Women’s BJJ competitors respond to Ronda Rousey

On Saturday night in the co-main event at UFC 175, Ronda Rousey fights Alexis Davis. This will be the first time Rousey has faced a BJJ black belt.

However, Rousey is not impressed.

“I thought, and still think, that I could beat any girl in the world, any weight division, gi or no-gi, black belt and in any ruleset they want, in just pure Jiu Jitsu,” she said.

The hardcore fanbase immediately wondered what Gabi Garcia would think of the comments. Garcia won gold in the heavyweight and open divisions 7 out of 8 times from 2010-2013. She is around 6′ 3″ and 240 lbs.

This is Garcia with her little friend Wanderlei Silva:

Brazil’s Gracie Mag surveyed some of the top women’s BJJ competitors for a reaction, including Garcia.

I rather believe she didn’t know what she was saying,” said Garcia. “It’s not possible for someone to display such a lack of humbleness. She disrespected Jiu-Jitsu as a whole. The first quality of a champion is to be humble and to respect others. As my Professior Fabio Gurgel said, I’m ready and at her disposal to fight her under any rules, with or without gi.

Other BJJ women’s champions responded as well.

Michelle Nicolini

Not even the best Jiu-Jitsu competitors would say something like that. No one is unbeatable… Talk is cheap when you never show up.

Bia Mesquita

All she knows is that armlock. She is a great judo fighter, but in a Jiu-Jitsu match all you have to do is pull guard and her judo is done… Jiu-Jitsu is much more than an armlock. It’s a lifestyle.

Hannette Staack

Personally, I think Ronda has no idea of what she is talking about… I would love to have the chance to change the way she thinks about us.”

Monique Elias

“Once I saw her defending a rear naked choke against Liz Carmouche with a bite. I think she has no technique to pass a guard, for instance. I think it’s time for the UFC to put real Jiu-Jitsu fighters to face her and not only promotion stunts.

Mackenzie Dern

IThat’s just wrong and disrespectful. If she lost in the Olympics, that means another woman was better than her. She has a lot to learn yet, including how to be more humble.

Janni Larsson

Statements taken out of context can always be misinterpreted. I am sure that Rousey can beat a lot of good Jiu-Jitsu players. I am not sure if she can beat the women in the bigger weight classes in IBJJF. I have a hard time believing that a girl at 60-70 kg can armbar Gabi Garcia, but I am not saying that it is impossible. I do believe that Rousey would do well in IBJJF if she knows/learns the IBJJF rules. If she feels that she needs to prove herself to the world she can start attending IBJJF competitions (if I remember correctly she is a purple or brown belt). I don’t really see the point in doing this though, she is currently the best in her weight class in MMA and she doesn’t have anything to prove. I am not sure how a BJJ match between her and me would go. I am however confident that she would kick my ass if we met in a MMA fight.