Ronda Rousey is getting an immediate opportunity to avenge the biggest upset in UFC history. President Dana White recently confirmed that the superstar will face champion Holly Holm in a rematch scheduled for its milestone UFC 200 card set for July 9 of next year. It’s already one of the most compelling bouts of the year, and you can bet on it right now at BookMaker.
UFC 200 odds at BookMaker.eu
Ronda Rousey -155
Holly Holm +135
Over/under 1.5 rounds, over +115, under -145
ODDS ANALYSIS
I’m flummoxed by the fact that Holm is the underdog after putting on such a dominant performance against Rousey. It’s not like she caught her with a lucky punch or anything - Holm not only completely outclassed Rowdy, she literally knocked a few of her teeth loose and left her unconscious on the mat. We’ve also got an extremely low over/under for a five-rounder, but that’s to be expected as Rousey’s fights are always short.
CAN ROUSEY BOUNCE BACK?
Rousey lost so much more than her belt to Holm. She lost her aura of invincibility and much of her star power. In a stunning turn of events, millions of fans jeered at Rousey after her loss, taunting the once untouchable champion. Celebrities like Lady Gaga took Rousey to task on social media and celebrated her comeuppance. Quite frankly, I’ve never seen anything like it in MMA.
For a while, it seemed that Rousey was a generation ahead of her competitors. Nobody seemed like they could handle her savage physicality and her victims quickly piled up. But that all changed when Holm stepped into the cage. Employing the perfect game plan, Holm exposed Rousey’s lack of technical ability and gave her the worst beating of her life.
Rousey recently opened up in an ESPN interview, stating “It might be three to six months before I can eat an apple, let alone take an impact.” Given that it’s currently December, a July booking seems a bit ambitious for a rematch. Even if she resumes training in three months, it doesn’t leave much time for her to put together another training camp and fix some real flaws in her game.
What’s more, Rousey publicly stated that she would stick with coach Edmond Taverdyan, who many have lambasted for his poor coaching during the fight with Holm. You won’t find a single top trainer who believes that Taverdyan is capable of maximizing the potential of elite athletes.
Holm’s camp has also openly begun campaigning for a match with Miesha Tate, which I believe would be to Ronda’s benefit. Why would you throw one of your biggest stars right back into the cage with the opponent who crushed her physically and mentally? I understand that an immediate rematch would equal huge sales, but letting Rousey gain her confidence back against other fighters would build the hype just the same.
The stakes have never been higher for Rousey. “I guess it’s all going to be determined by what happens in the rematch. Everything is going to be determined by that. Either I’ll win and keep going or I won’t and I’ll be done with everything.”
While we really can’t say for certain what “done with everything” exactly means, it’s a pretty big statement in itself. And if it means she’ll hang up the gloves for good, you can place some of the onus on the UFC for putting her in a rematch she wasn’t ready for. The fight game wouldn’t be the same without Ronda Rousey.
THE EARLY PLAYS
Holm is only going to get more expensive from here on out. She is a terrible matchup for Rousey, who won’t have the time or coaching she needs to evolve as a fighter. If Taverdyan is still in her corner by UFC 200, then you can expect the same results. I do like the over at +115 though. Ronda will make some adjustments and be far more cautious, leading to a longer fight time.
HOW TO BET
Access live betting lines at BookMaker Sportsbook and start wagering now. With our live betting options, you can also wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. UFC 200 takes place Saturday, July 9, 2016 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card is expected to be televised on pay-per-view starting 10 p.m. ET.
