Nov 9, 2015
Road to UFC 193 paved with impressive victories
For the first time, two women's UFC title fights will headline a card as both bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk put their gold on the line at UFC 193.
For the first time, two women's UFC title fights will headline a card as both bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk put their gold on the line at UFC 193. Holly Holm and Canadian Valerie Letourneau will be the respective challengers Saturday in Melbourne, Australia; all four women enter the bout off impressive victories.
The Champions
Ronda Rousey def. Bethe Correia – UFC 190 (:34, 1st round KO)
After months of build-up and bad feelings, Rousey and Correia met in the main event of UFC 190 in Rio de Janeiro Brazil, the challenger's backyard.
The action was frenetic from the opening bell with both fighters exchanging punches before Rousey knocked Correia to the mat, from which she quickly regained her feet. Unfortunately for the Brazilian, she was only able to stay upright long enough to be straightened up with a knee to the stomach and an overhead right that sent her crashing back to the mat and ended the fight 34 seconds after it had begun.
"It kind of went how we expected," said Rousey after the bout. "I planned to, instead of trying to force a clinch, overwhelm her with striking first to force her to clinch and that's exactly what happened."
Joanna Jedrzejczyk def. Jessica Penne – UFC Fight Night: Jedrzejczyk vs. Penne (4:22, 3rd round TKO)
After punching out Carla Esparza to capture the strawweight title, Jedrzejczyk made her first defence against Jessica Penne in the main event of Fight Night 69 in Berlin, Germany.
The champion controlled the Octagon in a back and forth opening round that saw her land a few punches and show off one of her most underrated skills, stuffing takedowns. It was in the second round when Jedrzejczyk turned the fight in her favour with an elbow to the bridge of Penne's nose that opened her up and caused her to fight more defensively.
The Polish champion measured the challenger and picked her apart with precision strikes, though despite a one-sided beating, Penne survived to the third round. With her face a bloody mess, Penne attempted to slow the fight down with clenches and takedown attempts but Jedrzejczyk continued to land punch after punch until the referee finally stepped in and stopped the fight.
"I said before the fight that I had a few aces in my pocket," said Jedrzejczyk after the event. "So I dropped a few kicks and she was surprised, I think. I'm doing lots of wrestling and jiu-jitsu. I think I have other aces in my pocket, so wait for the next fight."
The Challengers
Holly Holm def. Marion Reneau – UFC Fight Night: Mir vs. Duffee (unanimous decision)
After a less than impressive UFC debut for the multiple time boxing champion against veteran Raquel Pennington, Holm was looking to take a big step towards earning a title shot in her second promotion bout against Marion Reneau at Fight Night 71.
Holm came out of the gate firing and showed the punching skill and movement that helped her become a multiple division champion in the boxing world and also mixed in impressive kicks that led her to easily capture the opening round.
The second round saw the fighters exchange fire, however once again Holm got the better of the majority of exchanges and seemed to be having her way with Reneau. The Albuquerque, New Mexico native was even forced to stuff a few takedowns which she accomplished successfully.
The fight had worn down Reneau in the third round and Holm took advantage, continuing to land with both her punches and kicks on her way to controlling the fight and capturing a unanimous decision victory (30-27, 30-26, 29-28).
"You know I think I showed more than the last fight, but I still want to show more," said Holm. "I always want to finish in there."
Valerie Letourneau def. Maryna Moroz – UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Oliveira (unanimous decision)
Heading into the bout many saw Maryna Moroz as one of the rising stars in the strawweight division and it was on shoulders of Canadian Valerie Letourneau to halt the hype train and put her name in the headlines at Fight Night 74.
Letourneau scored the first major blow of the fight when she dropped Moroz in the opening round with a right hand and went in for the kill looking for the early finish. Unfortunately for the Canadian she was caught in a triangle as the combatants battled on the ground and had to hold on for the end of the round.
In the middle frame, the Montreal native got the better of an exchange of punches and kicks as she found her foothold in the fight and turned the battle in her favour. Though both fighters looked hurt at times in the second round there was no danger of a finish on either side.
The third round was more one-sided and Letourneau took her opponent to the ground and from the top position controlled the fight and punched her way to a unanimous decision victory (29-28, 29-28, 30-27).
"I've never wanted to finish a fight so bad, but maybe that plays against me," said Letourneau. "I don't know. I've got to watch the fight. I wanted to have a beautiful win. That matters to me more than anything else."
