Rousey
A recent article on MMAJunkie by Ben Fowlkes, he pondered the question “Can women’s MMA continue to grow on the back of Ronda Rousey alone?” Fowlkes mainly focus on Rousey and that the division isn’t doing enough on it’s end to make it popular. I agree with Fowlkes about 93% of the time, but I beg to differ on a few key points in the article.
I agree that Rousey can’t keep the division popular on her fame alone. I can put the Strikeforce champ’s career as being similar to Mike Tyson back in the early 90′s. Dominant. Quick. A ratings draw. There is a saying that “You can only save the girl so many times before it gets boring.” The same can be said about Rousey and her armbar.
This isn’t her fault for being good. It’s that a challenger hasn’t been developed (or come forward) to figure out how to avoid the ground with her. Think Anderson Silva. There has only been one opponent who has been even close to finishing him. Yet we aren’t saying that MMA is riding on his shoulders.
It is easy to have a single focal point in a sport to name them “The Face”, because it is human nature to focus on one big star when it comes to sports; Anderson Silva, Tiger Woods, David Beckham, Michael Jordan, ect.
Where I differ from Fowlkes is that the division is doing their part to make the sport popular. Invicta has already got a global fan base over 500,000 strong and the only reason they aren’t as popular as the Strikeforce champ in the U.S. is that they don’t have a TV deal.
You also can’t blame the division for not trying to promote their fighters. Miesha Tate and Sarah Kaufman were both heavily highlighted during the press run; and it’s up to the promotions to give those opportunities to them to go on main stream talk shows. The fighters and managers are still working on improving their media outreach. They just don’t have the tools that Showtime does.
The statement that “Ronda Rousey is saving the division” is very inaccurate and short-sided to say it best. Don’t get me wrong, Rousey is helping to market the divisions. If Rousey was out of the picture, however, it would still be popular. With Invicta hitting the global stage and matches like Tate versus Kedzie stealing the show; it’s hard to think the sport is all on Rousey’s shoulders. When Gina Carano left, the division survived. If Rousey leaves for some reason; it still will.
To those out there that are stating that Rousey is the only thing keeping the WMMA alive – there are hundreds for female fighters that beg to differ.
Great Article Marq! I’m sure all the Die Hard Rousey fans will have something to say…. LOL
I think if Gina Carano would of stayed in it a little longer she would of helped it, but since see left 3 years ago it didn’t stay in the minds of the people until recently with Ronda Rousey. Now we need to continue with the great fights and keep it well advertised!
It did stay in the minds of MMA fans. My argument is that Ronda is helping, but other stars are out there not getting their opportunity to shine. Julie Kedzie stated it best…
“There’re many hard working fighters out there & they don’t have that star power. But they would if they were given a little of the spotlight”
Or if they were good looking, they’d get the same spotlight as Ronda.
Lets be honest.
Kedzie, Tate, and Kaufman all had the chance to gain the spot light and mass media attention long before Ronda. Fact is, they are benefitting from Ronda as is all of women’s MMA including Invicta. Anyone who thinks women’s MMA whould be at it’s all time peak in popularity without Ronda is out of touch with reality. Just ask Ariel.
Don’t get me wrong – Ronda has helped make it more popular than ever, but my argument is that she isn’t in it alone.
It has been great Ronda has been afford her opportunities to promote the sport, but the promotion has 50% to do with that. Kedzie, Tate, and Kaufman were not really pushed as much as Ronda has in the past. Be that due to her dominance in the cage, her looks, or her controversial comments; she has been pushed more than any other fighter since Gina Carano.
If Ronda leaves, there is no argument that the sport will keep going. Very similar to what Gina did.
FYI – I think Invicta would be just as popular if Ronda wasn’t around as well. I think if they did this a year earlier, they would have been just as successful in my honest opinion.