Rousey first UFC women’s champion
Ultimate Fighting Championship history has been made with the crowning of Ronda Rousey as the promotion’s first-ever women’s champion.
UFC president Dana White unveiled Rousey as the 135-pound division champion Thursday during a press conference in Seattle for Saturday’s UFC on Fox broadcast. He also announced that Rousey’s first UFC title defence would be against Liz Carmouche as the headliner for UFC 157 on Feb. 23 in Anaheim, Calif.
Rousey, who only learned Thursday morning that she would receive the title belt, said it was a proud moment but just the first of many steps in her UFC career.
“It means a lot,” said Rousey, the former Olympic judo medallist who over the last year as Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion became one of the biggest stars in mixed martial arts. Last month, her contract was reworked and she shifted over from Strikeforce, which has the same parent company as the UFC.
“I feel like we have a lot to prove at this event and no one’s going to be disappointed,” Rousey said.
“The women are here to stay and we’re going to prove it.”
Rousey (6-0), who turned pro in March 2011 after winning a bronze medal in judo at the 2008 Summer Olympics, has won her six bouts in an average of just 77 seconds, each match ending via armbar submission. Last March she defeated Miesha Tate to win the Strikeforce title and then defended it in August against B.C. native Sarah Kaufman.
She’s also become a crossover star, garnering more media attention than all but a few fighters. A champion in the cage as well as charismatic and physically attractive outside competition, Rousey has appeared on the cover of ESPN The Magazine’s body issue, had a feature devoted to her in Sports Illustrated and appeared on television programs.
As much as Rousey has been built up, Carmouche (7-2) is another history-making athlete. The 28-year-old former marine is the sport’s first openly gay fighter.
She earned much respect from both White and Rousey for seeking the title shot.
“She’s the only one that really stepped up and said she wanted this fight right now, and it speaks a lot to her,” Rousey said.
“When the other girls come around and want to come to the big show, they know where I’m at.”
White was impressed that Carmouche asked for the opportunity.
“That’s who wanted to fight her,” White said.
“Believe me, people aren’t kicking the doors down at Zuffa to fight her.”
The dream match between former Strikeforce champion Cris (Cyborg) Santos and Rousey remains on the horizon. After saying for months that she wouldn’t be able to drop weight to 135 pounds, Santos, according to several media reports on Wednesday, she said she could make the cut but needed more than two months to get there.
Santos, the former Strikeforce 145-pound women’s champion, is currently serving a one-year suspension after testing positive last December for steroids.
White said the company worked hard to put together a Rousey-Santos fight, and though it won’t take place at UFC 157 as rumoured, “I truly believe the next fight will be the Cyborg one,” he said.