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Mixed Martial Arts Top Ten Women: Ronda Rousey – The World’s Best

Ronda Rousey - The World's Best

Photo Credits:LA Times Blog

When we talk about the best female mixed martial artist in the world, we are referring to no one else but Ronda Rousey.

I know you may be surprised by this. Who will not be? Ruosey has just been in the industry for only less than a year! To sum up Rousey’s stats, she has fought five times, and won all fights during her less-than-a-year stay in the industry. She has finished all fights during the first round. Last Saturday, she has beaten the high level-opponent, Miesha Tate, in a very convincing and amazing fashion.

As we all know, the women who have been given the privilege to be the No. 1 mixed martial arts women fighters in the world— Crus Cyborg, Zoila Gurgel and Megumi Fujii—all have a significant strike in them. We will get to know what Rpusey has when we get past her.

Mixed Martial Arts Top Ten pound-for-pound women

(Editor’s note: Last time’s ranks are enclosed in parentheses)

1. Ronda Rousey (5): Tate is a very tough and amazingly strong woman, who entered last Saturday night with a 12-2 record, the best record she has ever had her whole career. Tate is also a smart fighter who knows how to execute a game plan. Using judo throw to get on top, in side control and then locking in an arm bar, Rousey is so good at what she does. Anyone can point out that Rousey is a one-trick pony, who doesn’t use anything, but rely on her judo skills and lock in arm bars. However, that’s almost like saying that Mike Tyson, circa in 1988, was also a one-trick pony who didn’t do anything other than knock his opponents out of the ring.

2. Cris Cyborg (1): She is now suspended because she has to undergo testing for performance –enhancing drugs? Some may say she doesn’t deserve to have a rank at all, but I don’t want to ignore the fact that she spent the last few years as the greatest force all women has ever seen. If you think that Cyborg won’t win in any fight once a steroid-fueled monster force her to get clean by drug test, well, that’s a valid opinion. Despite that, I still believe in Cyborg’s skills and talent as a fighter, one who will be prepared for big things once her suspension is done.

3. Zoila Gurgel (2): Known as the phenomenal fighter, Gurgel is in 11-1. Her one and only loss was during her fight with Tate, in which she fought above her natural weight class . On the other hand, she was the only person to ever beat Megumi Fujii. Unfortunately, she’s fought only once since beating Fujii. As of now, she is nursing a torn ACL. There still no word when she’ll be back.

4. Sarah Kaufman (7): She has presented an outstanding striking display in her victory against Alexis David, and she’s expected to be a tough opponent for Rousey. In Kaufman’s 15-1 career, she has won over Tate when it comes to her record and her MMA experience. In fact, even her striking acumen go far beyond Rousey’s. If she can execute a game plan where she keeps fight standing and can avoid Rousey’s clinch, Kaufman has a greater chance of winning that match.

5. Megumi Fujii (4): She is now whooping 25-1 after her first round submission wins against Karla Benitez on New Year’s Eve. A rematch with Gurgel is highly recommended for her career.

6. Miesha Tate (3): Tate greatly relies on herself to gain back strength after she got an elbow injury from Rousey’s arm bar. Despite this, Tate is still considered as an impressive fighter who just ran into a force of nature in Rousey.

7. Marloes Coenen (6): She lost her spot in Strikeforce because she has become a casualty of the battle between Zuffa and Golden Glory. A lot of people are still hopeful that she will be coming back. She could be a perfect match for Rousey in the future. In the meantime, on April 28, she has a fight with Romy Ruyssen.

8. Jessica Aguilar (8): Last month she beat Vidonic, and now on a four-fight winning streak since her split decision loss to Gurgel in 2010.

9. Tara LaRosa (9): She was once considered as the best female fighter in the world. LaRosa has been inactive for a year and largely forgotten by the public. As of now, she is just fighting in smaller promotions. I’ve waited to see her step into a cage in Strikeforce or Bellator.

10. Alexis Davis (10): He had put together a very game effort over Kaufman, fighting through the ugly cut and putting Kaufman in trouble on the ground at the end of the third round. She’d surely be a logical future opponent for Tate.