Florian: My understanding is that Rousey didn’t really spar for title fight

On the latest Anik and Florian podcast, the color commentator and former UFC title contender discussed Ronda Rousey’s failed title challenge vs. champion Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 on Saturday night. Like virtually every other analyst, from the former UFC middleweight, welterweight, lightweight, and featherweight Florian to a drunk ass in a seat, the most pointed criticism has been directed at Rousey’s coach, Edmond Tarverdyan.

Head trauma is the biggest issue in MMA, and camps are changing their approach to sparring, but no one is saying you don’t have to spar competitively to prepare for a fight. The result of no sparring is reacting to getting hit as if it has not happened in a long time.

My understanding is that perhaps Rousey didn’t really spar leading up to this fight, said Florian, as transcribed by Anton Tabuena for BE. I get that they’re trying to preserve her from not getting hurt. But you’ve got to have some rounds. You’ve got to ready for the worst case scenario, which is Amanda Nunes striking with you. She wasn’t able to move her head, do anything defensively to avoid the striking skills of Amanda Nunes, and really paid for it.

Combat is such an interesting thing. You see how quickly it can evolve. If you do not keep up with it, we see it time and time again, you will be left behind,. For Rousey I think she is a tremendous talent, she did so many amazing things in this sport, but I think she is loyal to a fault.

I like Edmond. I spoke to him on various occasions, but he doesn’t have the experience for high level mixed martial arts. That’s my opinion. He hasn’t been keeping up with it.

I just think she needs a knowledgeable, experienced coach, wherever that is. She’s going to need much better coaching, and a much better team around her. That’s for sure.

Nothing was working for her. She wasn’t moving her head. Her hands started dropping. She was running right into very big shots.

She had 411 days to improve as a striker, and unfortunately for her, just wasn’t able to get it done. There really was no difference in what she did against Holly Holm. There was no head movement. There was no variety, There were no angles.

She still needs to improve, overall. Even if we take out striking, what about developing skills in getting to the clinch safely? Something as basic as that, was not done. For me, as someone who has been in Mixed Martial Arts a long time, that’s just a very basic skill, and she didn’t do that. There were no level changes, no leg attacks as far as dropping to try and get a single or a double leg. That really concerned me.

After the podcast, Florian was apparently contacted by a representative from Rousey’s camp.

https://twitter.com/kennyflorian/status/816294673534701568

All one can say charitably is that this it didn’t look it.