5. Ronda Rousey vs. Alexis Davis
UFC 175
July 5 | Las Vegas
When the Sherdog.com staff begins considering candidates for “Beatdown of the Year,” most of the attention is focused on the sort of prolonged drubbings that occupy the top four spots on this list. Once in a while, however, there comes a pounding so short and severe that it simply has to be included.
Davis, like several opponents before her, was touted as Rousey’s toughest test to date in the lead-up to their women’s bantamweight title fight at UFC 175. A standout import from Invicta Fighting Championships, Davis racked up three wins inside the Octagon in a span of eight months, including decisions over former contender Liz Carmouche and up-and-comer Jessica Eye. As it turned out, the Canadian proved to be the least competitive of Rousey’s challengers, and the bout was over in less time than it took for Bruce Buffer to announce the participants.
After a quick exchange of punches to start the fight, Rousey stung Davis with a right hook to the temple and then put a quick knee on her hunched-over opponent’s midsection. The champion grabbed hold of Davis and executed a beautiful harai makikomi throw which landed Rousey in side control. With Davis immobilized in the scarf hold position, Rousey landed eight quick right hands, direct shots to the face which seemed to knock Davis unconscious and then wake her up again. As referee Yves Lavigne stepped in to stop the fight, Rousey coolly untangled herself and strode away, while the dazed Davis tried to execute a single-leg takedown on Lavigne.
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