Ronda Rousey may be one of the best female fighters in MMA history, but her last fight in the sport she once helped break into the mainstream was anything but great.
Just over a year after being brutally knocked out by Holly Holm at UFC 193, the legendary former Olympic medalist and world bantamweight champion walked into the lion's den… Or rather, the lioness' den – never to return to return.
Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Ronda Rousey ate a brutal 14-punch combination from the MMA GOAT
Eight years ago this week, Ronda Rousey was beaten from pillar to post by the greatest female fighter in mixed martial arts history: Amanda “The Lioness” Nunes.
Heading into the title fight at UFC 207, Rousey had been imposed a media blackout but still entered the octagon in 2016 as a significant betting favorite – thanks in part to the UFC marketing machine firmly behind her.
But as soon as the opening bell sounded on that fateful night in Las Vegas, almost everyone in the T-Mobile crowd knew what was about to happen… One of the most brutal one-sided beatdowns in UFC championship history.
While Rousey looked slow and stiff, Nunes was fluid and imaginative, tagging 'Rowdy' with a beautiful one-two after just 13 seconds; and from then on things only got worse for the former champion.
27 significant blows, 23 of which landed to the head – by the time the clock reached 48 seconds the fight was over, with Nunes' final attack including a whopping 14 unanswered punches.
'The Lioness' would go on to claim champion status and cement herself as the greatest female fighter in MMA history; on the other hand, that last time we saw 'Rowdy' compete in the octagon.
Veteran commentator Joe Rogan later claimed that UFC 207: Rousey vs Nunes was the 'least competitive' main event in the promotion's history.
Joe Rogan said Rousey vs Nunes was 'the least competitive' main event ever
Joe Rogan had already watched and commented on his fair share of title fights through UFC 207, but speaking on the JRE Podcast a few days after the event, he labeled Nunes vs Rousey as the “least competitive” of the bunch.
“UFC 207 was one of the craziest events of all time and seeing that main event was surreal, but it was also bizarre because that was the least competitive main event – apart from Aldo vs McGregor – everything about that [fight] was disabled.
“The idea of standing next to Amanda Nunes is just ridiculous, the difference in punching power is literally double – Amanda hits twice as hard [as Ronda].”
Rogan pointed out that as soon as Nunes got that first big shot, Rousey looked like she was about to get out of there.
“The moment she gets hit she doesn't move her head at all, she's standing straight up in the air and then I see her legs come close together and that's when you know someone is really hurt.
“She was probably hurt, like the second or third punch Amanda hit her with… I think when Amanda hits girls they just say 'Holy S***'… She got hit by the biggest 135 pound powerful puncher there there isn't a single girl in that division who hits like Amanda does.
While Rousey found success in the WWE, Nunes put her career on hold last summer – although 'The Lioness' is still being drafted for a 2025 superfight by her former rival, Julianna Pena.
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