Hers – The Historic UFC 157 Event

As a woman in MMA, I’m definitely excited to see this weekend’s event. I am, as one might guess from my previous post about Rousey, rooting for Liz Carmouche. I think, in the long term, that sets up a much more interesting story to follow for WMMA, and would benefit both women as fighters. Liz could finally stop working on front desk at her gym (though I would hope she’s being paid enough for a freaking title fight that she could do that anyway?!) and Ronda would have a chance to come back humble and more fired up than ever.

That said, this seems like as good of an opportunity as any to get on my soapbox about the experience of being a woman who trains in MMA. It is rough out there, folks. When you see these training videos, and Rousey has the nutritionist and the elite treatment, and Carmouche is busy teaching kids classes …it’s Carmouche who, in my experience, is more representative of the female MMA athletes out there.

It’s hard to find an instructor who will train you seriously. It’s difficult to find training partners who will won’t bully or baby you for being a woman. When you walk into a serious jiu jitsu or MMA class, there is fairly decent chance that you will be the only woman there, and that a lot of people will be uncomfortable with it (no matter how much you don’t give a shit). That’s why finding a gym that feels like home can be the most difficult thing. I’ve been lucky to work with some great instructors and training partners – I’ve also been less than lucky sometimes. If women’s MMA is going to succeed beyond Ronda Rousey, women will need training partners, coaches, and the support of their male gym-mates.

We’ll fight our way in, eventually. Just like the male MMA athletes out there, we wouldn’t endure the extremity and difficulty of the sport unless we loved it enough to shrug off whatever extra difficulties come our way. But how long it takes is going to depend on the fans that come to the UFC, who buy the PPV, who accept that male or female, anyone who can kick ass in that octagon is a true warrior. I really hope the fight this weekend is an acknowledgement of Ronda’s dominance and skill, and not her long blond hair and attractive face.

Because my biggest concern is that when they step in the ring, the crowd might lose interest once they realize that when the punches start flying, these women came to kick ass – not to be pretty.

 

His – The Historic UFC 157 Event

This Saturday is the historic UFC event entitled “UFC 157: Rousey vs. Carmouche.” The first ever women’s fight in the 19 year existence of the UFC. WMMA has finally broken down Dana White (and others) with their personality, skills and fan base to allow them a fair shot with the UFC audience.

I can’t express enough of how proud I am of this moment for my sport. It took longer than I would haven’t liked, but all things considered this was the best way to do it. No doubt the purchase of StrikeForce from the UFC and ShowTime not allowing the UFC brass to step in and help the promotion aided in the culmination of this moment by StrikeForce dying off. Low and behold one of the most out spoken, dominate, polarizing, active fighters is now with out a home, Ronda Rousey. She is now the first female fighter to be signed and crowned Champion in the UFC. Further more, she is the first UFC female fighter… anything! Headliner, champion and on and on and on…

Get caught up with my YouTube playlist of interviews, promos, primetime episodes, pressers and more leading up to this event.

I had the pleasure of watching Rousey win the StrikeForce title (to be later rolled over to the UFC title) back in Ohio in 2011. She nearly broke Tate’s arm in the process. That night I got to see first hand that Rousey is the real deal and that Tate is a true warrior for not giving up so easily. Believe me, no one who saw that fight live would have blamed Tate one bit if she tapped out earlier. That armbar was the deepest one I have ever seen on TV or in person.

I am hopeful that the masses will come to see these female fighters as the high caliber fighters that they are and less of a publicity stunt, flash-in-the-pan, fade, sex symbols and other belittling terms that they are today. I think these two fighters in the main event will turn many opinions around about WMMA for the better and have them looking forward to more fights in this new division. Some education will have to be done on the audience’s part regarding the names and backgrounds of these new fighters, but that’s standard. It’s no different than when the UFC rolled over the small weight classes from WEC, and look how well that turned out!

I’m looking forward to seeing this card and I hope you are too! In parting, I leave you with this question: Is Rousey the most successful grappler in the UFC or MMA?