McMann started making the long trek from central Pennsylvania to Stillwater, Okla., more than a decade ago. One of the top female wrestlers in the world, McMann traveled the 1,200 miles periodically to train with the powerhouse Oklahoma State men’s team. The most notable Cowboy wrestler around back then was the 2001 NCAA runner-up, a young Daniel Cormier. “She used to stay with me and my family,” Cormier reminisced Thursday. “I’ve known Sara for a while.” The post-college paths of McMann and Cormier took off on a parallel. They excelled in amateur wrestling at the highest levels before reaching the pinnacle in August 2004 at the Olympics in Athens. McMann won a silver medal. Cormier fell just short of placing at fourth. They both eventually transitioned to fighting where the apex of their still-nascent professional careers takes place in the headlining affairs at UFC 170 Feb. 22 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Cormier (13-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) makes his light-heavyweight debut against former champion Rashad Evans (24-3-1 MMA, 14-3-1 UFC) in the co-main event. He’ll set the stage for McMann (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), who challenges fellow former Olympian Ronda Rousey (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) for the women’s bantamweight title. “When Ronda grabs Sara, she’s going to feel something she hasn’t felt in the Olympic Games,” Cormier predicted. “She’s going to feel somebody who has the same lifetime-athlete advantage she has.” It’s setting up as the night where the five interlaced Olympic rings adjoin with the eight sides of the UFC cage. The 2014 winter games will be wrapping up in Sochi, Russia, at the same time of the event. UFC 168: Rousey vs. Tate Miesha Tate extends her hand to shake Ronda Rouseys after Rousey submitted Tate with an arm bar to successfully defend her bantamweight title at UFC 168 Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.Launch slideshow » Rousey has long held the torch for Olympians in mixed martial arts after she found the sport following a bronze-medal performance in judo at the 2008 games in Bejing. Few realize the polarizing champion was technically an American teammate of McMann during her first Olympic run four years earlier. Rousey and McMann become the first two Olympic medalists to ever fight in the UFC, both undefeated nonetheless to make their clash one of the biggest of the year. “It’s an awesome thing,” McMann said. “It’s awesome to say we’re the first ones to do something, but I think I should probably take more pride in getting the medal than representing it after.” McMann never crossed paths with Rousey during their time at the Olympic Training Center — they met for the first time during a media tour earlier this week — but became close with several other judokas. McMann remembers watching judo highlight videos, marveling at the techniques and finding ways to implement them into her wrestling. The challenger believes it will give her a leg-up as opposed to Rousey’s past opponents, all of whom have gotten submitted by an arm bar. “I think every other girl in the division would have a very hard and long road to learn to stop a high-level throw,” McMann said. “I don’t have that same problem.” McMann is adamant that their bout shouldn’t receive billing as wrestling vs. judo. She’s not looking at UFC 170 that way, but is aware plenty others won’t be able to help it. “I know judo is very respectful and loyal, same thing with wrestlers,” McMann said. “I know every wrestler that’s watching is going to be like, ‘Kill her, Sara!’ because they’re my family.” Cormier nodded his head in agreement. He subconsciously roots for wrestlers in every fight, but that’s not what has interest at a high for Rousey vs. McMann. Cormier hopes to rush though his post-fight procedures to catch UFC 170’s main event because he knows the fighters’ Olympic backgrounds. And he knows they mean something. “I know we have two girls who are highest-level athletes competing,” Cormier said. Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or case.keefer@lasvegassun. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter/casekeefer. 0 CommentsShare on print Share on email Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on google_plusone_share More Sharing Services 3 More from Las Vegas Sun California buyers scooping up ‘cheap’ Strip condos Man suspected of upskirt photography on Strip headed to trial Man shot dead Saturday morning in strip club parking lot Prosecutors in Las Vegas watching Flavor Flav case in NY L.A. teacher gets 25 years in lewd classroom tasting games Jenny McCarthy talks Holly Madison, poor wardrobe decisions and her famous cousin From around the web Stop Paying So Much For Your Hotel Room. 4 Simple Steps to Cheaper Rates A Luxury Travel Blog 10 Major US Cities You Should Avoid At All Costs EscapeHere 10 Dangerous Cities You Should Avoid At All Costs EscapeHere Grooveshark executive murdered in Florida AUX.TV Kanye West allegedly punched a racist teenager more than 30 times AUX.TV George Clooney’s Surprising Honest Family Connection Ancestry Recommended by JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account. Full comments policy 0 comments Livefyre Sign in1 person listening + Follow Share Post comment as... Newest | Oldest | Top Comments UFC 160 Velasquez and dos Santos end night with knockout wins UFC 160 Champion Cain Velasquez used his punches. No. 1 ranked contender Junior dos Santos opted for a head-kick. Their knockout victories on the annual Memorial Day weekend card at the MGM Grand Garden Arena — over Antonio Bigfoot Silva and Mark Hunt, respectively — landed them back in a familiar position. Before the end of the year, Velasquez and dos Santos will meet again. It will mark the third time the worlds two best heavyweights share the octagon. It will also break their current tie of one win apiece. As confident as Velasquez is that he can become the elusive long-reigning heavyweight champion, dos Santos is equally convinced that hell right his last loss. Main Card Results Winner Loser Method Cain Velasquez Antonio Bigfoot Silva TKO Junior dos Santos Mark Hunt Knockout Glover Teixeira James Te Huna Submission T.J. Grant Gray Maynard TKO Donald Cerrone K.J. Noons Unanimous Decision Fight Schedule Date Event Location January 25 UFC on Fox 10 Chicago February 1 UFC 169 Newark, N.J. February 15 UFC Fight Night 36 Jaragua do Sol, Brazil February 22 UFC 170 Las Vegas: Mandalay Bay Events Center March 1 The Ultimate Fighter: China finale Macau, China March 8 Boxing: Showtime Pay-Per-View Las Vegas: MGM Grand Garden Arena COMPLETE SCHEDULE » MOST POPULAR ViewedDiscussedTrending Does Elaine Wynn’s reported $142.4 million Francis Bacon art purchase set a record? More stores lined up for Shops at Summerlin Foster the People, Bryan Ferry, Rob Thomas and more announce Las Vegas shows Brooklyn Bowl’s first strike: Elvis Costello & The Roots ‘Shame on you’: Jim Rogers blasts officials over UNLV president choice COMPLETE LISTING » AP HEADLINES CONNECT WITH US FACEBOOKTWITTERGOOGLE+TUMBLREMAIL EDITIONRSS SCENE IN LAS VEGAS DOLLY PARTON: Shines with ‘Blue Smoke’ tourDOLLY PARTON STRIP: Vegas Uncork’d, Helen Reddy, MotleySTRIP ELAINE WYNN: Talks $143 million art purchaseELAINE WYNN youtube/watch?v=_uSOkYzyTzk
Posted on: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 23:24:26 +0000
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