Ronda Rousey’s top 5 fights
5. Sarah Kaufman, armbar submission, first round, Aug. 18, 2012, San Diego
Competing in the Strikeforce organization with UFC President Dana White watching, 2008 Olympic judo bronze medalist Rousey applied her famed armbar to defend her Bantamweight title in just 54 seconds, prompting White to retreat from his stance that women would never fight in the UFC.
4. Liz Carmouche, armbar submission, first round, Feb. 23, 2013, Honda Center
The newly declared champion from Venice found herself in big early trouble against San Diego’s Carmouche, who mounted Rousey from the back and gripped so tight around her mouth that Rousey felt her teeth breaking before escaping and winning with 11 seconds remaining in the first round.
3. Miesha Tate II, armbar submission, third round, Dec. 28, 2013, MGM Grand
In a rematch against her archrival, Rousey was taken past the first round for the first time before finding a way to stop Tate in the third.
2. Bethe Correia, knockout, first round, Aug. 1, 2015, Rio de Janeiro
The outcome likely did more damage than good to Rousey’s career, but in a testimony to her willingness to turn nasty, Rousey sought to knock out the mouthy Brazilian and delivered an impressive combination that ended the fight 34 seconds into the bout on Correia’s home turf. When Rousey again sought to stand and fight against pro women’s boxing champion Holly Holm three months later, it was Rousey who was down and out.
Ronda Rousey, left, was in attack mode from the beginning Saturday against Bethe Correia.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Ronda Rousey defeated Bethe Correia in their bantamweight title fight Saturday at UFC 190 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Ronda Rousey, left, took offense to some comments made by Bethe Correia leading up to their UFC 190 bout Saturday night.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)“I guess you can’t doubt my hands anymore,” Ronda Rousey, right, said in the octagon after beating Bethe Correia in 34 seconds.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Ronda Rousey enjoys the moment after defending her UFC bantamweight belt against Bethe Correia on Saturday night.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Ronda Rousey is congratulated by her mother, AnnMaria De Mars, after defeating Bethe Correia at UFC 190.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Ronda Rousey, left, knocked out Bethe Correia in 34 seconds Saturday at UFC 190 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Ronda Rousey, right, defeated Bethe Correia at UFC 190 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Ronda Rousey, right, used her newly developed punching power instead of her famed armbar to beat Bethe Correia at UFC 190.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)After beating Bethe Correia, left, in 34 seconds Saturday night, Ronda Rousey has now won 11 of her 12 fights in the first round.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Ronda Rousey, right, kept her UFC 190 fight against Bethe Correia a stand-up battle.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Ronda Rousey, left, and Bethe Correia face off during their UFC 190 weigh-in on Friday.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Stefan Struve, right, defeated Minotauro Nogueira by unanimous decision Saturday at UFC 190.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Soa Palelei attempts a straight kick against Antonio Silva in a UFC 190 heavyweight bout in Rio de Janeiro.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Antonio Silva, bottom, tries to defend himself against Soa Palelei during their heavyweight fight at UFC 190 in Rio de Janeiro. Silva won by TKO in the second round.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Claudia Gadelha celebrates her win over Jessica Aguilar at UFC in Rio de Janeiro. She won by a unanimous decision.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Brazilian native Claudia Gadelha, left, fights Jessica Aguilar in a strawweight bout during UFC 190 in Rio de Janeiro. Gadelha won in a unanimous decision.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Antonio Silva, top, beat Soa Palelei by TKO in the second round of their heavyweight bout Saturday at UFC 190 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Claudia Gadelha celebrates her win over Jessica Aguilar in their strawweight bout Saturday at UFC 190 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Patrick Cummins, top, beat Rafael Cavalcante by TKO in their light heavyweight bout Saturday at UFC 190 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Demien Maia celebrates his win over Neil Magny at UFC 190 Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Claudia Gadelha hits Jessica Aguilar with a punch in their strawweight bout during UFC 190 in Rio de Janeiro. Gadelha won in a unanimous decision.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Patrick Cummins, top, bleeds heavily from his nose but defeats Rafael Cavalcante by TKO in their light heavyweight bout Saturday at UFC 190 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Warlley Alves celebrates his welterweight win over Nordine Taleb during UFC 190 in Rio de Janeiro. Alves won by submission via a guillotine choke.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Patrick Cummins, left, had an impressive performance against Rafael Cavalcante on Saturday night, depite his face looking like a disaster.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Warlley Alves gets top position on Nordine Taleb during their welterweight bout at UFC 190 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Iuri Alcantara steps onto the scale during the UFC 190 weigh-in at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro. Alcantara won by unanimous decision over Leandro Issa.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Vitor Miranda steps onto the scale during the UFC 190 weigh-in at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro. He beat Clint Hester by TKO in the second round.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Guido Cannetti steps onto the scale during the UFC 190 weigh-in at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro. He defeated Hugo Viana by unanimous decision.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Hugo Viana steps onto the scale during the UFC 190 weigh-in at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro. He lost to Guido Cannetti by unanimous decision.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)Champion Ronda Rousey steps onto the scale during the UFC 190weigh-in on Friday at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)1. Cat Zingano, armbar submission, first round, Feb. 28, 2015, Staples Center
When Zingano rushed the action, Rousey calmly emerged from a somersault and found a way to apply the armbar again, finishing the fight in 14 seconds and inspiring genuine wonder if anyone would ever be capable of giving her a real test.
Holly Holm, left, and Raquel Pennington exchange punches during their UFC 184 bantamweight bout Feb. 28 at Staples Center.
(Harry How / Getty Images)Go beyond the scoreboard
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Lance Pugmire is the Los Angeles Times’ former boxing/MMA/Ducks beat writer.