According to a March 5 report from MMA Junkie, Sara McMann isn't concerned about falling victim to the same bush league tactics that Sheila Gaff used to defeat Jennifer Maia at CWFC - Fight Night 4 in 2012.
"I usually don't touch gloves, so I didn't really think about it," McMann said after watching Gaff's fight with Maia. "Even other people touching gloves, there's always a risk for anybody doing that. That's why I assume that when you touch gloves in the beginning, that's when you're touching gloves. I don't start out slow, so I don't worry about it."
The Gaff vs Maia fight was controversial in MMA circles because "The German Tank" floored her opponent during the traditional bout-opening touch of the gloves.
Gaff's opponent stretched out her hand to touch gloves, and she was met rudely with a swarm of punches and knees that left her defeated and unconscious.
"People do that in wrestling, so I guess I'll just be a little more aware of it so it doesn't throw me off my game," McMann said. "Sometimes the ref catches it, and sometimes they don't. I really go out there more for my game plan.
"I like a high, intense pace too. That's good for me. I didn't see a lot of her ground work. It's intense, which is what the UFC wants to see. They want people who are exciting and getting after it, so I think that's good."
With a victory over Gaff, McMann may be next in line to fight UFC bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey. The star judoka called McMann perhaps the toughest challenge that she'll have to deal with moving forward, so the fight makes sense on many levels.
But before she has the chance to fight Rousey, she'll have to get past Gaff. Bush league tactics aside, she just needs to find a way to secure the 'W'.
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