Ronda Rousey becomes first female UFC fighter
Ronda Rousey has made MMA history, becoming the first female fighter to join UFC, according to TMZ. The former Olympian and much buzzed about athlete automatically becomes the women’s 135-pound champion and will defend that title in 2013.
Rousey, 25, has been fighting in Strikeforce since last year and has gone undefeated. With the loss of Rousey, sources told TMZ Strikeforce will fold after running its last event in January 2013.
Dana White, president of UFC, said last year women would never fight in his MMA organization. White had said there weren’t enough high-caliber women fighters to form a quality division within the UFC, and he didn’t see the benefit in promoting what he called “one-off” fights.
Rousey is far from being the average fighter, and she brings benefits on and off the mat. She’s in a league of her own, defeating every opponent that comes her way, but she has also become a pop culture icon appearing on red carpets and in magazines.
As for opponents, Rousey will likely be fighting rival Miesha Tate, Cris “Cyborg” Santos and Sara McMann, a wrestling silver medalist at the 2004 Olympics.
