title." Tate stated that people only care because Rousey's attractive: "I think it's working because she's pretty," Tate said. "If you weren't pretty, it wouldn't matter what you said or didn't say. That's why you're getting this attention. I don't know, I guess I personally like more of a humble approach. You can say you want to be the Chael Sonnen of women's MMA, and Chael gets a lot of press and everything like that, too, but no one likes him." Rousey had a pretty obvious response to that: "Yeah, but he makes a lot of money and he gets a lot of title shots, too, doesn't he?" After some back and forth about what's fair and honorable, the topic switched to the real top contender at 135, Sarah Kaufman. And Ronda didn't hold back: "Sarah Kaufman kind of gives boring interviews, she's not a supermodel and the way she fights, she doesn't finish matches in extraordinary fashion," she said. "It's just kind of being realistic. I'm sorry that I have to say things bluntly and offend some people. I just want there to be a highly marketable, exciting women's title fight, and I want to be part of that because I feel like I could do a really good job, and you could, too. I think the two of us could do a better job of that than you and Sarah Kaufman." Kaufman had a pretty curt response to that when told about it later: "It would be way smarter for the longevity of the division to work her way up," she said. "If she runs through people -- which I don't think she will -- then I'll be happy to beat her face in. She wants to be pretty? She won't be as pretty after our fight." Does Rousey deserve the shot right away? I don't think so, but she makes some solid points. Promoters make bouts that people want to see, and people would be much more interested in Rousey/Tate than Tate/Kaufman 2. Still, she's no Brock Lesnar in terms of drawing money. Basically, I believe she's not valuable enough to skip the line, no matter how pretty or skilled she thinks she is.

Posted in: fight, tate, lot, rousey, kaufman

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The war of words between Strikeforce bantamweight champ Miesha Tate and undefeated Olympian Ronda Rousey heated up yesterday when the two talented females faced off to debate the issue of divisional contendership. Rousey, who has looked dominant in all four of her fights since crossing over from a career as a decorated Judoka, recently came forward to say she wanted a shot at Tate’s belt based on the buzz the bout would create, while the 135-pound title-holder has been adamant regarding Rousey’s need to wait her turn. “I really feel 100 percent that a fight between her and me needs to happen,” said the 24-year old Rousey on an edition of The MMA Hour. “It’ll be great for women’s MMA. It’ll be the first highly anticipated fight in women’s MMA for a long time … We need to capitalize on the opportunity while we still have it. I don’t want to risk her losing the title and us not being able to fight each other for the title.” Rousey supported her stance by referring to her ability to sell a fight to the public in comparison to other challengers, especially based on the marketability involved from an aesthetic standpoint. “Sarah Kaufman kind of gives boring interviews, she’s not a supermodel and the way she fights, she doesn’t finish matches in extraordinary fashion,” Rousey explained. “It’s just kind of being realistic. I’m sorry that I have to say things bluntly and offend some people. I just want there to be a highly marketable, exciting women’s title fight, and I want to be part of that because I feel like I could do a really good job, and you could, too.” Tate responded to Rousey’s claims by agreeing looks would play a significant role in the match-up being made if things go that route. “If you weren’t pretty, it wouldn’t matter what you said or didn’t say,” replied Tate. “That’s why you’re getting this attention. I don’t know, I guess I personally like more of a humble approach.” However, when it came to actual experience, Tate pulled no punches in her assessment of Rousey’s lack thereof. “What happens when she gets a failed arm bar and someone ends up on top pounding her face in? Is she going to tap out or quit? We don’t know. We haven’t seen that yet. I think it’s kind of silly to put her in with me because that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to take it to her.” “A lot of people are underestimating me. That’s fine. That always seems to be the case,” Tate continued. “Make no mistake, if Ronda is my next fight, I’m going to come in with a vengeance you’ve never seen before, because to be quite honest, it’s probably going to piss me off.” For now their rivalry will continue to simmer with no definitive indication of how Strikeforce will handle the female division in 2012 since the company hasn’t announced any events beyond December. That being said, with both being supremely skilled and under the age of 25, chances are this week’s run-in won’t be the last between the two talented ladies whether in terms of verbal exchanges or an eventual physical one. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: fight, mma, strikeforce, tate, rousey

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Filed under: Strikeforce, MMA Fighting ExclusiveJust four fights into her professional fight career, Strikeforce's Ronda Rousey insists that she is ready to face reigning women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate, and that the fight should be signed imminently. Tate, however, says that the young upstart is not quite ready for the increase in opponent caliber, and that she should wait her turn. The debate between the two stems from the fact that Strikeforce has yet to announce its intended direction for the division's future. For her part, Tate hopes to bypass Rousey's challenge in order to face Sarah Kaufman in a rematch of their May 2009 fight. In a charged, joint interview on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour, the two debated their opposing viewpoints on the 135-pound weight class. While Rousey believes that a title fight with Tate would be the most marketable women's fight available, Tate is skeptical about Rousey's experience level and thinks it would be unfair to see her leapfrog more seasoned fighters simply because she asked the loudest for a title shot. Tate opened up the proceedings with the first shot. "What happens when she gets a failed arm bar and someone ends up on top pounding her face in?" she said. "Is she going to tap out or quit? We don't know. We haven't seen that yet. I think it's kind of silly to put her in with me because that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to take it to her. A lot of people are underestimating me. That's fine. That always seems to be the case. Make no mistake, if Ronda is my next fight, I'm going to come in with a vengeance you've never seen before, because to be quite honest, it's probably going to piss me off." Tate said that she believes either Kaufman or Alexis Davis is more deserving than Rousey by virtue of their respective experience levels and longer histories of success. Kaufman -- a former divisional champ -- is 14-1 while Davis is 11-4. Rousey, meanwhile, is 4-0 after turning pro less than nine months ago. Despite her relative neophyte status in MMA, Rousey's early performances have been so dominant -- each win has come in less than one minute, and finished in arm bar submissions -- the thought of Rousey-Tate has grown steam as Rousey has continued her campaign for the slot. Rousey responded by noting that Strikeforce does not use a ranking system and simply looks for the fights that will make them the most money. In her mind, Rousey-Tate is the money fight. "I really feel 100 percent that a fight between her and me needs to happen," Rousey said. "It'll be great for women's MMA. It'll be the first highly anticipated fight in women's MMA for a long time ... We need to capitalize on the opportunity while we still have it. I don't want to risk her losing the title and us not being able to fight each other for the title." Tate said that Rousey's approach to it has been insulting to the other fighters in the mix, but Rousey justified her tactics, noting the attention it's gotten them in recent weeks. "I think it's working because she's pretty," Tate said. "If you weren't pretty, it wouldn't matter what you said or didn't say. That's why you're getting this attention. I don't know, I guess I personally like more of a humble approach. You can say you want to be the Chael Sonnen of women's MMA, and Chael gets a lot of press and everything like that, too, but no one likes him." "Yeah, but he makes a lot of money and he gets a lot of title shots, too, doesn't he?" Rousey responded, pointing out how much Sonnen's profile has grown since changing his promotional approach. After Tate pointed out that Rousey hasn't even yet competed at 135 pounds a single time, and should have to do so before fighting for the belt, Rousey made a different comparison, one to former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, who captured his title in his third fight in the octagon. That led to an interesting exchange between the two about a possible matchup. "What happens if I go out there and I just cream you?" Tate asked. "Then all your hype is just over. Then Ronda was just another pretty face." "That's a risk I'm wiling to take, and you should be willing to take some risks, too," Rousey said. "I'm willing," Tate said. "The longer you wait, the more of an advantage I'll have," Rousey said, predicting that she'll be improving at a faster rate than Tate in the future. Moments later, Tate shot back, saying, "I feel like you're being really selfish and only thinking about yourself." "If you want to be an idealist, go to the Olympics," said Rousey, herself a former judo Olympic bronze medalist. "Go do wrestling in the Olympics. There is no ranking system in the UFC or Zuffa. It's completely up to powers that be, and I think that us debating about it is kind of a moot point, because they're the ones who make the decision when it comes down to it, and they don't care about any rankings. They only are about what's going to sell tickets. You want to be an idealist? Go to the Olympics. I did that. I didn't make anything." Of course, there is at least one other side to this story, and it's Kaufman's. The former champion wasn't a part of the debate between the two although she did give her take later on. While Tate said that a rematch between her and Kaufman could sell based on the revenge angle, Rousey doubted it would be a big hit with audiences, saying it probably wouldn't gain much more interest than their first go-around. "Sarah Kaufman kind of gives boring interviews, she's not a supermodel and the way she fights, she doesn't finish matches in extraordinary fashion," she said. "It's just kind of being realistic. I'm sorry that I have to say things bluntly and offend some people. I just want there to be a highly marketable, exciting women's title fight, and I want to be part of that because I feel like I could do a really good job, and you could, too. I think the two of us could do a better job of that than you and Sarah Kaufman." The two ultimately agreed on little except that in the end, they would abide by the decision of the Strikeforce matchmaker Sean Shelby. That, and the fact that they hope to increase the number of eyeballs on women's MMA, though they disagreed on the method to do so. As for Kaufman, she is expecting the fight she was promised against Tate, and has no qualms about dealing with Rousey at a future date. "It would be way smarter for the longevity of the division to work her way up," she said. "If she runs through people -- which I don't think she will -- then I'll be happy to beat her face in. She wants to be pretty? She won't be as pretty after our fight." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, title, tate, rousey, kaufman

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Filed under: Strikeforce, Bellator, Rankings, Women's OverallRonda Rousey is the next big thing in women's mixed martial arts. The undefeated Rousey, who beat Julia Budd on the Nov. 18 Strikeforce Challengers card, has been running through her competition like few fighters, male or female, we've ever seen: Rousey is 4-0, and incredibly all four of her wins have come in less than a minute, all by armbar. Before turning pro she had three amateur fights, and she won all three of those by armbar in less than a minute, too. And so, although she's still new to the sport and still hasn't been tested against the best women Strikeforce has to offer, Rousey makes my Top 5 as we rank the top pound-for-pound fighters in women's MMA. She looks that good. What we don't know yet is whether Rousey is more than just a one-trick pony: If she faces an opponent who's able to keep the fight standing, will she be able to hold her own exchanging punches? And although she's not going to face anyone who's on her level as a judo player, will she be able to execute more than just her go-to arm bar if she faces an opponent who's sophisticated enough on the ground not to let Rousey get her arm? It remains to be seen. But I think she's a future champion, and I think she deserves her place on the list of the top women in the sport, which is below. Top 10 pound-for-pound women in MMA (Editor's note: The ranking from the last time we ranked women are in parentheses) 1. Cris Cyborg (1): After more than a year away, Cyborg returns to defend her women's 145-pound title against Hiroko Yamanaka. That's an interesting matchup; Yamanaka has a 12-1 record and will have a height and reach advantage over Cyborg. But Yamanaka has never fought outside Japan before, and Cyborg has been so dominant that at this point it's very tough to see anyone beating her. 2. Zoila Gurgel (2): It's unfortunate that after Gurgel's huge win over Megumi Fujii, she's only been able to fight once. She's currently nursing a torn ACL and won't be back any time soon. It would make sense for Bellator to arrange another women's tournament for the right to take on Gurgel, although it's not clear whether that's in the promotion's plans. 3. Miesha Tate (7): Tate turned in a great performance against Marloes Coenen to win the Strikeforce 135-pound women's championship. What really worked for her in the Coenen fight was her superior wrestling, and it's her wrestling that would make her a favorite to beat almost any female fighter in the world. 4. Megumi Fujii (3): In the year since suffering her one and only loss to Gurgel, Fujii has gone back to Japan and won a couple of unanimous decisions. I'd like to see her back in the Bellator cage in 2012, and a rematch with Gurgel would be the biggest women's fight Bellator could make. 5. Ronda Rousey (NR): Rousey has been calling out Tate, and although the next shot at Tate's 135-pound title was supposed to go to Sarah Kaufman, Zuffa may decide that Rousey is too hot to hold off on right now. Rousey is an easy sell for promoters because she's smart and articulate and an Olympic bronze medalist in judo, and putting her in the cage with Tate would be one of the most marketable female fights that Strikeforce could arrange. 6. Marloes Coenen (4): First Coenen lost her Strikeforce title to Tate, then she lost her contract when her management at Golden Glory feuded with Zuffa. Now it's anyone's guess when or where she might fight next; she's with an organization called BlackEye Promotions, which has no events scheduled. 7. Sarah Kaufman (5): Kaufman's only loss was to Coenen, and since then she's won two in a row, supposedly earning a title shot against Tate, whom Kaufman beat in 2009. The question is whether Strikeforce will push Kaufman aside to put Rousey in the cage with Tate. 8. Jessica Aguilar (8): Aguilar looked great in her unanimous decision win over Lisa Ellis-Ward at Bellator 58. Aguilar has now won seven of her last eight fights, with the only loss coming by split decision to Gurgel. 9. Tara LaRosa (6): LaRosa has been inactive since her great heel-hook submission of Carina Damm in March, and as a result a couple of more active fighters have leapfrogged her in the rankings. LaRosa is one of the real pioneers for women's MMA. Let's hope she's back in the cage soon. 10. Alexis Davis (NR): Davis has had a couple big wins since we last updated our women's rankings, beating Julie Kedzie by unanimous decision in July and then beating Amanda Nunes by TKO in September. I hope Zuffa keeps Strikeforce's 135-pound women's division alive, because Davis could be a great opponent for Tage, Kaufman or Rousey. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, women, rousey, she

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My days of slapping anything out of anyone's anything mostly consisted of friday night girl fights in the $1 movie theater parking lot in Willoughby Hills, Ohio. As much as I want to claim how hardcore and hood it was to grow up in that area and act like those fights were necessary for survival, I can't because everyone knows any place that includes 'Hills' in the name is about as gangster as Drake aka Aubrey from Degrassi High. Still though, I did have to take a few choice females to 'Smack a B****' University on a couple of occassions. One of them might have made the MiddleEasy Lessons in Street MMA hall of fame due to an effective trichtillomaniacal takedown manuever through a car window and then soccer kicks to the head for the win. What can I say, Pride inspired me back in those days. Ronda Rousey plans to lay the slap down on a few females too, but she is going to do it the professional mma way. First she has a fight coming up with Julia Budd this Friday night at Strikeforce Challengers and after that she is focused on her desire to make Miesha Tate pay for claiming via Twitter she could beat Ronda. check out this interview with Ariel Helwani where Ronda let's is be known she plans on 'slapping the title right out of Miesha Tate's hands'. [source] 

Posted in: tate, ronda, julia budd, title right, ronda check

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MMAjunkie.com Radio today welcomes to the studio Strikeforce champion Miesha Tate, "The Ultimate Fighter...

Posted in: radio, bryan, tate, mmajunkiecom, miesha

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The Strikeforce welterweight women’s champion, Miesha Tate, has signed a sponsorship deal with Toyo Tires. Tate wore the Toyo Tires logo on her fight shorts when she won the title from Marloes Coenen in July. Via Toyo Tires press release: Tate is a native of Tacoma, Washington, and was the 2010 WMMA (Women’s Mixed Martial Arts) Fighter of the Year.  Associated with Team Alpha Male, the 25-year old, 5-foot 6-inch Tate fights in the 135 lb. weight class and has a background in wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu.  In addition to wearing the Toyo Tires® logo on her fight shorts, Tate will also promote the Toyo Tires brand through appearances and additional marketing efforts. Payout Perspective: Even though many are counting down the days of Strikeforce, Tate has scored a sponsorship deal with Toyo Tires. Its a good deal since it involves her inside and outside the ring. This helps the Miesha Tate brand and forges her identity in women’s MMA. Certainly, with Gina Carano out of action, Tate is becoming the face of women’s MMA. Tate joins the Toyo Tires stable which recently signed Anthony Pettis and Mark Munoz.

Posted in: tate, toyo, tire, toyo tires, women

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