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Ronda Rousey Comments on Women's MMA are a Double Edged Sword

By Siri Karri

In a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Ariel Hewani, female MMA fighter Ronda Rousey (3-0) stated that she didn’t mind being an object of controversy and that women’s MMA needed “someone more like a Tito Ortiz-type personality . . . ” in order to become more successful, though she quickly qualified it by saying, “not that I’m trying to be that much of a d–k”. Tito Ortiz is part of the superstar trio (Tito, Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell) who became the true faces of the UFC. For women’s MMA to have an equally polarizing yet popular character would undoubtedly catapult the sport’s ratings. Who could disagree with logic such as this?

Well, I can!

First off, I appreciate Rousey’s honesty AND willingness to be the “bad girl” so long as it helps popularize women’s MMA. Hell even if it DIDN’T help the sport, being the “nice guy” or “nice girl” is overrated and it’s far more satisfying being brutally honest as the majority of the population scream and run lest they be forced to actually think. So good for you Ronda! But then there’s that little clause of needing to do it in order to make women’s MMA successful . . .

Allow me to burst your bubble, if I may.

As almost all accounts of the UFC will tell you, the organization was caught between the glass ceiling of how popular their sport could become while still unable to make significant money up until the early 2000’s. Keep in mind that at this time Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture and Tito Ortiz were still fighting in the UFC. You see, the UFC wasn’t held back by its lack of affable personalities as much as it was the stigma surrounding the sport. It wasn’t until TUF 1 where Forrest Griffin, Josh Koscheck and Chris Leben exposed the human element of cage fighting that the UFC’s mainstream success skyrocketed. It was then those fighters’ salaries rose exponentially and champions were recognized around the world.

Rousey’s brash, take no prisoners attitude will certainly be beneficial , but only after women’s MMA manages to break through the stereotypes and stigmas holding it back . . . NONE of which she will be doing.

The problem is that there’s always the annoying mix of fact and prejudice that goes “Boys can always do it better”. If you want my opinion on this, view my article regarding women’s MMA here. Tito Ortiz may have been an a-hole, but he backed up by redefining the phrase “ground and pound” with a brutal title reign. Chuck Liddell’s knockouts are so iconic that they are STILL being replayed on Spike TV to this alongside his modern compatriots. Randy Couture fought bigger, stronger, and younger opponents and dominated them. Who could forget his fights against the 250 lb. Gabriel Gonzaga and the 6′ 8″ Tim Sylvia?

Where are those feats in women’s MMA? I have yet to see a fighter on the female circuit that has put together an eye pleasing performance as Chuck or a brutal display as Tito. And let’s not forget that the majority of women fight at or under 145 lbs. How are you supposed to slay a “giant” and/or a “knockout artist” when neither one has yet to exist in women’s MMA? When someone HAS accomplished said feats, being controversial is considered “swagger”. When they haven’t as in Rousey’s case . . . she runs the risk of coming off as a mildly entertaining freak instead of a flagship athlete.

See, I like Ronda Rousey’s honesty. But the fact is she’s trying to promote something that isn’t there yet. Do we need an all women’s MMA organization? Perhaps a female TUF? I don’t know, but it couldn’t hurt. Right now however, Rousey is doing nothing to solve the real problem surrounding women’s MMA.

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