Ronda Rousey is a blossoming star in the UFC world, and you only have to glance at the financial figures to see how.
According to Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times, the organization brought in over $1.4 million in ticket sales at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., plus approximately 500,000 purchases on live pay-per-view and replay.
Considering the cost of $44.99 for a standard definition experience and $54.99 in high definition, the UFC may have brought in well over $22 million from television buyers.
UFC president Dana White confirmed (via Pugmire) that Rousey would continue to be a main draw for his organization after the bout, and it’s no surprise when looking at the numbers.
The fight between Rousey and Liz Carmouche for the women’s bantamweight title at UFC 157 lasted only four minutes and 49 seconds before Rousey made her opponent submit with an armbar and became the first woman to win in the UFC Octagon.
Before the submission, there was a back-and-forth battle, with Carmouche nearly pulling the upset with a rear-naked choke. However, Rousey countered and eventually emerged victorious.
It certainly left fans wanting more and was arguably the most exciting match on the card. White is a genius for promoting Rousey in this way, and her star power should only continue to grow with more victories and title defenses.
This bout likely smashed the former women’s PPV record of 125,000 buys (as per Pugmire)—a fight between the daughters of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier—and may be the first of many record-breaking matches that Rousey participates in.
The 26-year-old Rowdy is a UFC goldmine, and there’s a good chance we see a lot more of her in the future. After all, she’s making the company money, providing great entertainment and bringing in new fans from all walks of life.
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