Sporting an undefeated record (7-0), and an impressive background in grappling, wrestling and freestyle wrestling, Sara McMann has all the tools to beat former Olympian, Ronda “Rowdy” Rousey (8-0) in UFC 170.
No one’s been able to even compete inside the octagon with Rousey, but at UFC 170, she’s about to run into an opponent she’s never seen anything like before.
One of the big differences between McMann and Rousey’s other opponents is her advantage in grappling.
As everybody can see on paper, McMann has a grappling pedigree that’s not seen in the octagon often, outside of Rousey herself, who was the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in 2008, with a bronze. This will not only be the first time Rousey won’t have the edge in grappling—which she uses often—as all of her eight victories in her career has ended by armbar, but she may even be at a disadvantage.
McMann has a lot of power in her takedowns, plus with her control from top position, rivals no other woman in MMA. This writer feels that this fight will come down to other scenarios.
Striking will play a big key in this fight, which again the edge going to McMann. If nobody has witnessed McMann’s standup game, then you’ve missed her Berzerk type style, because she comes in fast, winging straights, hard, and often.
It will be very interesting to see what Rousey decides to do with that style. Does she try to stand and “bang” with Sara? Or does she try and grapple with her, and put Judo against wrestling?
Now, the only question mark on McMann’s end is she hasn’t fought since last April, so ring rust could be an option, but that fight in April, she disposed of Gaff in the first round of that bout.
So the question is can McMann be the one to finally beat Rousey inside the Octagon?
Yes. She definitely can, and Sara more than anybody can’t wait until that Octagon door shuts, and Bruce Buffer leaves behind it. It’s going to be a great Saturday night.
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