If you tuned into this past weekend’s UFC 175 event, you saw UFC Female Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey take out Alexis Davis in less than 20 seconds with an assault that left no doubt who number one is in the women’s divisions. Rousey re-asserted herself as head and shoulders above the UFC talent level in her weight division.
The fact is that the UFC and Rousey both are going to want her to return to the octagon as soon as possible. Rousey sustained a cut on her hand in the furious 16 seconds against Davis, requiring 9 stitches and a commission approval before she fights again, but that is all academic as the UFC needs her drawing power.
But will she be a draw against anyone on the UFC roster? At this point the answer is no, as there is no one on the roster who has defined herself as a potential nemesis to Rousey’s dominance. So the question becomes, when will the UFC stop just talking about it and sign Cristiane Justino and Gina Carano. That is right, ‘and’.
There is no one on the UFC roster right now who can compete with Rousey, or even justify a title shot. By running over Alexis Davis, Rousey is almost forcing the UFC’s hand – if they want her drawing power on a UFC card, they are going to have to go out there and find someone for her to fight.
At this point, even Carano and Justino will be big underdogs against Rousey. Carano has not fought in over 5 years, and Justino too has not competed in MMA in a year, and she has lost on the kickboxing circuit. The longer the UFC waits, the wider that line is going to get between the two women who could make it interesting against Rousey.
The UFC should rush Carano into a match with Rousey, preferably on New Years eve this year. Get Carano training again and spark up the media machine. In the meantime, sign Justino and let her fight a few introductory matches in order to build up steam and challenge Rousey post-Carano.
There is nothing else the UFC could do. What is the over under that the UFC brass has talked about pitting Ronda Rousey against Urijah Faber? It might be a heck of a match……
