The outspoken, silver-tongued Ronda Rousey has likely saved women’s MMA due to her antics.
Can trash talk really save a sport, you ask?
Undeniably.
Women’s version of “men’s” sports are almost always less popular and, in the case of WMMA, possibly even hated because people—usually chauvinistic men who can’t stand to see strong females (perhaps there’s something Freudian there)—deem it inferior or morally reprehensible.
Thus, the fate of post-Gina Carano, post-Cyborg’s failed drug test WMMA was to eventually fall by the wayside and become something to be ignored, Miesha Tate and Sarah Kaufman notwithstanding.
This is not to the detriment of Tate, Kaufman and the other 135-pound female fighters. They are all talented and great fighters, it’s just that the majority of admittedly bloodthirsty MMA fans won’t tune into a niche promotion (Strikeforce) to watch a niche aspect of a niche sport to see fighters humbly respect one another.
Enter Olympic Judoka Ronda Rousey—four pro MMA fights, four wins, four arm-bars (each in under one minute)—who set the WMMA world ablaze with verbal attacks that would impress even Chael Sonnen.
The MMA community reacted in different ways to Rousey’s antics. Some cherished her words and actions and made her their new MMA sweetheart in place of Carano or Tate, while some thought she was a disrespectful loudmouth.
But notice that last sentence, it was the the entire MMA community that reacted, not just the WMMA community.
Through brash words (and good looks), Rousey has saved women’s MMA from a rut of practically infinite stagnation.
Her words and deeds have rekindled people’s interests in women fighting and will even go one step further: they will inspire young girls to start training and perhaps even become future Ronda Rouseys, Miesha Tates, Sarah Kaufmans and Liz Carmouches.
Thus, Rousey saved WMMA not by just getting current fans to watch and become emotionally invested again, but saved it by increasing the chances that the women’s talent pool will continue to grow in the future.
Whether you love Ronda Rousey or hate her, you have to respect what she’s done for WMMA in only four fights and a few interviews.
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