The gloves are off, as the UFC’s Ronda Rousey says she can beat boxing’s biggest draw in a “no rules” mixed martial arts-style battle in the ring.
Responding to a question during a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” session, Rousey laid down the gauntlet, claiming she would beat Floyd Mayweather — and anyone else — in her chosen profession.
“Floyd is one of the best boxers of all time. He would definitely beat me in a boxing match,” she wrote. “I unfortunately don’t get into ‘matches.’ I fight for a living.”
“In a no rules fight, I believe I can beat anyone on this planet. Boxing is a sweet science with strict rules that I respect very much and aspire every day to improve at. But you said ruleless fight, and that’s my honest answer,” she wrote.
Rousey and Mayweather have more in common than meets the eye. Both won Olympic bronze medals for the United States, with Rousey competing in Judo at the 2008 Beijing Games and Mayweather medaling as a flyweight in Atlanta in 1996.
Both are also undefeated as professionals, with Mayweather about to put his 48-0 record on the line — in what he says will be his final bout — against Andre Berto on September 12.
Rousey, the first and reigning UFC Women’s Bantamweight champion, is 12-0 since making her MMA debut in 2011, with nine of her fights lasting less than a minute.
In contrast with Mayweather’s defensive style in the ring — his smooth gliding for 12 rounds against Manny Pacquiao in May drew jeers — Rousey gets to the point quickly, with her previous three fights lasting a combined 64 seconds.
Rousey, who is 5’7″ and 61kg, would be giving up one inch and seven kilograms to Mayweather, along with a crucial four inches in reach.
“The Money Man”, however, does not find all the speculation amusing.
“You a comedian,” he said recently to a reporter when the prospect of fighting Rousey came up.
“I’m in the $100 million business, not the $100,000 business,” he said about MMA.
“I shouldn’t even be stooping to certain levels, because it don’t make any sense,” he added. “People that’s in MMA, I wish them nothing but the best. I don’t have anything negative to say about them.”
Those in the UFC camp, however, don’t classify the sport as beneath boxing, with Irish UFC fighter Conor McGregor calling for Rousey to take out Mayweather.
“Ronda would dismantle him in seconds — 100%,” he recently told the Guardian. “When you don’t know how to grapple you don’t stand a chance.”
“For us, it’s like playing with a baby. People who don’t understand the sport cannot understand how vulnerable they are,” he added. “There are always clinches and Ronda is a judo Olympian. She would throw Floyd on his head in a second.”
One thing is certain no matter who would land on top, should the two enter the ring: the event would command a massive global audience, and “The Money Man” — who owns Mayweather promotions — could be drawn to yet another payday once he hangs up his boxing gloves.
