Ronda Rousey at the beach talking Saturday’s D’Alelio fight
Ronda Rousey: What You Need to Know By Jim Genia The real reason to tune in to Strikeforce Challengers 18…
Ronda Rousey: What You Need to Know
By Jim Genia
The real reason to tune in to Strikeforce Challengers 18 is to watch someone who may very well be the future of the women’s 145-pound division (if the division has a future).
Rousey’s got a got a fourth degree black belt in judo. At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, she became the first American female to medal in the sport (she got a bronze) at that level.
Rousey’s had three amateur MMA bouts and two pro, and she’s won them all via armbar in less than a minute. Granted, the biggest name opponent she fought was Ediane Gomes (maybe a top fifteen fighter at best), but still, that’s an impressive string of victories. The less than a minute part tells us that she’s pretty damn aggressive. Also, very good at armbars.
If Rousey comes out Friday night and stinks up the joint – by losing, by getting opponent Sarah D’Alelio down and simply laying on her, by getting stage fright and hiding in her dressing room – that’s a blow that could for sure sound the death knell for the fairer sex’s version of cagefighting. However, if Rousey comes out and thrills us in breathtakingly-exciting fashion – by wowing us with a judo throw, by cutting through D’Alelio like a hot knife through butter, by making us say Great Jigoro Kano’s ghost! – well, that could be just what the doctor ordered for the ailing division.
Strikeforce Challengers 18
August 12, 2010
The Pearl at The Palms Casino Resort
Las Vegas, Nevada
Main Card
Jorge Gurgel vs. Joe Duarte
Nate James vs. Danillo Villefort
Pat Healy vs. Eric Wisely
Sarah D’Alelio vs. Ronda Rousey
Roy Jones Jr. vs. Derrick Mehmen
Prelim Card
Keith Berry vs. Gian Villante
Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Lukasz Les
Mike Bronzoulis vs. Chad Leonhardt
Sterling Ford vs. Milton Vieira
Main card airs live on Showtime in the United States at 11:00 p.m. ET
(delayed on West Coast until 11 p.m. PT)