IN my over two decades of covering sports, I have always proven that the saying “magnanimity in victory and grace in defeat” always rings true.
Some athletes sell themselves by showing off, looking intimidating, talking big and not shaking the hands of opponents.
Others tend to be carried away by success. But sports fans cannot be deceived, they know if it’s for real or not. Perhaps, that’s what they saw on Ronda Rousey, the fallen MMA champion.
Prior to her fateful loss in the UFC 193 more than a week ago, Ronda was on top of the world. For her, taking on Holly Holm was going to be a walk in the park.
But Holm, a three-time boxing champion, had other things in mind and ended up exposing Ronda.
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Holm did what she does best, punishing Rousey with solid punches—mostly by using her effective left hooks—finishing her off with a big head kick for the KO win in the second round.
The world was shocked not only because of the knockout, but by the way Holm essayed the win, making it so lopsided and taking in what Ronda had to offer.
At the weigh-in a day before the fight, Rousey tried to make it personal by intimidating and talking trash to Holm, who remained calm and composed.
Before the fight, the poker-faced Rousey refused to touch gloves. Two rounds later, Rousy crashed back to earth.
Holm, a preacher’s daughter, immediately offered peace though and hugged the still stunned Rousey.
It was a scene that was a stark contrast to the one when Rousey beat Meisha Tate for the knockout win few months ago. The beaten Tate extended her congratulatory hand after the fight, but Rousey ignored the offer and proceeded to celebrate her victory in the cage.
In the week that followed the day Holm crowned herself the new UFC women’s bantamweight champion, experts gave their cent’s worth trying to figure out where Rousey had gone wrong.
Some said her coach had the worst plan by allowing Ronda to pursue Holm all night.
Elite trainer Freddie Roach said nobody taught Rousey any boxing. Well, Rousey definitely looked like an amateur fighter out there.
They also said Rousey was not at her best during the fight because she was too confident against Holm, who it turned out, prepared hard in training and defended well against the arm-bar attempt of the Olympic judo medalist. Holm also reversed Rousey’s takedown charge.
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What observers did not emphasize was that Rousey was fighting a southpaw. Even if Rousey trained for years in boxing and made herself a contender, she would definitely find it hard against a lefty like Holm.
In boxing, orthodox (right-handed) boxers find it difficult to solve southpaw fighters. Boxing greats like Antonio Barrera, Miguel Cotto, Oscar de la Hoya, to name a few, suffered crushing defeats against southpaw Manny Pacquiao.
An orthodox fighter’s better chance against a southpaw is to counter-punch. Just like what Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez did in his last fight against Pacquiao.
With the aggressive, plodding style of Rousey, she was definitely a sucker for those solid left hooks by Holm, who completely dominated the fight.
There is no doubt though that Ronda would be back. She’s talented and has a champion’s heart. Next time, however, she has to throw her emotions to the trash bin and fight tactically.
And please, Ronda, touch gloves with your opponent before the fight. It’s a gesture that gives essence to what fight sport really is all about.
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