Whether you love her, hate her or just enjoy looking at her, there’s no denying that UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey has started her ascent to ultimate stardom.
Backed by one of the most convincing and intelligently clad commissioners in sports, Rousey’s in-cage dominance has been paired with the UFC’s persistent promotion machine to form one of the most complete packages in mixed martial arts today.
Now while the champ’s recent destruction of Olympic medalist Sara McMann at UFC 170 was outstanding in its own right, her potential and reflective accomplishments go way beyond one Octagon performance.
Instead, she encompasses much more. She holds the key to a limitless growth that will not only make her the biggest draw in the sport, but it will allow her to headline the women’s movement more so than anyone ever imagined.
Is it borderline crazy to see that the UFC’s plans for Rousey have played out to perfection? Kind of.
Is it crazy that she is now encroaching on the pound-for-pound best in the sport? It shouldn’t.
At 9-0 with nine finishes, “Rowdy” has looked downright untouchable. The very best strikers in the division and the very best wrestler in the division have looked outmatched at every turn opposite an athletically driven judo specialist who has evolved her striking exponentially.
Her ability to flourish not only inside the cage but out of it has given Rousey an opportunity of a lifetime. She has a chance to become the pound-for-pound best fighter on the planet.
Because not for nothing, but the 27-year-old is already knocking on the door. Sure, she has a little more work to do to catch up to the likes of Jon Jones, Cain Velasquez, Jose Aldo, Demetrious Johnson and Renan Barao, but she’s on her way.
As an athlete who prides herself on perfecting her craft and destroying opponents in all facets, Rousey has simply been amazing. Her attitude often fuels her Octagon ferocity, but that’s what makes her the dynamic and controlling specimen that she is.
If the UFC continues to put the hammer to the nail and solidify her role as a main event headliner, there’s no saying how big the Hollywood movie star can get.
Because just based on her fighting capabilities and overall resume, there’s nobody in the world right now as prolific and transcendent as she is.
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