Over the past ten years, Women’s Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has slowly been gaining traction in the traditionally male dominated Mixed Martial Arts community. Initially, there were limited platforms for women to compete in MMA, which helped to perpetuate little popularity for women in the sport. In the past, UFC President, Dana White has been extremely vocal in the past about his distaste for women in the sport saying that women would never fight in the UFC.
Much of the rejection for women in the sport of MMA, comes from the public’s inability to understand the logic behind two women wanting to participate in such a physical contact sport that often times leaves them maimed and bloody. This rejection only perpetuates the gender stereotypes of our culture and what is considered to be an acceptable female sport.
In 2012, breakout Women’s Mixed Martial Artist, ‘Rowdy’ Ronda Rousey became the first women to ever be signed to the UFC, despite President Dana White’s previous statements against women in the organization. Breaking history and rising to super stardom in the MMA community, Ronda Rousey set the standard for women in the sport by becoming the women’s UFC bantamweight champion. However, two short years after becoming the UFC’s ‘golden child’, Ronda Rousey outraged millions of fans after refusing to shake the hand of contender Meisha Tate following her win at the UFC 168 championship.
While many might think this act of disrespect to Meisha Tate would potentially ruin the popularity and career of Ronda Rousey, but if it did anything it bolstered the popularity and “it” factor of Ronda Rousey making her even more renowned. Following the events that occurred at UFC 168, Ronda Rousey went on to not only star in several movies, but she has been on many late night television shows, the subject of documentaries, and covered magazines. In this case the old saying of “no press is bad press” has proven to be true in Rousey’s case.
The success and behaviors of Ronda Rousey has since opened several doors for many other female mixed martial artists, and following the popularity of the UFC’s women’s bantam weight division, the UFC has also introduced a women’s UFC straw weight division. This proved that women can be not only as dangerous and entertaining as male mixed marital artists, but could sell just as many tickets to fights since many MMA fans have flocked to arenas and fight cards that showcase female fighters.