Ronda Rousey's head coach, Edmond Tarverdyan, believes his fighter can destroy anybody in her way—including Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos.
While Rousey transitioned into the world of MMA from a decorated career in judo and has thus far decimated her competition with a series of throws and armbars, Tarverdyan thinks that the UFC women's bantamweight champ could defeat Santos without needing to touch the ground at all.
She'd knock Cyborg out.
"I love that fight (against Cyborg)," Tarverdyan said on Monday's The MMA Hour (transcription via MMAFighting.com). "Ronda knows, I spoke to Ronda. I said, 'You knock out Cyborg any given day.' Ronda knocks out Cyborg. I believe even with one hand she fights Cyborg, she beats her."
A fierce muay thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu artist, Santos boasts 10 knockouts in 12 professional victories. She's lost just once—in her first professional bout via kneebar—and she's since earned a reputation as one of the meanest, scariest fighters in women's MMA.
The Brazilian gets the job done with punches, kicks, knees and elbows, slinging all of her attacks with equal ferocity, and Tarverdyan recognizes the power in her attack.
Still, he remains confident in Rousey's chances.
"Cyborg is a swinger, she's tough," Tarverdyan said. "She'll let her hands go and then she'll get into a fight with Ronda and that's an exciting fight. But what I believe with my fighter is my fighter is the best in the world. I would love to see that fight."
A bout between Rousey and Cyborg is the biggest fight possible in women's MMA right now. The problem, of course, is that Cyborg isn't under contract with the UFC.
The world's premier MMA organization couldn't come to terms with Cyborg in the past, but UFC President Dana White recently changed his tone when discussing the Brazilian powerhouse.
This does not mean that the UFC is close to signing her right now, but it certainly sounds as if White and Company are assessing their options and formulating a plan to add Cyborg to the roster.
Who do you think wins this fight? Is Rousey on another level, or is Cyborg the woman to dish Rousey her first loss?
