Several years ago, it was a dream of many female fighters to break the glass ceiling and make it to the top MMA organization in the world. Now that dream could come true.
With Dana White’s announcement of trying to start a women’s division in the UFC, that goal will soon become a reality. However, after an unofficial survey by Wombat Sports, many fighters are telling us their dream of being in the UFC has changed; that InvictaFC would be their choice if they were offered a fight between the two.
Why the change of minds?
Rousey and White
Why UFC was the Original Goal?
UFC is the biggest organization for MMA in the world. With some of the most talented fighters on the planet, it has been a goal of many of the male fighters. The female fighters have always wanted the same respect and promotion as their male counterparts. Getting into the UFC would go a long way into being equal in the minds of fans and fighters alike.
The UFC also means recognition and more pay; something any fighter wants.
Tecia Torres (top) with Jessica Aguilar (left) & Nina Ansaroff (right) at InvictaFC
Why the Change of Heart?
When InvictaFC debuted this year, no one could have imagined the impact it would have on female fighters. The promotion, professionalism, and string of talent the all pro-female MMA promotion brought drew in more than 250,000 watchers from around the world. The exposure have given female fighters a platform and more importantly an organization that puts them up front.
White’s recent change of heart deals a lot with one fighter – Ronda Rousey. A focus on one division (bantamweight) doesn’t give fighters above or below that weight any opportunities. Even a lot of the 135ers wouldn’t get as much promotion as the current Strikeforce champ if she goes to the UFC. This is on top of of the fact they will be in one female division out of a dozen of male fighters, which won’t give them too much recognition and the pay would not be on the line of their male counterparts.
InvictaFC also allows their fighters to fight freely between their organization and others (Bellator, Strikeforce, ect.), while UFC insists on exclusivity, which could mean less fights.
How Far They Have Come
The opportunity to be excepted as a fighter versus a female fighter has been huge. The past two years has seen the divisions open up, and more and more women taking up the sport. Ronda Rousey’s popularity has took it over the top for White to consider bringing the women in.
The fighters appreciate the UFC bring in a female division, don’t get us wrong. The UFC will open a new audience of casual MMA fans to the female fighters of the sport. To be a small fish in a big pond like the UFC has it’s obstacles. To have a supportive environment where you can truly shine, though, is somewhere most female fighter wants to be.
Fred locks
I’m a huge rousey fan but I totally agree w/ ur article. Invicta is the home for WMMa. Sharon knapp is the only promoter who truly has the best interests for wmma at heart, and invicta is the only promotion capable of pitting the best female fighters together. If Dana is smart he would invest in invicta w/ knapp running it. No need for UFC women’s division.
October 31, 2012 at 10:46 am