Ronda Rousey became the UFC women’s bantamweight champion, and the biggest star in mixed martial arts, by overpowering opponents from the get-go and finishing them quickly. Following the first loss of her career to Holly Holm, however, one expert believes that strategy is now obsolete.
Rafael Cordeiro, the striking instructor for UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos, thinks caution and strategy should be her new approach.
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“I think (Rousey) has to change her mind about go straight all the time,” Cordeiro told MMA Fighting. “I think the way she ran against Holly was a little bit... She anticipated what she wanted to do. I expect Ronda to throw a punch and grab. I think me and all over the world expect the same thing. Punch and find for short distance, and grab.”
Holm, one of the best women’s boxers of all-time, was expected to struggle vs. Rousey once the fight went to the ground, where Rousey is a submission expert. Holm didn’t allow the fight to get there, controlling the action with her boxing, and picking apart Rousey’s reckless charges.
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Cordeiro said that style, while entertaining, is more befitting a challenger than a champion of Rousey’s stature.
“When you have a belt, when you have a championship in your hands, you can't run straight to your opponent as a crazy. You can't do this anymore.”
Rousey is going to be out of the octagon for at least six months on the UFC’s orders. Rousey was given a 180-day medical suspension after Holm’s brutal knockout, although that can be reduced at some point based off CT tests. When she returns to the octagon, presumably against Holm, Rousey will hopefully return with improved boxing skills, and most notably, tightened-up defensive skills.
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