by Matt Erickson on Sep 07, 2012 at 7:30 am ET <\/p>\n
Strikeforce bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey (6-0 MMA, 4-0 SF) and former featherweight champ Cristiane \"Cyborg\" Santos (10-1 MMA, 4-0 SF) is the fight most seem to want to see once Santos' current steroids suspension is lifted in December. <\/p>\n
There are some well-known obstacles to be certain. But Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said if you're expecting \"Cyborg\" to be Rousey's next opponent, don't count on it. <\/p>\n
\"I'm sure Ronda would like to fight before that,\" Coker on Thursday told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). \"She barely broke a sweat in her last fight. It's something where she's been dominant and she's going to want to fight, I think, before Cyborg can actually get back in the cage off the suspension.\" <\/p>\n
Of course, once Santos is eligible to return, there's still the matter of whether she's willing to drop to bantamweight. Rousey has been plenty vocal about Santos needing to move down to 135 pounds if she wants a fight, not believing she, as the champ, should have to go back up in weight especially given Santos' suspension. <\/p>\n
Rousey also is of the belief Santos isn't a clean fighter and has said publicly she believes she never has been. <\/p>\n
But Coker thinks the fight is destined to take place. Rousey really has yet to be challenged, and certainly wasn't this past month when she dispatched former champ Sarah Kaufman with an armbar in just 54 seconds. A fight with Santos could be her best current bet a test. <\/p>\n
\"That fight, believe me, is something I think should happen,\" Coker said. \"I think it's something that will happen. And when Cyborg gets off suspension, the conversation is going to get very, very real about putting that fight together because I think that's the fight everyone wants to see.\" <\/p>\n
But in the meantime, what happens with Rousey? True, she is only three weeks removed from her last fight. But if Santos is not likely to be her next opponent, given Coker's belief she'll want back in before a \"Cyborg\" fight realistically could be made, then who? <\/p>\n
Strikeforce recently signed unbeaten Sara McMann (6-0 MMA, 0-0 SF), who like Rousey is an Olympic medalist. McMann won silver in wrestling at the 2004 games; Rousey was a bronze winner in judo in '08. She may be on the short list, perhaps after her debut if she comes up a winner. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Continued here:<\/p>\n
Coker: Strikeforce champ Rousey will want fight ahead of potential 'Cyborg' timetable<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Matt Erickson on Sep 07, 2012 at 7:30 am ET Strikeforce bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey (6-0 MMA, 4-0 SF) and former featherweight champ Cristiane \"Cyborg\" Santos (10-1 MMA, 4-0 SF) is the fight most seem to want to see once Santos' current steroids suspension is lifted in December. There are some well-known obstacles to be certain. Continue reading