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It hasn't been a great holiday season for Ronda Rousey.
Rather than cap a meteoric 2015 with a dutiful win over Holly Holm at UFC 193, Rousey saw her mystique come crashing down with a headkick from the former boxing world champ.
Rousey has been fairly silent since November, but stopped speculation of coaching changes when she told ESPN that she planned on sticking with longtime trainer Edmond Tarverdyan.
A friend of Rousey's, UFC commentator Joe Rogan says the former champ was exposed by Holm and needs to make major changes to her game.
"Ronda's got to go to a camp that has the full arsenal," Rogan told Stephie Haynes of Bloody Elbow. "She's got to go to a Firas Zahabi or a Matt Hume, or someone like that, in my opinion. If I was talking to her, that's what I would tell her. I'd say, ‘You can't just train with a judo coach and Edmond holds the pads for you.'
"Edmond has definitely done some great things for her boxing technique, that can't be denied. Her combinations when she hits the pads are very impressive, but there are other elements that come with striking. It's not just about throwing your hands and having the technique look good."
Rogan says he's been impressed with Rousey's boxing, but believes Rousey needs a more well-rounded approach from someone with "a proven track record as a coach."
"I think she needs someone who will objectively assess her game as an outsider, not someone like Edmond, who trained her from the beginning with mitts; she needs someone else, as well. She needs someone who is going to be able to look at the big picture of her overall MMA game, and then rebuild.
"She's gonna need a massive overhaul. When we talk about MMA being high level problem solving, Holly Holm solved the problem. She had all the answers and she got a f***ing A+."
With a busy acting schedule that doesn't appear to slowing down, Rogan believes Rousey needs to reevaluate her priorities if she wants to compete with the best in the world.
"The other advice to Ronda Rousey is you've got to figure out what you want to do. Do you want to be a gigantic celebrity or do you want to be the best fighter on the planet? Because if you want to be the best fighter on the planet, you have to pursue that only. I think with this movie bullshit, she could pull it off with some of the girls with all these distractions and all this nonsense, but I don't think they allow her the amount of resources--mental, physical, everything...all of the above--that she's going to need at her disposal to be the very best that she can be.
"You don't want to be good enough, you want to be the best that you can be. I don't think she was the best that she could be. In my eyes, she was not properly prepared for that fight, whether physically or technically."
5 MUST-READ STORIES
'He had this mystique. Robbie not so much.' Carlos Condit says Robbie Lawler is a "more dangerous fighter" than Georges St-Pierre.
Scrum. After UFC 195 workouts, UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler discussed his upcoming opponent Carlos Condit, his training camp, and more.
Tale of Two Andrei's. Andrei Arlovski says he's figured out what went wrong in fights against Brendan Schaub and Frank Mir and has moved on.
Chat Wrap. Luke Thomas discusses UFC 195, Rizin, MMA in 2015 and more in this week's live chat.
'The beast is back.' Bob Sapp promises to "step it up" against Akebono after getting right amount of "lettuce."
MEDIA STEW
UFC 195 embedded episode 3.
Open workout highlights from UFC 195.
Carlos Condit talks facing Lawler, Conor McGregor, his legacy and more.
Kron Gracie isn't into the "just bleed" UFC culture.
Chael Sonnen breaks down UFC 195.
Focus: UFC 194.
Long watches.
Chael Sonnen's "You're Welcome" with Jorge Masvidal and Chris Leben
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TWEETS
Happy anniversary.
3 years ago today I made history by becoming a two-weight World Champion. I've been making history ever since. pic.twitter.com/ln7Hk56TrC
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) December 31, 2015
3 years ago today. It's tough to tell, but I did manage to keep a little bit of blood inside my body.
Posted by Joe Lauzon on Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Good sign.
Best weight cut of my career for the biggest fight of my career. Eat well, preform well, look... https://t.co/0LWFBLZrK5
— Carlos Condit (@CarlosCondit) December 30, 2015
Woodley, too.
I will be watching #UFC195 closely. That's for damn sure. https://t.co/QFVBo6rjsq
— Johny Hendricks (@JohnyHendricks) December 31, 2015
Almost back.
Excited to be attending the fights this weekend #UFC195
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) December 31, 2015
That damn media.
these headlines saying I dissed silva. Not what happened, I just stated he failed his last drug test, pretty god damn relevant if I ask me
— michael (@bisping) December 30, 2015
But because it's the great Anderson I'm supposed to not mention that? Gimme a break. The guys a legend for sure, but facts are facts.
— michael (@bisping) December 30, 2015
Interested?
@Cowboycerrone yo brother I'm looking to dust off my saddle as well! Let's give the @UFC and the fans and early candidate 4 FOTY lets do it!
— Michael Johnson (@FollowTheMenace) December 30, 2015
Official.
Love it! RT @HeidiFang: And they have .@LukeRockhold's champion banner up in the #UFC media room also. pic.twitter.com/OV0IHK7ZK8
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) December 31, 2015
Get well soon.
Matching haircuts for the new year ! https://t.co/iuQSqzemwx
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) December 31, 2015
Day 2 of broken jaw Sam is in the books and the lessen learned today was... Chocolate pudding goes with EVERYTHING. :-$
— Sam Alvey (@smilensam) December 31, 2015
Surgery is all done for my foot. Now it's time to recover #problemsmma #teamxplodemms #wsof #wsof26 #recovery #timetoheal #RoadToRecovery
— Robbie Peralta (@PeraltaMMA) December 31, 2015
Kalaya scar gel making my scars disappear. Get 15% off any product on evitality.ca by using "QuietStorm" coupon code pic.twitter.com/fbd0UXExuZ
— Randa Markos (@randamma) December 30, 2015
Myself &Mrs. @ZoilaFrausto drilling launching each other off the wall @musclepharm #alphacat #warriorprincess #UFC pic.twitter.com/zxzNGDrUnj
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) December 31, 2015
No one is safe.
F....k even I'm not safe from @dc_mma lap Dance https://t.co/EEWJpBK3le
— javier mendez (@akajav) December 31, 2015
U love it https://t.co/0xtwwuvo5D
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) December 31, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Dec. 30 2015)
NA
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