North: Rousey's UFC defeat a surprise to many

Ronda Rousey, former UFC bantamweight champion, lost her title fight Sunday in Melbourne, Australia to a fighter named Holly Holm (10-0).

Holm was a long shot at 14-1 and no one gave her a chance, not even the experts the next day who claimed how good she had done.

I understand because Holm was going against a very tough Rousey, who actually had thought she could compete with Floyd Mayweather. After seeing Holm so easily dispense of Rousey, we realize just how ridiculous that statement truly was.

I commend Rousey, who came out of nowhere to become a huge star, for making some big money and carrying the UFC franchise while the men's side was crumbling. She gave people, especially women everywhere, hope that if she could do it anyone could.

Now there is talk of a rematch, but I think Rousey will lose again unless she changes her style. She is not a boxer like Holm and if she lunges like she did in the last match, her face will look like hamburger meat once again.

Rousey was successful before, in part because she was a bully and because her opponents were also somewhat unskilled.

I was more surprised that Rousey didn't show Holm any respect, and wouldn't touch gloves with her before the fight. That lack of respect could be the result of taking Holm too lightly.

Rousey's aggressiveness might have gone missing in Australia as the media fawned over her, or perhaps she acted like a jerk toward Holm because she was actually scared and knew what was coming.

If she hopes to beat Holm, she will need a boxing trainer, someone such as Teddy Atlas or Sugar Ray Leonard to sharpen her skills and technique, because Holm is already an established boxer.

Rousey, with an overnight stay in the hospital after the fight and the need for plastic surgery to close a deep cut on her lip, said via her Instagram account that she'll "be back" after taking some time off. I don't know if she'll want to fight Holm again, but she may be willing to take a beating for a share of a purse with a ton of money and a chance to redeem herself.

I know the upset was the biggest story of the weekend because I just wrote this column on women's boxing when the Bears had a big victory and there was plenty of great college football to watch.

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