Off the wire
• Tokyo stocks drop sharply in early trading on GDP data, geopolitical concerns  • Mexico's Santos recruit 4 players from Cuba  • Xinhua world news summary at 0030 GMT, Nov. 16  • Cubans depart for judo tour in Asia  • Cuba's policeman, Norway's student win Havana marathon  • Hungary beat Norway for European Championship's place  • Urgent: UN chief to visit DPRK this week -- report  • Japan's economy contracts 0.8 pct in Q3  • Dollar in lower 122 yen zone in early Tokyo trading  • Australian Grand Mufti calls for readdressing of anti-terror methods  
You are here: 　 Home

(Sports) "Unbeatable" Rousey recovering in Australian hospital after shock loss in UFC 193

Xinhua, November 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

Ronda Rousey, billed as mixed martial arts' 'unbeatable' champion, remained in a Melbourne hospital on Monday after fellow American Holly Holm pulled off "the biggest upset" in the history of the sport at Ultimate Fighting Championship 193 on Sunday.

Rousey, UFC's biggest star, crashed and burned in her bantamweight title defense in front of a record 56,214 spectators at the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne on Sunday.

Early in the second round, Holm, a former professional boxer and kickboxer who made the switch to mixed martial arts (MMA) in 2011, swung a ferocious leg kick into Rousey's head, knocking the six-time defending champion to the floor.

Holm pounced on the motionless Rousey, throwing several punches before the referee called off the fight.

It was the first loss of Rousey's UFC career, and commentator Joe Rogan dubbed it the "biggest upset in the history of MMA" - a fair assessment given Rousey's pre-fight odds of 1.11 dollars - meaning punters earned 11 cents for every dollar they invested.

The 28-year-old, who had previously won 11 of 12 fights inside of the first minute, spent the night at an unnamed Melbourne hospital so doctors could monitor her for signs of concussion and head trauma.

"She was transported (to hospital) because she got knocked out," UFC boss Dana White said.

"Obviously she's completely bummed out and depressed."

The event was declared a "massive success" by organizers, surpassing the previous attendance record set at UFC 129 at the Rogers Center in downtown Toronto, Canada, in 2011.

Organizers moved quickly to announce the UFC would return to Australia in March next year, venturing further north to the Queensland city of Brisbane.

In the wake of the main event shock, the rank outsider Holm told reporters a rematch wasn't out of the question.

"I don't look at this belt and think 'I've made it'," she said.

"I've been on the losing side before and wanted to avenge my loss. A rematch is kind of an unspoken common sense to me." Enditem