Just as we announced that Cat Zingano was our choice for 2013 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year, word was trickling out that the #1 contender would be leapfrogged by Sara McMann in the race to dethrone champ Ronda Rousey. Although Zingano is currently nursing a knee injury, she’s none too happy about getting bypassed.
And who can blame her? She defeated Miesha Tate by devastating knockout in her UFC debut, only to watch Tate slide in the back door to steal Cat’s title shot and her coaching opportunity on The Ultimate Fighter. There was little—and by “little” I mean ZERO—discussion during the build up to UFC 168 that Tate actually LOST to Zingano. Now, with the announcement that McMann will next face Rousey, Zingano doesn’t even care if she’s 100% or not. She just wants the title.
“I’ll fight Ronda Rousey in the UFC with a blown ACL right now,” Zingano exclaimed on Twitter. “I don’t want to lose my opportunity. I’ll take her at 100% or not and win.”
Pretty bold statement, but again, who can blame her? Zingano remains undefeated in her MMA career and until proven otherwise is the #1 ranked fighter in the world not named Ronda Rousey.
