I recently did a search for Amanda Nunes on YouTube (I was trying to look up a wrestling match where I commented “Ah, another episode of ‘Two Women Who Desperately Need a Visit From Amanda Nunes’”…don’t ask.) I found a video explaining her withdrawal from UFC 213 and the postmatch of a title match against <check spelling check spelling> Valentina Shevchenko. UFC doesn’t allow matches to go on YouTube, of course, but given that it was a split decision and the crowd did not sound happy at it, I find it impossible to believe that Nunes’ win was in any way convincing.
Now ESPN is hyping up Cris “Cyborg” Justino vs. Holly Holm (right here). I vaguely remember someone…somewhere proclaiming Cyborg the real woman to beat, and Nunes…tried to duck out of a match with her? Holm, of course, is the last person to beat Ronda Rousey, and…that’s all I got.
So who’s the real top dog? Or are we in a post-Evander Holyfield situation with a bunch of contenders where it’s going to take a while for the future stars to break away from the pack?
And before anyone responds: Yes, I’m well aware that the best way to find out how good these fighters are is to watch the actual fights; yes, I could afford to do so very easily. But I don’t like pay-per-view…it’s overpriced, and having to be in front of the TV at an exact time of an exact day and watch 2-3 hours front to back with no rewind has never been my thing…and quality videos of women’s martial arts are just about impossible to find even if Blockbuster Video hadn’t gone under. Honestly, I’d probably be satisfied with an outsider perspective: news, buzz, word on the street, rumors, that sort of thing.
No “star” per say but that is way healthier for a promotion than to put all your eggs in one basket. (Cough, Cough Rhonda Rousey, Connor McGregor, John Jones)
They will hype whomever they think will put asses in the seats and eyeballs on the screen. The main thing is women’s MMA advanced at light speed compared to Men’s MMA so now one little mistake or slip up can lose a fight
That’s the nature of the sport on the men’s side, too, which is why MMA fans are very forgiving of losses - there are just so many ways to lose.
FWIW, Nunes is ranked #1 P4P by Sherdog as of today, and I’m comfortable with that. She’s probably the closest thing the women’s game has to a “star” just now. I doubt that Cyborg is more marketable considering her PED background, though she does have her following.
If you’re looking for a Billie Jean King type star, it’s Cyborg. If you’re looking for an Anna Kournikova type star, there are a few that the UFC hopes will turn into more of a Maria Sharapova type.
Rose Namajunas won the Strawweight title in November. At one time, the UFC was trying to promote her as something of a glamour girl like they did Rousey, but her recent penchant for shaving her head has stymied that somewhat. (I find the look somewhat hauntingly beautiful, but I think I’m in the minority.) She did pose nude for a women’s fitness magazine recently; not sure if that helped or not.
Since Furiosa was played by Charlize Theron, that’s a pretty flattering comparison.
Rose Namajunas is gorgeous in that first shot you linked, StusBlues. Perhaps she got too much unwanted attention or was getting too much bullshit for being too girly looking. Given the testosterone locker room on the male side, perhaps it was a problem for her.