THE BAR WILL BE RAISED IN THE UFC

FEATURED IN THE MARCH 2013 ISSUE OF THE UCW MAGAZINE www.ucwmagazine.com 

After Saturday February 23, 2013 the world of the UFC’s female division will never be the same, in an historic bout pitting two true warriors against each other that is sure to be a clash like none other. This bout is so huge for UFC 157 that it is headlining all the advertising collateral that the UFC has distributed, this also includes the commercials that have been run to promote the event.

Now I’m not going to talk about stats of either Ronda Rousey or her opponent Liz “Girl-Rilla” Carmouche, the reason for this as you are only as good as your last fight and this match up in the UFC female division will not only raise the bar but set the stage for what is expected from female competitors in the UFC.

Rousey has serious credentials coming into the world of MMA , she was the FIRST American woman to earn an Olympic medal in Judo, that is some serious business. She is the beauty that definitely can beat the hell out of the beast in the cage but she does have a heart. I know that she took the time to roll with an 11 year old with a major kidney disease in Tyler Ransom from California. She is possibly the best representation for the entire sport of MMA in the female division, this spans beyond the UFC but including Bellator as well.

Carmouche is no slouch, she may be coming in as an underdog in this matchup but this Ex-Marine has a strong background in Kenpo and BJJ, I was there in Columbus, Ohio when she stepped in on short notice to face Marloes Coenen on the Strikeforce Feijao vs Henderson card and I think that she has the skills to take this to the mat with Rousey.

Of course everyone has witnessed the fierce armbar or lets call it the “RONDBAR” that Rousey has inflicted on a slew of opponents within the first round of her bouts but I’m sure that Carmouche’s camp has fully prepared her for the traps to avoid during the bout. I think in the end as UFC 157’s main event unfolds you will find both of these women putting their all into this history making card and for the sake of the fans I hope to see it go the distance and it just may.

My prediction for the bout is Rousey coming out as the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion but I do not think it will be as simple as a “RONDBAR” , I see this going the distance and it will be one of the most fierce female bouts probably in MMA history. Well this is what the media and fans are hoping for so lets hope that this is what we get.

Follow both Ronda Rousey @rondarousey and Liz “Girl-Rilla” Carmouche @iamgirlrilla on Twitter as the clock ticks down to history!!

- Louis Velazquez