Ronda Rousey (left), first UFC women's champion in history Photo Credit: Esther Lin/Showtime

By Joshua Molina

The combat sports world is reeling from the International Olympic Committee’s stunning announcement that it intends to boot wrestling from the Olympics in 2020.  Strange to think one of the oldest sports in the world may get booted, but a badminton remains.

Let’s hope everyone from Rulon Gardner and Cael Sanderson to Sara McMann and Kurt Angle launch a public relations push to save one of the greatest sports and arts in the world.  Without the Olympics to aspire to, who knows how many wrestlers will never reach full potential as athletes.

. . . Speaking of McMann, she just signed with the UFC. With her Olympic pedigree as a silver medalist in wrestling, she’s a natural to fight Olympic judo bronze medalist Rousey.  McMann, Miesha Tate, Cat Zingano and new signee Alexis Davis will all be part of the UFC’s future post-Rousey.

Rousey has been deadly in the cage, tapping everyone out by wicked armbar. But what happens when she gets pinned or slammed or hit in the face?

As odd as it sounds, nobody knows how good Rousey is. Mike Tyson used to crush everybody. Until Buster Douglas hit him with an uppercut.

Will she tire? Can she pass guard? Can she stop a takedown?

Her Feb. 27 opponent Liz Carmouche may want to bring her bicycle into the cage. Let’s see what Rousey has in Round 4.

Rousey is no Kimbo Slice. Rousey is a world class athlete. Slice is not.

But both were perceived as tough and unstoppable inside the cage. But everyone is tough — until they get hit in the face.