Photo by Esther Lin for MMAFighting.com

There is still a bit over a month left until UFC 170 where we will be treated to a grappler’s superfight between two Olympic medallists: Ronda Rousey for Judo and Sara McMann for wrestling.

Let’s look at how these two match in the striking, wrestling/takedown and ground game department:

Striking

McMann is an Olympic wrestler, Rousey is an Olympic judoka. Neither fighters are strikers. Both of them use strikes to set up takedowns. This should be pretty even.

Sara Mcmann took Silver at the 2004 Olympics in Wrestling

Takedowns

Ronda used her takedown game very well against Miesha Tate. McMann’s wrestling is on a whole other level than Tate though and this should be a very different and tougher fight.

McMann relieves heavily on  her double leg takedown while Rousey relies more on harai goshi’s and trip takedowns. If there is one takedown that works well against judokas it’s a good double leg. Rousey is by now more than just a good judoka, she also has great takedowns for the MMA game.

Rousey’s judo vs. McMann’s wrestling is too close to call. We say that Rousey will be able to eventually toss McMann to the ground.

Ronda Rousey took bronze in the 2008 Olympics in judo

Ground Game

McMann is heavily dependent on her top game. She has beaten top competition like Shayna Baszler, Hitomi Akano and Tonya Evinger.

Rousey is more well rounded than McMann on the ground and she has that deadly armbar…We see Rousey taking McMann down with a judo trip and ending her by way of armbar in the second round.

This should be a tough match for Rousey but McMann will probably come up short.