Ronda Rousey vs Cat Zingano set for Jan. 3 UFC show

Ronda Rousey, Cat Zingano

Last night the UFC announced that Ronda Rousey defending her UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship against Cat Zingano is official for UFC 182 Jan. 3 in Las Vegas. Maybe you thought it was already official. But after Cat won over Amanda Nunes last month, she allowed herself to be given a six month medical suspension for a possible stinger. So she had to be medically cleared before the fight could be announced. I'm not sure what was going to happen if she didn't get that clearance. I know what you're asking. Can Cat beat Ronda? Probably not. As Ronda's career evolves, she's going to be even tougher to beat as she has become a more complete fighter. She also fights with an urgency that is unmatched in the UFC. When she recently told Jim Rome that she would rather die in the cage than lose, that's an extraordinary mindset. And that comment didn't surprise me as she has said stuff like that in the past. She broke her hand in her win over Alexis Davis. And she had knee surgery. She says she will be even better on two good legs. In her two UFC fights, Cat has come out very poorly in round one. If she does the same thing in this fight, she won't get out of the first round because Ronda is a finisher. Cat won't get that second chance. Last month, UFC president Dana White said that if Ronda successfully defends her title against Cat, she will fight in Brazil in March. The likely opponent will be Four Horsewomen nemesis Bethe Correia. Lately Miesha Tate has been campaigning for a fight against Bethe. Miesha figures if she beats Bethe, she gets another title shot. But I think the UFC wants a Brazilian to fight Ronda in Brazil. And of course there is heat between Ronda and Bethe because of the Four Horsewomen thing. So I don't believe they will risk the possibility that Bethe could lose to Miesha and will save her for the title shot in March. Having a Brazilian fight for the title in Brazil would be a big deal.