As women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey continues to outclass her opponents, fans and pundits continue to clamour around the one name they believe could provide a worthy challenge for the Olympian: Cris Cyborg.
However, others consider the match-up nothing more than a pipe dream, given that Cyborg is yet to prove she can even compete in the 135-pound division. She has contemplated the drop in weight numerously, yet ultimately gives it up each time around. Now, she is after a 140-pound catchweight contest against Rousey.
Ronda's head coach Edmond Tarverdyan, however, is not impressed.
"I'm sick and tired of hearing that girl's name," Tarverdyan told Submission Radio. "It really doesn't matter what she says. She knows where Ronda is and the UFC is ready. Dana and everybody are ready to sign her, and even though Ronda's the best in the world, we don't even need her in the way, you know? She just talks for no reason, you know? Don't talk, make the division, come to the UFC, and we're ready to fight.
According to Tarverdyan, the only obstacle in this superfight's path is Cyborg's inability to make the bantamweight limit. Once she makes weight, Rousey will be waiting.
"If you're telling Ronda you're fighting tomorrow, she's making the weight. Ronda will make the weight definitely within the day. 100 percent Ronda would make the weight in one day. She's done it before in the ultimate fighter. How does Ronda make weight in one day? She lost all of that weight, 20 pounds - more I would say - in one day. So Ronda will fight her tomorrow. That's 100 percent a fact. I know my fighters. We can't lie about things like this, because if we lie, we can't be true to ourselves when we train, and when I talk about Ronda, everything is a fact. Everything is true."
While many believe this would be a classic striker vs. grappler match-up between Cyborg and Rousey, Tarverdyan is confident that Rousey is the better athlete in both aspects of the fight game.
"No way, Ronda beats Cyborg any given day in striking. Cyborg fought a Muay Thai girl - and we have coaches that have trained with her too. We know her - she [Cyborg] got dropped with a push kick (laughs) on her face. No way. You know, Ronda has sparred with the best female Muay Thai champion in United States. They know Ronda is the best of all of them. It's not only the best. [In] 14 ounce gloves, they're most of the time they're on the floor and getting up, you know?
"Ronda's too good for her."
Transcription taken from Submission Radio.
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