Ronda Rousey vs. Cyborg feud, Aljamain Sterling reacts to Merab snub & Cejudo to flyweight?

As a seasoned combat sports enthusiast with decades of experience under my belt, let me share my thoughts on today’s headlines.

In this fresh, daily feature, I’ll dissect news stories hailing from the realm of combat sports and share my unique perspective with you. Drop by each morning to catch the day’s major or intriguing updates, along with my insights on those stories, neatly presented underneath.

The Ronda Rousey vs. Cyborg feud is still going strong

The ongoing rivalry between Ronda Rousey and Cris “Cyborg” Justino persists even after Rousey’s retirement. In a recent chat with Chris Van Vliet, Rousey publicly criticized Cyborg over her history of steroid abuse.

After Gina Carano left, there was a significant increase in Cris Cyborg’s use of performance-enhancing drugs, which many found unacceptable. The interest in watching this suspected cheater waned significantly, leading to a decline in engagement. The women’s division was struggling, and the UFC’s acquisition of Strikeforce raised concerns that they would only keep the male talent they liked and dismantle the entire organization, as they had done with PRIDE and WEC in the past. This suggested that the end was near for Strikeforce.

As a passionate fan, I can’t help but express my feelings about this ongoing squabble. Truth be told, Ronda never seemed keen on facing Cyborg in the octagon, and it was always evident. It feels odd to see her mentioning her name now, seemingly to keep their names buzzing when she’s no longer competing.

Aljamain Sterling claps back at Dana White

As a gamer, I can’t help but notice the hype surrounding “the small scratch” even my boss is caught up in it. But Merab, he’s been spinning tales from his training camp, the highs, the lows, and everything in between, and folks just can’t get enough of him. There’s nothing dumb about it, full stop. He’s preparing, and as always, he’ll be here September 14th.
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) August 21, 2024

As a gamer, I’d rephrase that as follows: “Hey there, I can’t help but jump in on this one. You know Dana White, he called out Merab Dvalishvili for posting his training camp cuts online, labeling it ‘stupid’. But here’s the thing, folks love Merab for sharing his journey, the highs, the lows, and everything in between. There’s nothing dumb about that, no way! He’s preparing, as he always does, and we can expect him September 14th. I wonder if this is about betting odds or a potential fight cancellation? Seems like a big reaction to me, just my two cents.”

Regrettably, I believe that White is justified in this situation. Displaying the injury was imprudent and foolish on Merab’s part. Providing an opponent with knowledge of a potential weakness seems senseless unless it’s part of a strategy. However, it should be noted that White could have expressed himself more tactfully. We are all aware of how he feels about Merab, but his behavior doesn’t always reflect the best manners.

Henry Cejudo considering flyweight division

Henry Cejudo, the previous UFC bantamweight champion, is thinking about switching to the flyweight category. He mentioned that he might return to this weight class. There are several factors he’s pondering over, including a possible drop in weight. With the bantamweight division becoming increasingly competitive and welcoming new fighters, there have been discussions about him moving back down and facing Moreno for another title shot.

To be frank, it seems like Cejudo should consider hanging up his gloves once more. His comeback didn’t quite pan out as planned, and given his age and the toll cutting weight takes on a fighter, I’m not confident that continuing in this sport is the best choice for him at this point in his career. He deserves to preserve both his career and his legacy from further potential damage.

2024-08-22 03:43