Ronda Rousey UFC 193 Knockout ‘Rigged’, Claims Former WWE Champion Taz

It is well known in the world of professional wrestling that the results are predetermined. It’s all a show in the name of entertainment But...

It is well known in the world of professional wrestling that the results are predetermined. It’s all a show in the name of entertainment

But now, in a wild conspiracy theory, a former pro wrestling champion has claimed the UFC might have pulled a WWE on Sunday.

Holly Holm of the US (R) lands a kick to the neck to knock out compatriot Ronda Rousey. Source: PAUL CROCK / AFP

In front of more than 56,000 fans at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Ronda Rousey suffered a shock knockout loss at the hands of Holly Holm, her first UFC defeat and the end of her bantamweight championship reign.

But according to former WWE superstar and two-time world heavyweight champion turned podcaster Taz, the loss to Holm was what they call in the wrestling biz ‘a work’. In layman’s terms, Taz claimed Rousey deliberately lost to Holm and it was all part of a strategic plan, working in with Ronda’s increasingly packed career schedule.

“The first thing that jumped out at me was, OK: I think the finish of the fight might have been rigged,” Taz said on his podcast, The Taz Show.

“Let’s say I am right. UFC would not be reinventing the wheel by fixing a fight. This was going on for 50, 60, 70, 80 years in boxing. This is not a new thing.”

Ronda Rousey eats a punch from Holly Holm during their UFC 193 fight.Source: Getty Images

Rousey, 28, has a busy six months ahead of her which makes taking upcoming fights difficult.

Aside from being the face of several top brands, the judoka is about to film two movies as she continues her transition from the Octagon to the big screen.

Rousey’s set to begin filming the remake of cult classic Roadhouse as well as her bio pic and according to

“Why are some people not seeing this?” Taz asked on his podcast.

“This has been done in the wrestling industry for years. A guy or girl is going to take a break or go away, or has an injury that they have to tend to, whatever the reasons are, and they’re a champion – you take the championship off of them.

“You do not want your champion sitting home or making a movie, ‘Roadhouse 2′ or whatever Rousey’s going to do, or just needs a personal break, which she’s earned. This girl’s earned it. But you don’t want that person sitting home for five, six, seven months with that championship. It’s bad for business. Take the belt off her.”

OK, we’ve heard some pretty crazy conspiracy theories over the years but for argument’s sake, let’s hear Taz out on this one.

“If you look at the actual KO – now, she did get nailed, Rousey, with several shots before the finish of the fight,” he said.

“Nothing that was like, ‘Oh my god,’ but she got popped a few times. But if you look at the actual knockout, as Rousey, she went for kind of a lazy punch or something – not lazy but she kind of missed – and as she spun to turn around her back was kind of turned to Holm. And as she slowly turned, a high round kick, I believe it was the left foot, or left leg of Holm, catches Rousey, drops Rousey, and then Holm grounds and pounds for three shots – boom, boom, boom. Ref gets in the middle, fight’s over, new champion Holly Holm.”

Taz isn’t suggesting Rousey took a dive. She clearly got knocked out by Holm’s head kick but Taz believes Rousey’s poor game plan of aggressively attacking Holm in a stand up fight was a tactic she employed so Holm could beat her.

Taz continued: “I’m telling you right now, that whole series, was the work. And I’m not sure who was in on it and who wasn’t but I know this much: the ref probably wasn’t in on it. Maybe he was I don’t know. Rousey was in on it – and again, this is all my opinion. Holm might not have been in on it.”

UFC president Dana White has not addressed Taz’s bizarre claims - though he is talking up the incredible potential a rematch between Rousey and Holm holds.

“She’s the mentally strongest f...ing athlete I’ve ever met in my life. When she gets over this loss, she’s going to be a savage,” White said of Rousey to MMA Junkie.

“She was a maniac and a hard-worker when she was the best in the world. What’s she going to be like now that she lost?

“The thing that makes this fight great again is Holly Holm. Now everybody knows how talented Holly Holm is and that Holly Holm is legit and Holly Holm is a workhorse, too. Both these two are going to take the next few months, go back in, start working on s..t, and they’re going to clash again. And this second fight will be f...ing awesome.”