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Last week then-Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate shrugged off a conference call question by proclaiming, "I'm not really that worried about the armbar," referring, of course, to Ronda Rousey's trademark finisher.
In retrospect that seems like a poor decision.
Rousey made a resounding statement on Saturday night, seizing the title strap after nearly snapping Tate's left arm twice in a star-making performance at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey. The 25-year-old former Olympian is now unbeaten in eight professional and amateur contests, with eight first-round armbar victories adorning her collection.
It was as gruesome finish as one could ask for, and after weeks of smoldering pre-fight build-up, the entire mixed martial arts world was seated front row and center to witness the violence. While Rousey cemented her place as women's MMA's brightest star, her contemporaries flooded to Twitter to gush over what they had just seen.
OOOOOOMMMMMGGGGG RONDA ROUSEY IS SSSIIIIIICK......ANOTHER ARM TAKIN
— Stephen Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) March 4, 2012
Congrats to Ronda Rousey
— nick diaz (@nickdiaz209) March 4, 2012
The refs are just as bad as the judges in this sport sad to see that go to far because of the ref
— nick diaz (@nickdiaz209) March 4, 2012
fighters should vote for refs Or have them all learn from big jon, get a blue belt train jiujitsu it's not that hard to learn basics
— nick diaz (@nickdiaz209) March 4, 2012
Rhonda is a beast son
— Phil Davis (@PhilMrWonderful) March 4, 2012
Wowwww best fight of the night...@Strikeforce congratulation for the girls...
— Antonio Pezao Silva (@BigfootSilva) March 4, 2012
That was ridiculous. Such a sick fight. #TateRousey
— Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) March 4, 2012
@ufc @nickdiaz209Ronda is the honorary Diaz sister. Great fight
— Cesar Gracie (@CesarGracieBJJ) March 4, 2012
RT @milissatripp: @GladiatorGear @cagepotatomma @criscyborg she is afraid of cris, that is why she dropped to 135; "" I will
— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) March 4, 2012
RT @ComIuygtuiyg: @criscyborg vs Rousey!!! biggest fight of the century!!!!
— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) March 4, 2012
Both @meishatate n @RondaRousey r freakn GANGSTER!
— Duane Ludwig (@DUANEBANGCOM) March 4, 2012
Miesha hung tough but Rousey is a beast! Awesome fight! I think fights like this should make Dana think twice about no women in UFC! ;)
— Mike Quick Swick (@officialswick) March 4, 2012
Ooouucchhh!!
— Urijah Faber (@UrijahFaber) March 4, 2012
Wow, Miesha Tate showed some serious heart. That arm was gone.
— Pat Schilling (@PatSchilling) March 4, 2012
Judo all the way babe love it 👍👌👍👌👍
— Manny Gamburyan (@MannyGamburyan) March 4, 2012
Her shit is BROKE!
— Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) March 4, 2012
How many men would love to date Rhonda Rousey ... Its all fun & games until you piss her off , think about it ! #Strikeforce
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) March 4, 2012
Wow @RondaRouseyhad me on my feet yelling... Great fights #Strikeforceon #showtime
— Ramsey Nijem (@RamseyNijem) March 4, 2012
congrats @RondaRousey ....
— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) March 4, 2012
@Strikeforce That was the best female fight I have ever seen!!! #TateRouseySome high level grappling for sure nice one ladies
— James Terry (@JamesTerry_USH) March 4, 2012
O.M.G!!!
— Ross Pearson (@RossTheRealDeal) March 4, 2012
"@Tito_Briceno: @RossTheRealDeal look at this angle twitter.com/Tito_Briceno/s…" horrid pic!! great technique though!!
— Ross Pearson (@RossTheRealDeal) March 4, 2012