“Rowdy” Ronda Rousey has rocketed to fame as the latest “Face of Women’s MMA,” and she’s pushed awareness and enthusiasm for her sport to new heights. Now making history as the first female champion in the UFC, it’s entirely possible that the best thing that could happen to WMMA is for Ronda Rousey to lose.
Ronda Rousey made her pro debut two years ago this March, defeating a scary Brazilian lady very quickly via armbar. Since then, she’s burst into the mainstream consciousness — as much as she can inhabit the mainstream, competing in a fringe sport like MMA —and has almost single-handedly driven interest in women’s mixed martial arts competition. Her background as a lifelong judoka and Olympic medalist immediately establishes her a legitimate athlete, while her looks have won her a bit of extra hype. Not that the hype was undeserved: Rousey has demolished her competition, notching six straight first-round stoppages by armbar.
That dominance is what gained her the attention of the man who previously maintained that he had no interest in female cage-fighting. After gaining control of a double-handful of women’s contracts when Zuffa obtained rival promotion Strikeforce, Dana White couldn’t help but change his mind about gender-equality in the Octagon. Rousey was pushing attendance, she was a moneymaker, and White chases money like a Kardashian chases famous dick: single-mindedly, without shame, and intent to take it all in. That he would also be cockblocking (snirk) another promotion by denying them the most marketable fighters in the market would just be icing on the cake.
And make no mistake: that’s exactly what’s going on here. What may at first seem like a boon for female fighters — the increased visibility of the world’s top MMA promotion in the UFC — also has the effect of skimming the top talent from the free agent pool and keeping them from Invicta Fighting Championships, a promotion that’s actually dedicated to the advancement of the women’s division.
(Wow, we even got *Ronda’s* attention with that troll-headline. Photo via Neil Davidson/Canadian Press)
“Rowdy” Ronda Rousey has rocketed to fame as the latest “Face of Women’s MMA,” and she’s pushed awareness and enthusiasm for her sport to new heights. Now making history as the first female champion in the UFC, it’s entirely possible that the best thing that could happen to WMMA is for Ronda Rousey to lose.
Ronda Rousey made her pro debut two years ago this March, defeating a scary Brazilian lady very quickly via armbar. Since then, she’s burst into the mainstream consciousness — as much as she can inhabit the mainstream, competing in a fringe sport like MMA —and has almost single-handedly driven interest in women’s mixed martial arts competition. Her background as a lifelong judoka and Olympic medalist immediately establishes her a legitimate athlete, while her looks have won her a bit of extra hype. Not that the hype was undeserved: Rousey has demolished her competition, notching six straight first-round stoppages by armbar.
That dominance is what gained her the attention of the man who previously maintained that he had no interest in female cage-fighting. After gaining control of a double-handful of women’s contracts when Zuffa obtained rival promotion Strikeforce, UFC president Dana White couldn’t help but change his mind about gender-equality in the Octagon. Rousey was pushing attendance, she was a moneymaker, and White chases money like a Kardashian chases famous dick: single-mindedly, without shame, and intent to take it all in. That he would also be cockblocking (snirk) another promotion by denying them the most marketable fighters in the market would just be icing on the cake.
And make no mistake: that’s exactly what’s going on here. What may at first seem like a boon for female fighters — the increased visibility of the world’s top MMA promotion in the UFC — also has the effect of skimming the top talent from the free agent pool and keeping them from Invicta Fighting Championships, a promotion that’s actually dedicated to the advancement of the women’s division.
Invicta could certainly use some of that star power right now. The fledgling promotion, just ten months into operation with its fifth show planned in April, has done a fantastic job of putting together a roster full of talent, but they’ve had to build their own stars from scratch. The shows themselves are really entertaining, but casual fans don’t know more than a few female fighters, and none of them are under contract with Invicta FC.
If Liz Carmouche manages to pull an upset on Ronda Rousey, we’ll probably see Dana lose interest in the women’s division. Zingano-Tate is already buried on a TUF Finale card, the winner would maybe get Carmouche sometime in the fall, and then all the ladies would be quietly let go. The numbers just weren’t right, they’ll say. The fans just aren’t ready.
Then, in January of 2014, Invicta FC’s eighth event — a $20 pay per view over a reliable HD stream headlined by Invicta FC Bantamweight champ Sara McMann vs rebounding “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey — breaks all previous records for WMMA audiences.
In November of 2017, Invicta will broadcast its first show on NBC, featuring five title fights ranging from atomweight to featherweight.
In July of 2023, Gina Carano will induct McMann and Rousey as part of the inaugural Women’s MMA Hall of Fame, calling their fight “the turning point” for female mixed martial arts.
In October of 2056, former UFC president Dana White drifts into his eternal slumber, whispering the name of his boyhood sled as he passes from this world into the next. Nobody is around to hear him.
(Because of its needlessly tall dimensions — you’ll see — we’ve placed the video after the jump.)
Because it has been over three years since Gina Carano has fought, we don’t hear from the former “Face of Women’s MMA” as often as we’d like to, but the fighter-turned-actress was in New Orleans for the Super Bowl over the weekend, and filmed a rare interview with SB Nation in which she tried to clear up whether or not she is actually retired from MMA and what she thinks about the elusive Ronda Rousey vs. “Cyborg” Santos mega-bout.
On being called a current fighter, Carano drew an important distinction. “I haven’t fought in three years and right now I’m focusing on films…that’s what my focus is,” she explained. “I think that if your focus is fighting, then you’re a fighter and that’s not my focus right now.”
“Conviction” wouldn’t close the door on her ever fighting again, however. “You can’t say that.”
“I wake up every morning and I surprise myself. I wake up to a new me. I still train.”
She last sparred about two weeks ago, in fact, and “felt really good.”
Carano went on to say that Rousey deserves the hype and attention, and also called shenanigans on Santos claim that she’d be facing certain death if she were to cut down to 135 pounds — the prerequisite for her fighting Rousey, according to UFC President Dana White. Carano doesn’t believe that Uncle Dana is being unfair to “Cyborg” by making the former 145 pound champ drop down to 135 in order to fight in the UFC and, potentially, against Rousey.
“I don’t think so…she made it down there a lot easier than I made it down there. That’s for Cyborg to figure out,” Gina said.
(We’ve placed the video after the jump; when you see it, you’ll understand.)
Because it has been over three years since Gina Carano has fought, we don’t hear from the former “Face of Women’s MMA” as often as we’d like to, but the fighter-turned-actress was in New Orleans for the Super Bowl over the weekend, and filmed a rare interview with SB Nation in which she tried to clear up whether or not she is actually retired from MMA and what she thinks about the elusive Ronda Rousey vs. “Cyborg” Santos mega-bout.
On being called a current fighter, Carano drew an important distinction. “I haven’t fought in three years and right now I’m focusing on films…that’s what my focus is,” she explained. “I think that if your focus is fighting, then you’re a fighter and that’s not my focus right now.”
“Conviction” wouldn’t close the door on her ever fighting again, however. “You can’t say that.”
“I wake up every morning and I surprise myself. I wake up to a new me. I still train.”
She last sparred about two weeks ago, in fact, and “felt really good.”
Carano went on to say that Rousey deserves the hype and attention, and also called shenanigans on Santos claim that she’d be facing certain death if she were to cut down to 135 pounds — the prerequisite for her fighting Rousey, according to UFC President Dana White. Carano doesn’t believe that Uncle Dana is being unfair to “Cyborg” by making the former 145 pound champ drop down to 135 in order to fight in the UFC and, potentially, against Rousey.
“I don’t think so…she made it down there a lot easier than I made it down there. That’s for Cyborg to figure out,” Gina said.
“It bummed me out that Ronda and Cyborg weren’t the first [women’s] UFC fight..at least we’re in there.”
There have been many landmark events in MMA history — the inception of the UFC in 1993, the debut of The Ultimate Fighter in 2005, the fall of PRIDE in 2007, and the acquisition of Strikeforce in 2011. As 2013 gets underway, it’s already becoming apparent that the sport is undergoing a series of events that will change it forever.
THE DISSOLUTION OF STRIKEFORCE
On March 12, 2011, Zuffa acquired Strikeforce. Although the San Jose-based promotion was subsequently stripped of many of its best fighters, television network Showtime opted to renew their broadcast deal with the promotion — until now. The January 13, 2013 show headlined by Nate Marquardt vs. Tarec Saffiedine will be the promotion’s death knell, as the name “Strikeforce” takes its final resting place in the cemetery next to Affliction, WEC, PRIDE, Elite XC, BodogFight, and the IFL.
There were obvious benefits in Zuffa stringing Showtime along as a broadcast partner of the increasingly-diluted Strikeforce brand: It kept Showtime from seeking a new promoter, independent of Zuffa, to partner with. Currently, promotions like Shark Fights, Legacy Fighting Championship, Invicta FC, and Xtreme Fighting Championships are in the running as potential broadcast partners for Showtime. For the winning promotion(s), mainstream television exposure on CBS might also be possible, just as CBS aired Strikeforce events in the past.
However, no matter which promotion Showtime airs, the most significant component of the deal comes down to what brand-name fighters can be acquired to get better ratings and more subscribers for Showtime.
THE RISE OF BELLATOR
(Do women in the UFC represent a new path to the future, or business as usual? Photo via Esther Lin/MMAFighting)
There have been many landmark events in MMA history — the inception of the UFC in 1993, the debut of The Ultimate Fighter in 2005, the fall of PRIDE in 2007, and the acquisition of Strikeforce in 2011. As 2013 gets underway, it’s already becoming apparent that the sport is undergoing a series of events that will change it forever.
THE DISSOLUTION OF STRIKEFORCE
On March 12, 2011, Zuffa acquired Strikeforce. Although the San Jose-based promotion was subsequently stripped of many of its best fighters, television network Showtime opted to renew their broadcast deal with the promotion — until now. The January 13, 2013 show headlined by Nate Marquardt vs. Tarec Saffiedine will be the promotion’s death knell, as the name “Strikeforce” takes its final resting place in the cemetery next to Affliction, WEC, PRIDE, Elite XC, BodogFight, and the IFL.
There were obvious benefits in Zuffa stringing Showtime along as a broadcast partner of the increasingly-diluted Strikeforce brand: It kept Showtime from seeking a new promoter, independent of Zuffa, to partner with. Currently, promotions like Shark Fights, Legacy Fighting Championship, Invicta FC, and Xtreme Fighting Championships are in the running as potential broadcast partners for Showtime. For the winning promotion(s), mainstream television exposure on CBS might also be possible, just as CBS aired Strikeforce events in the past.
However, no matter which promotion Showtime airs, the most significant component of the deal comes down to what brand-name fighters can be acquired to get better ratings and more subscribers for Showtime.
THE RISE OF BELLATOR
Free of any contractual obligations to Zuffa, Spike TV is now free to air Bellator on the network, which they’ll begin doing next week. With its tournament-style format, a planned reality show, recruitment of new talent, and investment from media conglomerate Viacom, it seems that fortunes may change for Bellator in 2013.
Most importantly of all, Spike TV used to be the home of the UFC. Since Spike has been airing the back-library of the UFC for the last year, Bellator can take advantage of brand confusion and piggy-back off of the UFC’s former audience.
THE VALUE OF FREE AGENTS IN MMA
Former Bellator fighter Hector Lombard was bought by the UFC with a rumored price-tag that included a $400,000 signing bonus, a $300,000 purse per fight, and per-per-view participation points. Bellator fighter Eddie Alvarez is reputed to have been offered a UFC contract with a $250,000 signing bonus, $70,000 to show and $70,000 to win, as well as pay-per-view points and a vague promise thrown in about an intended title shot.
How does this compare to the typical pay scale in the UFC? UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson earned just $39,000 to fight and $39,000 to win against Nate Diaz for the UFC on Fox 5 show in December 2012. Bendo has to be fuming at the thought of Alvarez being granted the option of making multiple times the money Bendo currently earns as champion of the biggest organization in the world.
The Zuffa fighters who are signed into long-term contracts for low money and tiny increments in pay with each win don’t really have any options. But the fighters signed to short-term deals or with just 1-3 fights left on their contracts can tempt fate by seeing what the new Showtime MMA promotion or Bellator would be willing to offer them. Zuffa usually has to pay only slightly more than their competitors in order to maintain control over the fighters. Thanks to increased competition, some fighters might actually be able to get more money than before.
THE PAY-PER-VIEW MARKET
Zuffa faced hard times in 2012 due to the retirement of many prominent UFC stars. Add injury woes to the equation, and 2012 was yet another year of disappointing pay-per-view receipts for Zuffa. 2011 had already marked the first year that PPV revenue declined.
It’s easy to point fingers like Zuffa has done at Jon Jones over the cancellation of UFC 151. Jon Jones, originally slated to meet Dan Henderson in the main event of UFC 151, refused to face Chael Sonnen on short notice. Zuffa knew that without at least one major star on the card, the pay-per-view would tank, and pulled the plug on the event.
In truth, whether you like him or hate him, Jon Jones is one of the few new stars who can carry the UFC forward through the next decade. The light-heavyweight belt has been held by a variety of revolving-door champions since Chuck Liddell, the last dominant champion, lost the strap to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in 2007. Jones has drawn good numbers, like an estimated 700,000 for his rivalry with Rashad Evans at UFC 145. Like Calvin Candie from Django Unchained, Zuffa doesn’t really have to respect their fighters in order to profit greatly from them — and there seems to be no love lost between Dana White and Jon Jones.
The pay-per-view market is so important to Zuffa that Dan Henderson was passed over for the title shot he had already earned in favor of Chael Sonnen, coming off a loss to Anderson Silva, being gifted with a title shot against Jon Jones.
With no official rankings or mandatory contenders in mixed martial arts, fighters like Dan Henderson and Johny Hendricks will just have to wait their turn to fight for the title — assuming they ever get one.
WOMEN IN THE UFC
Next up is the highly-touted UFC arrival of Strikeforce 135-pound champion Ronda Rousey, who will square off with Liz Carmouche at UFC 157 in February. While this fight is certainly a watershed moment for gender equality in the sport, the UFC’s underlying motivations are nothing new. Rousey is like Gina Carano before her — a valuable asset who can headline shows, sell pay-per-views and tickets (although perhaps not as many as other major UFC stars, at least at this stage).
Zuffa is smart not to leave a 6-0 champion who has finished every fight via armbar for another promotion to use. That would be like leaving money on the table, something Zuffa is not exactly known for doing. If female fighters begin to connect with MMA fans on a larger scale — which they’re already doing, if Invicta FC’s growing audience is any indication — the UFC could find itself with a brand-new revenue stream.
Next up on the equality platform, watching Dana White scream, “Do you wanna be a fucking fighter”? at the next batch of female UFC hopefuls when they question why their “exhibition” matches on The Ultimate Fighter don’t pay anything.
THE RETURN OF THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION?
The FTC’s investigation into Zuffa was closed in February 2012. That doesn’t mean that the case won’t be reopened at a future date. Until Showtime or Bellator make a successful bid for the pay-per-view market in MMA, the UFC is the dominant monopoly in the sport, period.
It’s not unheard of for the government to attempt to investigate combat sports in the US: The International Boxing Club (IBC) had a stranglehold over boxing in the ’50s, until the United States Department of Justice declared the organization a monopoly and ordered the IBC’s dissolution in 1959.
There are many UFC fighters who might welcome an FTC investigation with open arms, especially if new laws were enacted to improve their bargaining position with the organization. Many fighters just want to see some transparency, as they are curious about the promotion’s revenue from television licensing, merchandise and other streams that Zuffa earns off their backs.
CONCLUSION
2013 could be the biggest year yet for changes in mixed martial arts. As the sport continues to grow, profits continue to rise. Only a select few have been able to capitalize on the upward trends for the sport, but this could be the year that shifts the balance of power between different stakeholders.
The promotions, television networks and fighters who are keenly following business forces and who understand how to create value will be the big winners at the end of the day. A lot is at stake, and there isn’t any room for failure in this sport.
MMA is on the verge of many developments that can transform the nature of the sport forever.
(We could have found a more pertinent photo but are you really going to complain?)
Amidst all the UFC 154 talk and Anderson Silva vs. GSP superfight speculation, UFC President Dana White took some time to discuss the UFC’s newest superstar, Ronda Rousey. The good news is that White says Ronda is now officially the UFC’s first female world champion, at 135 pounds.
Just as when the UFC absorbed WEC fighters after dissolving the organization and champions from divisions that previously had not existed in the UFC automatically became champs in their new homes, Ronda’s Strikeforce belt will be turned into a brand spanking new one. This is what happened with Dominick Cruz and Jose Aldo and now Rousey makes more history as the first ever female UFC champ.
The bad news, according to MMA Junkie that has the story from Montreal, is that right now White only has plans to have one female weight division – Ronda’s 135 pound one. Is anyone even thinking of poor, suspended and stripped former champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos?
The former Strikeforce 145 pound champ recently announced that her crack team of doctors said it would be utterly impossible for her to safely move down a weight class. Surely they considered the possibility of Santos cycling her steroid usage differently in order to become slightly less muscle-bound and, thus, lighter in coming up with their opinions.
In any case, White doesn’t seem to be buying Santos’ public stance that, A. she does want to fight Rousey and B. that there is no way she could safely drop ten pounds. White only has plans for a 135 pound female division and if ‘Cyborg’ wants in the UFC she’ll have to drop down to there.
“We’re bringing in the 135-pound division,” White said. “I’m trying this whole women’s thing out. Obviously, Ronda is the champ. I think Ronda has the potential to be a big star. She’s already getting media that we’ve never even gotten before, and she’s never even set foot in the UFC yet. That’s the division that we’re bringing in. We’re bringing in the 135-pound division.”
Uncle Dana also clearly thinks that the mean lady who took Gina Carano away from us is scared of Rousey, homie. “Our matchmakers have talked to their camp, and she doesn’t seem too excited to fight Ronda,” White said.
(We could have found a more pertinent photo but are you really going to complain?)
Amidst all the UFC 154 talk and Anderson Silva vs. GSP superfight speculation, UFC President Dana White took some time to discuss the UFC’s newest superstar, Ronda Rousey. The good news is that White says Ronda is now officially the UFC’s first female world champion, at 135 pounds.
Just as when the UFC absorbed WEC fighters after dissolving the organization and champions from divisions that previously had not existed in the UFC automatically became champs in their new homes, Ronda’s Strikeforce belt will be turned into a brand spanking new one. This is what happened with Dominick Cruz and Jose Aldo and now Rousey makes more history as the first ever female UFC champ.
The bad news, according to MMA Junkie that has the story from Montreal, is that right now White only has plans to have one female weight division – Ronda’s 135 pound one. Is anyone even thinking of poor, suspended and stripped former champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos?
The former Strikeforce 145 pound champ recently announced that her crack team of doctors said it would be utterly impossible for her to safely move down a weight class. Surely they considered the possibility of Santos cycling her steroid usage differently in order to become slightly less muscle-bound and, thus, lighter in coming up with their opinions.
In any case, White doesn’t seem to be buying Santos’ public stance that, A. she does want to fight Rousey and B. that there is no way she could safely drop ten pounds. White only has plans for a 135 pound female division and if ‘Cyborg’ wants in the UFC she’ll have to drop down to there.
“We’re bringing in the 135-pound division,” White said. “I’m trying this whole women’s thing out. Obviously, Ronda is the champ. I think Ronda has the potential to be a big star. She’s already getting media that we’ve never even gotten before, and she’s never even set foot in the UFC yet. That’s the division that we’re bringing in. We’re bringing in the 135-pound division.”
Uncle Dana also clearly thinks that the mean lady who took Gina Carano away from us is scared of Rousey, homie. “Our matchmakers have talked to their camp, and she doesn’t seem too excited to fight Ronda,” White said.
The scale of the opportunities for Rousey and whoever she fights could be huge, though, according to White. He said that the plan is for Rousey to headline a pay per view in her first UFC fight.
Also, he’s open to the idea of Rousey and another female fighter coaching (male) fighters on a season of The Ultimate Fighter. That’s cool, we guess, because of exposure for the two female fighter/coaches, but why not use TUF as a way of determining if the ranks of female fighters are truly as thin as White has always and still does maintain they are?
What with all the high quality female fighters in the U.S., Japan, Australia, Europe and elsewhere, such a scenario might make White’s argument that women fighters aren’t all that good or plentiful a little less convincing. Well, at least the (for now) one-woman female UFC division is a good start.
Who do you want to see Rousey fight first, nation? And are you in favor of ‘Cyborg’ cutting off a limb in order to make 135 and fight the rowdy one?
For your time, videos of some of our favorite female MMA fighters below.
“She’s beautiful,” White said. “But deep down inside, she’s a killer.”
Rousey also let the cat out of the bag on Twitter, writing: “Okay I admit it…I’m officially a @ufc fighter 🙂 SO excited! Can’t wait to debut! Let @danawhite know who you want my 1st opponent to be!”
Well…about that. It’s probably not going to be Cris Cyborg, and the only other woman who has reportedly been signed by the UFC is Miesha Tate — and I don’t see an immediate rematch of that massacre in anybody’s future. So who else is there? Want to give us any hints about these “really good opponents,” Dana? Sara McMann…where you at, girl?
“She’s beautiful,” White said. “But deep down inside, she’s a killer.”
Rousey also let the cat out of the bag on Twitter, writing: “Okay I admit it…I’m officially a @ufc fighter SO excited! Can’t wait to debut! Let @danawhite know who you want my 1st opponent to be!”
Well…about that. It’s probably not going to be Cris Cyborg, and the only other woman who has reportedly been signed by the UFC is Miesha Tate — and I don’t see an immediate rematch of that massacre in anybody’s future. So who else is there? Want to give us any hints about these “really good opponents,” Dana? Sara McMann…where you at, girl?
(Photo courtesy of Cassie’s Facebook page; click for full-size version. Full gallery is after the jump.)
Props to BabesofMMA for introducing us to Cassie Crisano, a 3-1 amateur MMA fighter from Middletown, New York, who will be making her professional debut this Saturday against Janice Meyer at Cage Fury Fighting Championships 17 in Dover, Delaware. The fight will be streamed live on CFFC.tv.
Like Miesha Tate before her, Cassie took to wrestling early in life, competing among the boys on her high school varsity team. Her competitive accomplishments included finishing second at the first Women’s National Wrestling tournament in Albuquerque, and becoming the 138-pound New York State women’s champion. After a long recovery from a near-fatal auto accident in 2002, Cassie began training in MMA four years ago, and made her amateur MMA debut in December 2010.
In her own words: “The problem with women in MMA is that there are just not enough of us to be able to take it to the next level as the men. There are too many women that want to be classified as ‘A FIGHTER’ but the skill level of being a well-rounded fighter is just not there. The talent pool is just not big enough yet. So when a one-trick pony pops up from out of nowhere they become a rising star which ultimately in the end makes women’s MMA look like it’s a joke.”
No offense, Ronda? Get to know Cassie better on Facebook and Twitter, and check out more of our favorite Cassie Crisano photos in the gallery below…
Props to BabesofMMA for introducing us to Cassie Crisano, a 3-1 amateur MMA fighter from Middletown, New York, who will be making her professional debut this Saturday against Janice Meyer at Cage Fury Fighting Championships 17 in Dover, Delaware. The fight will be streamed live on CFFC.tv.
Like Miesha Tate before her, Cassie took to wrestling early in life, competing among the boys on her high school varsity team. Her competitive accomplishments included finishing second at the first Women’s National Wrestling tournament in Albuquerque, and becoming the 138-pound New York State women’s champion. After a long recovery from a near-fatal auto accident in 2002, Cassie began training in MMA four years ago, and made her amateur MMA debut in December 2010.
In her own words: “The problem with women in MMA is that there are just not enough of us to be able to take it to the next level as the men. There are too many women that want to be classified as ‘A FIGHTER’ but the skill level of being a well-rounded fighter is just not there. The talent pool is just not big enough yet. So when a one-trick pony pops up from out of nowhere they become a rising star which ultimately in the end makes women’s MMA look like it’s a joke.”
No offense, Ronda? Get to know Cassie better on Facebook and Twitter, and check out more of our favorite Cassie Crisano photos in the gallery above.
SO excited! Can’t wait to debut! Let @danawhite know who you want my 1st opponent to be!”
