Ronda Rousey was just two fights into her MMA career when she signed with Strikeforce, yet it wasn’t long before she became one of the most prominent figures in the sport, paving the way for women in the UFC.
Dana White once famously stated that women would never compete in the octagon, a fact widely known. However, Rousey emerged as the catalyst who changed his stance and, ultimately, the course of the promotion. Reflecting on her journey, Rousey admits she felt an immense responsibility to get White’s attention. Especially during a time when women’s MMA was in jeopardy following the UFC’s acquisition of Strikeforce in 2011.
Rousey shared with Chris Van Vliet that people forget how fragile that situation was and how she managed to get them in at the last minute. “Strikeforce was the only organization showcasing women, primarily because of Gina Carano. But when she was gone, Cris Cyborg’s use of steroids turned off many fans. The division was dying, and many assumed that the UFC would absorb only the male talent they wanted, folding the women’s division entirely.”
Before Rousey’s arrival, Gina Carano was the undisputed star of women’s MMA, but she left the sport in 2009 following a first-round TKO loss to Cris Cyborg. Despite Carano’s departure, Strikeforce continued to promote women’s fights. Yet Rousey understood that UFC’s acquisition of the organization could change everything.
Rousey’s mission became clear: make an impact so significant that Dana White couldn’t ignore her. Her aggressive fighting style and bold personality quickly made her a star, ensuring that women’s MMA wouldn’t be sidelined.
Rousey explained that Strikeforce signed her as its first woman after Zuffa bought the organization. “I knew the clock was ticking, and I had a limited window to ensure that Dana [White] couldn’t go a single day without seeing my name somewhere. The rest is history.”
Even after White decided to incorporate women’s fights into the UFC, Rousey remained uncertain about the future. At the time, there was only one women’s division, and it was entirely dependent on Rousey’s star power. As the UFC expanded its women’s roster, Rousey continued to worry about the sport’s future if she ever stepped away.
“Dana said, ‘This is an experiment, to see how it goes,’” Rousey recalled. “It got to a point where we had to see how it would go without me because the division was so dependent on me. If I had retired undefeated, who knows what would have happened?”
Today, the UFC promotes three women’s divisions, though none have reached the fame Rousey achieved. However, Rousey reminds both male and female fighters that their responsibilities extend beyond just training and competing.
Rousey emphasized that commanding attention and promoting oneself is crucial for a successful career in MMA. “You have to promote your fight as hard as you train for it,” she said, “You shouldn’t expect the company to do all the work for you. You need to go out there, be a character, and make your fights into a story. That’s something I tried to bring into women’s MMA, and it’s something many fighters today forget.”
Update: Cris Cyborg has since responded to Rousey’s comments.
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