Ronda Rousey defends UFC title in 14 seconds

Ronda Rousey
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UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey beat top challenger Cat Zingano in 14 seconds at UFC 184 on Saturday night, her quickest victory in 11 career pro fights.

Rousey won via armbar tapout submission at Staples Center in Los Angeles, her 10th career first-round victory. UFC tweeted it was the quickest finish in UFC championship history.

Zingano (9-1) charged toward Rousey to start the fight but was flipped over by the 2008 Olympic judo bronze medalist.

“We were expecting that [Zingano] might come out and just do something flying at me right away,” Rousey, whose pro fight career has lasted about 25 total minutes, said in a TV interview. “I know I have faster transitions than anyone because my mom [a 1984 World judo champion] taught me. … I can’t wait to get some hot wings right now.”

In her post-fight interview, Zingano expressed frustration with profanity and then repeated, “I want to do it again.”

Rousey dominated in the first UFC pay-per-view carried by women’s fights and in front of actor Mickey Rourke, former UFC fighter Brock Lesnar and actress/singer Mandy Moore.

Rousey looked ready from her ring walk, marching purposefully and swiftly with an unmoving stare to Joan Jett‘s “Bad Reputation.”

What’s next for Rousey?

She’s set to appear in two spring films — “Furious 7” and “Entourage” — as well as release her book, “My Fight/Your Fight,” in May.

One potential fight many MMA fans crave is Rousey (who fights in the 135-pound division) against Cris “Cyborg” Justino, a 29-year-old Brazilian featherweight (145 pounds) who was banned for one year after testing positive for a steroid three years ago.

On Friday, Justino beat Charmaine Tweet via TKO in 46 seconds at Invicta FC 11, also in Los Angeles. Rousey beat Tweet via submission in 49 seconds on June 17, 2011, in Rousey’s second pro fight.

World heavyweight champ not ready to give up on Olympic dream

2023 French Open women’s singles draw, scores

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At the French Open, Iga Swiatek of Poland eyes a third title at Roland Garros and a fourth Grand Slam singles crown overall.

The tournament airs live on NBC Sports, Peacock and Tennis Channel through championship points in Paris.

Swiatek, the No. 1 seed from Poland, can join Serena Williams and Justine Henin as the lone women to win three or more French Opens since 2000.

Having turned 22 on Wednesday, she can become the youngest woman to win three French Opens since Monica Seles in 1992 and the youngest woman to win four Slams overall since Williams in 2002.

FRENCH OPEN: Broadcast Schedule | Men’s Draw

But Swiatek is not as dominant as in 2022, when she went 16-0 in the spring clay season during an overall 37-match win streak.

She retired from her last pre-French Open match with a right thigh injury and said it wasn’t serious. Before that, she lost the final of another clay-court tournament to Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.

Sabalenka, the No. 2 seed, and Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, the No. 4 seed and Wimbledon champion, are the top challengers in Paris.

No. 3 Jessica Pegula, the highest-seeded American man or woman, was eliminated in the third round.

No. 6 Coco Gauff, runner-up to Swiatek last year, is the best hope to become the first American to win a Grand Slam singles title since Sofia Kenin at the 2020 Australian Open. The 11-major drought is the longest for U.S. women since Seles won the 1996 Australian Open.

MORE: All you need to know for 2023 French Open

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2023 French Open Women’s Singles Draw

French Open Women's Singles Draw French Open Women's Singles Draw French Open Women's Singles Draw French Open Women's Singles Draw

2023 French Open men’s singles draw, scores

French Open Men's Draw
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The French Open men’s singles draw is missing injured 14-time champion Rafael Nadal for the first time since 2004, leaving the Coupe des Mousquetaires ripe for the taking.

The tournament airs live on NBC Sports, Peacock and Tennis Channel through championship points in Paris.

Novak Djokovic is not only bidding for a third crown at Roland Garros, but also to lift a 23rd Grand Slam singles trophy to break his tie with Nadal for the most in men’s history.

FRENCH OPEN: Broadcast Schedule | Women’s Draw

But the No. 1 seed is Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who won last year’s U.S. Open to become, at 19, the youngest man to win a major since Nadal’s first French Open title in 2005.

Now Alcaraz looks to become the second-youngest man to win at Roland Garros since 1989, after Nadal of course.

Alcaraz missed the Australian Open in January due to a right leg injury, but since went 30-3 with four titles. Notably, he has not faced Djokovic this year. They could meet in the semifinals.

Russian Daniil Medvedev, the No. 2 seed, was upset in the first round by 172nd-ranked Brazilian qualifier Thiago Seyboth Wild. It marked the first time a men’s top-two seed lost in the first round of any major since 2003 Wimbledon (Ivo Karlovic d. Lleyton Hewitt).

No. 9 Taylor Fritz and No. 12 Frances Tiafoe are the highest-seeded Americans, looking to become the first U.S. man to make the French Open quarterfinals since Andre Agassi in 2003. Since then, five different American men combined to make the fourth round on eight occasions.

MORE: All you need to know for 2023 French Open

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2023 French Open Men’s Singles Draw

French Open Men's Singles Draw French Open Men's Singles Draw French Open Men's Singles Draw French Open Men's Singles Draw