"Rowdy" Ronda Rousey is set to square off with Sara McMann, an elite wrestler, at UFC 170 next month just a few short weeks after defeating Miesha Tate. As fans are moving on from her handshake fail with Tate, a bitter rival, they're beginning to recognize the threat posed by McMann.
Rousey, who is 8-0 in her MMA career with all eight victories coming via armbar, knows that beating McMann by tossing her to the mat and submitting her will be very difficult, thanks to her extensive wrestling background. That's why she could be enlisting the help of former Bellator featherweight titlist Joe Warren, the self-professed "baddest wrestler there is."
"Looks like I might be helping Ronda in the wrestling regard," Warren said. "I'd be happy to help either one of them; they are great fighters. We can't ask for two better women to get in there and get after it.
"I think it's my wrestling credentials and maybe (knowing McMann). I understand MMA wrestling better than anybody else. It's a whole different thing than wrestling. They are smart, technical fighters and I'm the baddest wrestler there is. If you can get me to come help you, it's gonna be great."
While Rousey excels at judo, even tutoring from Warren won't be enough for her to go toe-to-toe with McMann if the fight becomes a wrestling match. McMann was a silver medalist at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. She is the first American woman to ever win a silver medal in wrestling.
McMann is 7-0-0 in her career, despite not enjoying the same publicity as Rousey. Her fights also tend to be less explosive than Rouseys, with several victories coming by decision. Her last fight, however, against Sheila Gaff, ended in the first round by TKO. She took down Gaff twice, and landed eight strikes in the win.
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