Ronda Rousey has won her last three UFC fights in an average time of 21 seconds. (Photo credit: Disney | ABC Television Group / Foter / CC BY-ND)
Mixed martial arts has a sexy new star in Ronda Rousey.
But is she good for the sport’s betting appeal?
A Sports Interaction MMA betting analyst says no.
“The good news for the UFC is that they have two genuine supernova stars right now in Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor,” said the analyst.
“The bad news is that they are so far ahead of the pack, it doesn’t seem like there’s anybody to make a fight of it against them. McGregor has some sort of opposition, but Rousey is like Godzilla out there. Turn up, WHACK!, go home.”
Rousey made short work of Bethe Correia in the headline fight of UFC 190 last weekend in Brazil, knocking her opponent out cold 34 seconds into the bout to claim her sixth straight UFC title defence.
An ESPN article points out that 34 seconds was actually long by Rousey’s recent standards. Her previous two fights lasted a combined 30 seconds. All but one of her professional fights have ended in the first round.
— Screenshot from ESPN
No value betting on or against Rousey
Oddsmakers have to put the odds so steep on Rousey that it isn’t worth it for anyone to bet on her. Ten days before the Rousey/Correia fight, Rousey was a -1300 favourite on the Sports Interaction MMA betting odds (meaning you’d have to bet $1,300 to win $100).
And betting against Rousey is the equivalent of lighting money on fire.
“If one of Rousey’s opponents lasts longer than a minute, it’s hold-the-front-page news. She goes off at no price at all, and that makes things boring,” said the Sports Interaction MMA betting analyst. “There’s nothing to bet on. What is the point of a sport if you can’t bet on it?”
Miesha Tate is expected to be Rousey’s next opponent, potentially a UFC pay-per-view event Dec. 5 in Arlington, Texas. Tate is the only Rousey opponent to survive the first round, losing their two previous matchups via armbar.
There is also talk of a future showdown between Rousey and Invicta FC featherweight champion Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino. But Justino has to work her way down to 135 pounds first, a weight she has never fought at.
Other ways to bet Rousey fights
If you’re determined to bet on Ronda Rousey’s next fight, maybe try different MMA betting lines than simply who will win. Sports Interaction offers MMA betting on how many rounds each fight will last, the method of victory, which round the fight will end in and more.
Maybe that way, you won’t have to risk the value of a used car to win 100 bucks.