Tag: Ronda Rousey

How the UFC Can Grow and Sell Women’s MMA

Remember that TMZ video of UFC President Dana White saying how women would never be seen inside the Octagon?  Boy, have times changed.With the rise of Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey, White has changed his tune on female mix…

Remember that TMZ video of UFC President Dana White saying how women would never be seen inside the Octagon?  Boy, have times changed.

With the rise of Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey, White has changed his tune on female mixed martial artists eventually joining the UFC.  Not only would this take women’s MMA to the next level, but it will also be a new financial frontier for the promotion.

For women to be successful inside the Octagon, the UFC will have to do a lot of work building up new female stars and prospects in order to create a viable and competitive division.

Women have shown they can bring in a wide audience this year as the all-female promotion Invicta FC has put on a myriad of strong shows and of course Rousey, who’s two headlining bouts for Strikeforce drew in the year’s top ratings on Showtime.

To take things to the next level, the UFC will have to keep building up stars such as Rousey, but also look to bring more attention to lesser known, yet equally skilled female fighters.  

While the likes of Miesha Tate and Sarah Kaufman have only garnered recent attention due to their bouts with the Strikeforce champ, both women are top-level warriors and could also turn into higher profile MMA celebrities under a UFC banner.

Critics are right to question Bellator‘s recent decision to put champ Zoila Gurgel on the untelevised undercard at Bellator 78, as the promotion missed a golden opportunity to bring more eyeballs to women’s MMA.  

In order for female fighters to gain the same amount of star power as their male counterparts, they first need their promotions to simply do their jobs: sell the fights.

The UFC knows better than to make the same gaffe as Bellator, but the promotion must realize that it needs to put in serious work to grow a potential women’s division.

One obvious route is to have a female edition of The Ultimate Fighter.  Not only would this immediately add a plethora of talent to the division, but it would also revive the franchise.  Regardless of who coaches, those women’s careers will also benefit from the increased exposure.

The UFC has recently toyed with the idea of putting on smaller, regional shows in certain countries to grow the sport in a more market-specific manner.  In some ways, Invicta FC fills that role here, filling in the gap for the lack of high-profile female events.  The world’s largest MMA promotion could also go this route and put on a smaller, female-focused show to grow the division on a more grassroots level.

Regardless of the promotion’s plan of attack, I have faith that a women’s division would flourish under the UFC banner.

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Heads Up, Gamblers: Ronda Rousey Is Already Favored to Beat Cris Cyborg in Their Fantasyland Matchup


(If you are implying that this photo has anything to do with odds…you’re probably right.) 

You’ve gotta love the kind of needless analysis and ridiculous speculation that the Internet era has brought to modern sports. Despite the fact that the Ronda Rousey vs. Cristiane Cyborg fight is still trapped in MMA purgatory, the mere possibility of the matchup is apparently enough for several gambling sites around the MMA blogosphere to start laying out the betting lines for what could be the biggest fight in WMMA history. If it ever happens.

Currently, the women’s bantamweight champion is listed between a -160 to -170 favorite over the former featherweight champ on various sports gambling sites. Sure, Cristiane hasn’t fought in nearly a year since she was stripped of her title for a positive steroids test, and Ronda hasn’t met a challenger with anywhere near the kind of devastating knockout power that Cyborg possesses, but who are we to judge the motives of our cyber-bookie overlords?


(If you are implying that this photo has anything to do with odds…you’re probably right.) 

You’ve gotta love the kind of needless analysis and ridiculous speculation that the Internet era has brought to modern sports. Despite the fact that the Ronda Rousey vs. Cristiane Cyborg fight is still trapped in MMA purgatory, the mere possibility of the matchup is apparently enough for several gambling sites around the MMA blogosphere to start laying out the betting lines for what could be the biggest fight in WMMA history. If it ever happens.

Currently, the women’s bantamweight champion is listed between a -160 to -170 favorite over the former featherweight champ on various sports gambling sites. Sure, Cristiane hasn’t fought in nearly a year since she was stripped of her title for a positive steroids test, and Ronda hasn’t met a challenger with anywhere near the kind of devastating knockout power that Cyborg possesses, but who are we to judge the motives of our cyber-bookie overlords?

There is also the fact that Strikeforce might not even be around to host the fight when Cyborg’s suspension is lifted, but we have a feeling a certain brash, bald gentleman will be more than willing to oversee things in their absence. The question is, will the UFC be able to top the kind of sexified promos that Strikeforce was able to churn out? Now that Cyborg has devoted her free time to prettying herself up, we would almost be willing to play along with th…

…I’m sorry, I couldn’t even finish typing that sentence without bursting into laughter. Then vomiting. So what do you think of these odds, Potato Nation? Are they on point? Off base? Who gives a flying fuck? It’s a slow news day, so pity us and don’t pick the obvious one.

Sort of Related: It fills us with great sorrow to inform you that the story we ran yesterday about Miesha Tate hosting “members only” webcam chats for the low, low price of $4.99 has indeed been proven false. Tate informed us via Twitter that the website is a fraud, so if any of you have already signed up for it, you can probably expect a Nigerian sex slave in the mail any day now. Not a total loss if you ask me.

–J. Jones

Impending Strikeforce-UFC Merger?: Lingering Questions That Could Use Answers

A few weeks ago, the MMA world was beside itself following rumors that Strikeforce was imminently ceasing operations. Though the rumors never came to pass, the fact remains that Strikeforce’s days are very, very numbered. While UFC fans anxiously await…

A few weeks ago, the MMA world was beside itself following rumors that Strikeforce was imminently ceasing operations. Though the rumors never came to pass, the fact remains that Strikeforce’s days are very, very numbered.

While UFC fans anxiously await the day their favorite organization adds some of the top talent still fighting in the California-based promotion…hold on a minute. There are still plenty of questions out there about how this will play out. Zuffa, for a variety of reasons, simply will not be able to (and likely would not want to) just dump about 100 new fighters into the promotion.

So as Scott Coker plans for his fast-approaching unemployment, what should fans be asking? What should media members be asking at UFC post-fight press conferences? What are the biggest uncertainties about the inevitable closing of Strikeforce?

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Quote of the Day: Dana White Says Women’s MMA is “Absolutely Going to Happen” in the UFC


(Let’s just say that Cristiane has a way of “convincing” men to do what she wants. We won’t give away the secret, but it involves a garden hose, a tub of creamed corn, a circus midget, and a LOT of tears.) 

What a difference one year (and a smokin’ hot champion) can make.

Over the past few months, we’ve seen UFC President Dana White pull a 180 on such topics as TRT, fights that “make sense,” and most importantly, women’s MMA. Where less than a year ago, Dana could be quoted as saying that we would “never” see women in the UFC — unless they were informing us what round it is, of course — nowadays, his attitude seems to have shifted in the opposite direction. This could partially be due to the success of such smaller promotions as InvictaFC, but is more a result of Dana’s budding fascination with Ronda Rousey, who he has referred to as “unique,” “a Diaz brother,” and “a f*cking dude trapped in this beautiful body.” We’re not sure how he would consider the second quality to be all that endearing, but needless to say, The Baldfather recently informed Sports Illustrated that WMMA is on its way to the UFC:

It’s absolutely going to happen.

[It] could happen tomorrow, it could happen a year from now.

We’ve just heard word that Scott Coker has hung himself.


(Let’s just say that Cristiane has a way of “convincing” men to do what she wants. We won’t give away the secret, but it involves a garden hose, a tub of creamed corn, a circus midget, and a LOT of tears.) 

What a difference one year (and a smokin’ hot champion) can make.

Over the past few months, we’ve seen UFC President Dana White pull a 180 on such topics as TRT, fights that “make sense,” and most importantly, women’s MMA. Where less than a year ago, Dana could be quoted as saying that we would “never” see women in the UFC – unless they were informing us what round it is, of course — nowadays, his attitude seems to have shifted in the opposite direction. This could partially be due to the success of such smaller promotions as InvictaFC, but is more a result of Dana’s budding fascination with Ronda Rousey, who he has referred to as “unique,” “a Diaz brother,” and “a f*cking dude trapped in this beautiful body.” We’re not sure how he would consider the second quality to be all that endearing, but needless to say, The Baldfather recently informed Sports Illustrated that WMMA is on its way to the UFC:

It’s absolutely going to happen.

[It] could happen tomorrow, it could happen a year from now.

We’ve just heard word that Scott Coker has hung himself.

In all seriousness, this is undoubtedly a great piece of news for female MMA fighters, especially those under the Strikforce banner who could find themselves out of work in under a year’s time. The question now becomes: Just how long will it be until we see DW attempt a power grab on InvictaFC, or tries to sign one of their most popular fighters mere seconds after their contract has expired?

Of course, both Ronda and the opponent everyone wants to see her fight, Cris Cyborg, have been battling over what weight class the fight would be held at, with neither side willing to budge an inch, but something tells us DW will use everything in his power to convince one of the two otherwise.

Time will tell.

–J. Jones

Strikeforce: Is It Worth Keeping on Life Support or Not?

It’s odd to think that just a couple of years ago, regional promotion Strikeforce was considered a distant competitor to the UFC.Now, it’s a shadow of its former self, having been bought by UFC parent company Zuffa in March 2011. Most of Strikeforce’s …

It’s odd to think that just a couple of years ago, regional promotion Strikeforce was considered a distant competitor to the UFC.

Now, it’s a shadow of its former self, having been bought by UFC parent company Zuffa in March 2011. Most of Strikeforce’s best talent has been swallowed up by its bigger brother and injuries have killed off the remainder of the promotion’s 2012 events.

More than anyone else, the fighters in this league suffer the most.

Most of Strikeforce’s remaining stars (Gilbert Melendez, Luke Rockhold, Ronaldo Souza) fight twice a year, and that’s if they’re lucky. Heck, the promotion still doesn’t have anything lined up for their vacant light heavyweight title.

Even worse, Strikeforce’s female fighters are so desperate for events that they’re relegated to seeking out “talent sharing” options with Invicta FC and other regional promotions.

So with all that trouble and all that talent suffering in limbo, is there even a point to Strikeforce’s continued existence? Does it have anything valuable to offer to the MMA world?

Yes. Strikeforce can be saved.

As pointless, mismanaged and publicly weak as it appears, there is a value in Strikeforce that can be mined for the future. But it’ll take some huge steps to get there—steps that may seem crazy.

Step 1: Get Strikeforce Away From Showtime

Although much of the blame sits on the UFC for Strikeforce’s woes, an equal amount has to fall on cable network Showtime.

As reported by Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer (via Bloody Elbow), some Strikeforce fighters have contract stipulations that prevent them from jumping ship to the UFC. In essence, it’s a rumored blacklist that’s reserved for Strikeforce’s biggest stars.

Showtime Sports president denied to MMA Fighting‘s MMA Hour that such a list actually exists, but regardless of whether he’s telling the truth, the truth is just as problematic as the possible lie. No matter what, Strikeforce will suffer in a petty tug-of-war between Zuffa and Showtime as long as valuable talent remains in the mix.

To begin the healing, Showtime has to pull the plug on Strikeforce, or at least be compensated well enough to let the promotion go. Considering how far the UFC took their grudge with Spike TV, one would hope that cooler heads might prevail in that negotiation.

Step 2: Revive Strikeforce as an All-Women’s MMA Promotion

One thing that’s always set Strikeforce apart from the rest of the American MMA scene was its dedication to hosting female fighters.

Even when the women’s roster was little more than an excuse to serve up overmatched victims to former featherweight champion Gina Carano, the San Jose-based company put women’s MMA in the spotlight in a way that no one else really could.

If Zuffa and the UFC want to wrangle value out of Strikeforce at a minimum risk, they need to eliminate the men’s division altogether, absorb the best fighters there, and open up the women’s roster to at least three weight classes.

Invicta FC can run a semi-popular calendar of events with little more than good wishes and packing tape. Since that much is possible on such a small budget, it’s fair to say Zuffa wouldn’t be investing a ton of money on an all-women’s league.

Plus, it kills several birds with one stone.

Ronda Rousey gets to stay at the top of a well-known MMA promotion, it gives women’s MMA more time to evolve as a marketable product (before eventually getting absorbed into the UFC), and Zuffa can stick Strikeforce events on FX or FUEL TV to fill their lengthy calendar.

Step 3: Actually Start Giving a Crap About Strikeforce

One of the biggest problems facing Strikeforce is that it’s vastly under-promoted.

When your own champions lament the amount of empty seats at weigh-ins and press conferences, that’s a problem all around. Maybe getting Dana White to hype Strikeforce events is stretching the UFC president a bit too thin, but you need to have someone in the trenches getting things done.

That someone isn’t Scott Coker. As a figurehead, he’s harmless and dutiful—as a promoter, he’s more boring than Ben Askren’s fights.

If Strikeforce as an all-women’s league would have any chance to succeed, Zuffa would have to actually make a concerned effort to sell the brand to viewers. Invicta FC and their legion of mid-level talent can generate 200,000 viewers an event, so doing at least 500,000 with Rousey, Miesha Tate or Cyborg Santos in title fights on free TV can’t be much harder.

Believe it or not, Strikeforce is worth saving. Even on life support, it can hang on as a worthy niche success—it all just depends on Zuffa and the UFC bothering to make the effort.

[McKinley Noble is an MMA conspiracy theorist and FightFans Radio writer. His work has appeared in GamePro, Macworld and PC World. Talk with him on Twitter.]

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Ronda Rousey: Behind the Scenes of Her UFC Magazine Shoot

If you subscribe to UFC magazine, it probably didn’t escape your notice that Ronda Rousey adorned the cover of the serial publication’s August issue.The edition was the first half of a two-part Olympic theme the UFC conjured up for …

If you subscribe to UFC magazine, it probably didn’t escape your notice that Ronda Rousey adorned the cover of the serial publication’s August issue.

The edition was the first half of a two-part Olympic theme the UFC conjured up for its product, with Rousey featured on the August cover and Dan Henderson—another former USA Olympian—featured on the September publication.

Though Rousey‘s cover shot has been in circulation for a few months now, here’s your chance to get just a little bit more Ronda. 

The behind the scenes video (hat tip to Fighthub for the post) features Rousey waxing philosophical, leading cameras around the room, frolicking on training equipment (though the frolicking is more child-climbing-a-tree than sexual, so temper your expectations) and, of course, picking people up and tossing them to the mat.

And, keep in mind that the shoot was for an Olympic themed issue of UFC magazine, so naturally, Rousey does sport an oversized, unbuttoned “USA” emblazoned coat. 

Rousey‘s cover-girl status is very much emblematic of her rising star in the sport of mixed martial arts. Consider that she has now been featured on a magazine for a promotion she is not in, and one with no female fighters. 

Also consider that that accolade seems to be little more than a drop in the bucket of the publicity she’s enjoyed this year.

And with each victory in the Strikeforce cage, and each branding initiative outside it, the Rousey image continues to figure more prominently into today’s MMA scene. 

Enjoy the video.

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