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What is the single most interesting women's MMA matchup in 2014 and why? Is it Ronda Rousey vs. Cris Cyborg? Rousey vs. Holly Holm? Rousey vs. Gina Carano? Rousey vs. Cat Zingano or Alexis Davis? Holm vs. Cyborg? Something else?
DAN MOORE, MMATORCH UK COLUMNIST
Rousey vs. Cyborg is the ultimate match-up but it won't happen in 2014. That's best saved for next year when both are available and the latter can comfortably make weight. Call me a traditionalist, but I'd prefer to see Rousey fight Zingano or Davis this year, especially considering both have done [slightly] more to deserve a title shot. Granted a fight with Carano will definitely sell more tickets, but in the long term it will do more harm than good. I'm not interested in watching novelty fights and that will be, it won't help develop women's MMA one bit.
RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
I suppose it would make me a bit of an MMA asshole snob to say Rin Nakai vs. Larissa Pacheco, so despite not fearing either of those labels I think I really want to see Holly Holm vs. Cyborg. But only at 135 pounds. Holm is being handled (booked) with kid gloves, getting overmatched bantamweights or talented flyweights who just can't handle her size. Cyborg, we know the book on her. She's the one-person version of Ross and Rachel in MMA; as in will she or won't she. Sorry, I just showed my age. She's the Ted and, well, I never watched that crappy show but she's the Ted and the chick Barney married of MMA.
FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
I think it's Rousey vs. Holm. Carano has been out of the game too long to expect her to just step in there with the best, I don't know if Cyborg can make weight, I would like to see to see Zingano or Davis fight Rousey, but I don't think they would be as big a challenge as Holm would be. I think the UFC should take a stronger look at Holm. It would be a mistake to not bring her in, but they do have other challengers so it's not a huge deal if they don't. Still, I think they should.
KALE HAVERVOLD, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Honestly, it is Zingano-Rousey to me, as it is the one we have the best chance of seeing. I've been a fan of Cat for a while and was upset when she lost her shot at TUF due to injury.
BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
Rousey and Cyborg would be very interesting given the size difference and Cyborg's incredible power. It's a fight that needs to happen sometime but if Cyborg isn't willing to make the 135 lb. cut then I want Zingano to get her long overdue title fight.
TOM STRONG, MMATORCH UK CONTRIBUTOR
Dana and the UFC can say what they like about what's the biggest fight for Ronda, but you don't have to be a genius to work out that the biggest fight they can make is Rousey vs. Cyborg.
Cyborg is the only real threat out there to challenge Ronda for the belt, though there are so many obstacles in the way to making the fight, so we may never get to see it. The main obstacle is Cyborg making the 135 lb. bantamweight limit!
The fight with Cyborg would not only be one of the biggest fights in the history of MMA, it could also generate one of this highest PPV figures ever for a women's MMA bout.
We always hear from Dana that this superfight will happen, and that superfight will happen, but so far we've not seen one emerge! Ronda is possibly the biggest star under the UFC banner at the moment with the likes of Anderson Silva out injured and GSP taking time out. I'm really not sure they'll want to put their prized asset on the line to such a threat like Cyborg.
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