Ronda Rousey is the shining star this weekend after she once again easily dispatched her title challenger in less than a minute. The reigning UFC women’s bantamweight champion submitted the previously unbeaten Cat Zingano in just 14 seconds, making it the fastest finish in UFC championship history and the fastest submission in the Zuffa era. With viable challengers dwindling, it’s been semi-seriously suggested that Rousey start fighting her male bantamweight counterparts. Prior to last Saturday’s UFC 184, analyst Joe Rogan told ESPN’s Dan Le Batard that she could beat half of the men’s roster. (Transcription via MMA Fighting)
“There’s a lot of guys her size she could beat,” said Rogan. “I mean, a lot. If you took the roster of the UFC’s bantamweights, 135 pounds, and you paired them up against Ronda Rousey, she might be able to beat 50 percent of them. That’s not a joke.”
Rogan didn’t stop there. What prevented him from going above 50% is that women don’t absorb punches the same way men can. If they could, then the percentage goes up by 10.
“The ability to take punches is a significant difference,” said Rogan. “The structure of the face, the muscles in the neck. Women just cannot take the same kind of punches that men can. That’s the only reason why I only give Ronda a chance at beating 50 percent of the men. If she could take the kind of punches that some of these guys might possibly land it might get up to like 60 percent. She’s a truly special talent.”
That’s a pretty bold statement to make, because according to Zane Simon’s UFC roster table, there are 52 men’s bantamweights. In Rogan’s opinion, Rousey is not only the best women’s bantamweight on the planet, she could potentially be a top 25 fighter if she competed in the men’s field.
Rogan did admit in the same interview that it’s unlikely we ever actually see Rousey fighting a man in the UFC.
About the author
