Dana White defends Rousey's erratic tactics vs. Holm: 'Stupid' to question game plan
In the wake of Holly Holm's unprecedented and wholly unexpected knockout victory over previously unstoppable fighting machine Ronda Rousey at UFC 193, much of the focus centered on the former bantamweight champion's wild, impatient approach to the bout.
Ronda Rousey's trainer @gfcdiamond told me she apologized to him after the fight. "I told her that you are still the best."
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) November 15, 2015
The 28-year-old, now 12-1 in her career inside the Octagon, seemed rushed and erratic in her striking, as Brett Okamoto of ESPN noted after the stunning upset:
At one point, she threw a left hand so wild she tripped and stumbled into the fence.
Rousey's coach, Edmond Tarverdyan, explained they had made a point to have the decorated star push forward and pressure Holm throughout the fight.
"The game plan was pressing," Tarverdyan was quoted as saying by ESPN. "We knew Holly Holm was going to keep the distance. So we had to feint and get inside and pressure the right way so we can get the (fight) on the side of the cage. ... Holly Holm did a good job with moving today and stayed calm."
Rousey, who reportedly did not suffer a concussion in the loss - she was taken to hospital as part of standard post-fight procedure - had her game plan defended by always outspoken UFC president Dana White.
"Everybody thinks they're an expert and thinks they know about fighting, but very few people do," White said. "If Ronda went out there and ran after her like a maniac and knocked her out, then Ronda's the best ever, this and that. Now this happens, and the game plan was all wrong. It's easy to sit back and criticize when you're watching the fight.
"There's no doubt, that's exactly how Holly was going to fight this fight and the question was, 'Is Ronda going to try and stand with her and take her out or is Ronda going to go for double legs and get her in the clinch and throw her?' To sit here and question the game plan is as stupid as the people that thought this wasn't a good fight."
Whether Rousey and her team were misguided in putting together their plan is up for debate. That Holm executed hers to perfection certainly is not.
After all, she has the belt to prove it.