Ronda Rousey’s training for bout against Holly Holm has been full of drama
Ronda Rousey, left, and Holly Holm strike the usual pose after their weigh-in Friday for UFC 193.
Ronda Rousey took a seat recently in front of a large group of photographers and reporters, taking stock of how big her events have become.
“Every time is a little bit more,” the Venice fighter said.
On Saturday night U.S. time (Sunday afternoon in Melbourne, Australia), Rousey’s attempt to remain the unbeaten Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s bantamweight champion will take place in a 70,000-seat outdoor stadium for the UFC 193 main event, scheduled for five rounds.
Her opponent is Holly Holm, 34, an experienced former world boxing champion who is 9-0 in mixed martial arts bouts.
Rousey remains a 1-20 betting favorite, but the champion has had a drama-filled training camp.
Her mother publicly criticized Rousey’s trainer, Edmond Tarverdyan. Rousey also faced questions from the media about an altercation with an ex-boyfriend that she detailed in her book, an incident she contends did not rise to the level of domestic violence. And UFC heavyweight Travis Browne generated plenty of attention last month when he said he’s in a relationship with Rousey.
The distractions “make me happy I have fighting. I’m happy to go inside the gym, instead of sitting on the couch,” Rousey said. “The crazier things are — the more chaotic — this is what I do to fix myself. Fighting is my sanctuary.”
During training, Rousey (12-0) refined her boxing skills because her trainer Tarverdyan expects Holm to fight from a distance to avoid a possible takedown by Rousey, a 2008 Olympic judo medalist.
“I hope [Holm] does box. Ronda can box. She has knockout punching power in both hands,” Tarverdyan said. “She proved that last fight. If Holly boxes with us, Ronda can show her skill. Regardless of how much [Holm] runs, we know she can’t hide.”
Rousey, 28, is in the midst of a remarkable streak, producing her last four victories in a combined 2 minutes 10 seconds. The stretch includes her armbar submission of Cat Zingano (14 seconds) in February at Staples Center and her knockout of Bethe Correia (34 seconds) on Aug. 1 in Brazil.
Time is precious for the popular Rousey, who has obligations connected to her stardom, such as a recent TV appearance on “Ellen,” and a ceremony marking a new Rousey mural in Venice near that of another compelling free spirit, the Doors’ Jim Morrison. Rousey has also agreed to appear in a film remake of “Roadhouse,” in the Patrick Swayze bouncer role.
“It’s all in peril right now. If I don’t beat Holly, I can’t revel in anything,” Rousey said.
When a title defense is over, she said, “It’s ‘What the hell did you do today? How did that just happen?’ It’s so quiet, your ears are ringing. Overwhelming happiness.”
Yet, the pressure that continues building through her walk to the octagon is what she thirsts for.
“If me and Holly were fighting alone in some high school gym, I wouldn’t do nearly as well as with the 70,000 and all the cameras,” Rousey said. “This is my environment.”
Tarverdyan is so in tune with the peak-performing Rousey that he precisely predicted how Correia would be knocked out by a punch and plunge face first to the mat.
“Great champions take the fight where it has to be,” Tarverdyan said. “We know [Holm] moves and that the distance is going to be an issue. We know exactly how to approach the fight. The outcome is Ronda’s going to win.”
Rousey became the first UFC fighter to appear on the cover of the boxing magazine The Ring last month, and says she’d be interested to see how a stand-up slugfest with Holm would transpire.
“This match would help to show my striking legitimacy with the boxing crowd, but it’s still a different sport,” Rousey said. “I’d only be able to prove it by beating a boxer in their own sport instead of mine.”
Ultimately, given how much attention she gives to boxing in training, Rousey said she’d like to add that sport to her already packed schedule.
“I want to be remembered as one of the greatest fighters of all time. I’ve got an Olympic medal. I’d want to retire from MMA as one of the greatest of all time and have the chance to be a boxing and jujitsu world champion … how that is possible, I’m going to have to figure that out,” Rousey said.
“But I’m trying … if anybody’s capable, I think I am.”
Twitter: @latimespugmire
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