The case against an immediate rematch
Elias Cepeda: “Here’s another reason — Ronda Rousey has nothing for Holly Holm. Their first fight wasn’t close, controversial or even very competitive.”
Both #ANDNEW women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm and UFC president Dnaa White think that an immediate rematch makes sense. However, writer and fighter Elias Cepeda, writing for FOX Sports, took a contrarian stance.
He points out Rousey had a staggeringly hectic year with multiple movies filmed and released each with media duties, a NY Times best selling book published with media duties, and more UFC media duties than any fighter in history. Oh, and she had three title fights in nine months. And there are well publicized conflicts within her team, with her coach facing potential financial ruin. And she is now concussed and need plastic surgery on her mouth.
An immediate rematch between Rousey and Holm is the wrong way to go and you can take your pick of reasons why. Let’s start with this:
Rousey is banged up. Bad.
Now isn’t the time to continue to milk her further for cash. It’s time for Rousey to rest, to heal her body, and sort out her personal life.
Here’s another reason — Rousey has nothing for Holm. Their first fight wasn’t close, controversial or even very competitive.
If Rousey gets pushed into an immediate rematch, it wouldn’t be fair to other contenders or to the Rowdy One. The judoka needs time to improve her skills, after she takes time to rest and heal.
With all her previous dominance, it is easy to forget that Rousey has a fraction of the experience Holm does when it comes to fights where one can actually punch and kick.
That is to say, Rousey may have been talking about retirement lately, but she’s still a baby in fighting and can improve a great deal if she chooses. If she wants to beat Holm, she may need to.
I get it — Rousey makes big fights and makes money. An immediate rematch would only do favors to her promoter and her opponent, however, and none to herself.
The bantamweight division, and the UFC, with its exciting new champion, can take care of itself for a while.
Rousey has given enough. It’s time for her to take care of herself, now.
