First there was Gina Carano, then came Miesha Tate and “Cyborg” Santos, but none of these pioneers in women’s MMA have risen to popularity like current Strikeforce women’s 135-pound champion Ronda Rousey.
Rousey recently broke into the mainstream by appearing on the cover of the ESPN The Magazine‘s “Body” issue, baring all for the publication in a nude photo shoot.
However, her recent appearance on Conan on TBS proves that her popularity isn’t going anywhere.
Host Conan O’Brien asked about Rousey’s nickname, “the arm collector,” and she answered that she got the nickname because she has finished each of her first eight professional MMA fights by way of submission, all in the first round, all with an armbar.
Rousey demonstrated the science behind the maneuver, explaining that the arm doesn’t typically break so much as it dislocates. This was exactly what happened in Rousey’s most recent bout against Miesha Tate back in March of this year, when Rousey popped Tate’s elbow with an armbar before getting a submission to become the Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion.
A horrified O’Brien looked on with the audience as a video from the bout played on the screen.
“Make it stop, make it stop,” O’Brien said, covering his eyes as Rousey laughed.
“It’s okay, I didn’t like her that much,” Rousey said.
The Olympic judo bronze medalist is currently the subject of a two-episode special, All Access: Ronda Rousey on Showtime.
The Strikeforce women’s bantamweight championship will be on the line again on August 18th, when Rousey defends her title against top contender Sarah Kaufman, also on Showtime.
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