Ronda Rousey leaves nothing to the imagination in her ESPN the Magazine Body Issue photo shoot, and the publicity she has received solidifies her place as MMA’s most recognizable female athlete.
The sexy Strikeforce star was one of the six athletes used for the covers of the magazine’s annual edition.
Rousey is not just a pretty face, and she has serious skills in the cage. The 25-year-old is 3-0 in amateur fights and 5-0 in professional fights. She is the currently Strikeforce bantamweight champion.
She also has the personality to draw headlines. Her trash talking has always attracted attention, and she continues to back it up in the ring.
Her most recent verbal jabs have not been directed at other fighters, but instead at Kim Kardashian. Speaking at the ESPY awards, Rousey said the following, via Fox Sports.com.
You know what? I would beat the crap out of Kim Kardashian, actually. Any girl who is famous and idolized because she made a sex video with some guy.
Why is everyone slipping it under the carpet now? I don’t want some girl whose entire fame is based on a sex video to be selling Sketchers to my 13-year-old little sister.
Rousey was responding to a question about a celebrity should would like to beat up, and showed that she was not afraid to answer a question which was clearly designed to coax a controversial answer.
Rousey’s is quick-witted, sexy and a devastating fighter. All of these are attributes that make her a star, and she has put them to good use.
Her unfiltered comments, scintillating photo shoot for ESPN and the whoopings she’s laid down during her fights have all created headlines. With more barbs, beatings and breathtaking magazine spreads likely in her future, her fame will continue to grow.
The sports biggest star up until now was Gina Carano, but she attracted attention for her movie career, and not as a fighter.
Rousey is attracting plenty of attention and shows no sign of pursuing a career outside of MMA. She is a rising star and she, more than anyone else, will elevate the exposure of her sport.
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