Fight Mom

Discussion in 'MMA' started by Mushroom, Dec 29, 2016.

  1. Mushroom

    Mushroom De-powered to come back better than before.

    Disclaimer: This comes directly from her site and instagram. And it is feature length so be aware

    As we approach a certain female fighter's big return....if you didn't get the hint. Its Ronda Rousey, speculations are high that she may retire if she loses this fight against Nunes. She has already discussed having a limited return on media outlets.
    It'll be her first fight in 13months since her (at time of post) only loss, to Holly Holm.

    Prior to that beautiful headkick, Ronda was tauted and pushed as a the next big thing. A giant feminist icon. A stereotype breaker where you can be big and beautiful. Leader of the Women's division.
    A great role model for women everywhere.

    Where am I going with this you may as?

    Well before Ronda, before the giant glitz and glamour. There was a handful of female fighters about. Due to the shallow amount, they had to take fight where and when they can. Mostly underpaid.

    One of them was Michelle "Karate Hottie" Waterson. I remember watching one of her fights in youtube and you can see her kicks, stemming from tradition karate background, great movement and she had a scary look in her eyes.
    Then the promo hit and what easily could've passed off as a model shoot was broadcast. Immediately I thought, she can easily beat me up and look awesome while doing it. Following her sporadic career since. She popped up now and again on regional circuits eventually into Invicta and her eventual UFC matches.
    Role model for women in combat sports? Breaking the traditional views?
    10yrs before Ronda, there was Waterson. In my eyes a true and under rated trailblazer to the sport of Womens MMA.

    Enjoy her documentary.

    https://www.uninterrupted.com/watch/WjKdtIcH/fight-mom?playlist=N4M8xKh5
     
  2. holyheadjch

    holyheadjch Valued Member

    And while Michelle Waterson was being paid to appear on reality TV shows and being paid peanuts to fight on pro-MMA shows, Ronda Rousey was winning medals at World Championships and Olympic games and dreaming of being paid peanuts.

    Before Waterson, Ronda was beating the world at a sport with actual female depth.

    If Waterson's achievements and ability can't be highlighted without talking Ronda Rousey's down, I'm not sure that really says anything good about her achievements and ability.
     
    Last edited: Dec 29, 2016
  3. aaradia

    aaradia Choy Li Fut and Yang Tai Chi Chuan Student Moderator Supporter

    First, I agree with holy on this one. Ronda deserves every accolade as a trailblazer she gets. Saying she was tauted and pushed in such a demeaning way makes me not interested in the documentary. Like it or not, there would be no UFC WMMA without Roussey. Waterson should stand on her own merits.

    I like Waterson, but I just haven't heard her name with the trailblazer's of women's MMA before. There is this one fighter from Japan, Megumi Fugii, who retired just before she could cash in on the trail she blazed. I hear her mentioned a lot. Roxanne Modafferi, Shayna Bazler are a couple of others who gave their best and sadly are past their prime before truly being able to cash in. Cyborg, whatever else her other issues are, is another one mentioned frequently. And of course you have Gina Carano.

    I am sure there are others. I got into WMMA late and surely don't know a lot that I should. But Waterson just hasn't been mentioned as a "trailblazer" before.

    If someone can make the case for that, without me having to watch a documentary, I would like to hear what they have to say.

    That said, I do like her and watching her fights. And have cheered for her to be victorious in the past.
     
  4. Mushroom

    Mushroom De-powered to come back better than before.

    Apologies if it did sound like it was talking her down, that was not my intention. Just discuss to and introduce a documentary thats free and available to view.
    In hindsight, shouldve placed this is the film/tv part of the forum
     
    Last edited: Dec 29, 2016
  5. raaeoh

    raaeoh never tell me the odds

    Serious question here. Why are their no heavy weight classes for women on ufc? Is it all looks? Most women fighters that are known are cute but not that great. Including ronda.
     
  6. Dead_pool

    Dead_pool Spes mea in nihil Deus MAP 2017 Moi Award

    Thats not enough heavyweight women, and heavyweight women arnt that popular yet.

    Also rousey isnt everyone's cup of tea but is definitely very very skilled (at judo and grappling, not striking)
     
    Last edited: Dec 31, 2016
  7. holyheadjch

    holyheadjch Valued Member

    The UFC looks at the divisions in other promotions and takes the ones that are most popular. Whether it has to do with looks or depth or whatever, they just follow the money.
     
  8. Southpaw535

    Southpaw535 Well-Known Member Moderator Supporter

    Is there much call for it?

    I know a lot of women on the circuit as it were who are at bantam and below, and only one who would fit a higher class.
     
  9. aaradia

    aaradia Choy Li Fut and Yang Tai Chi Chuan Student Moderator Supporter

    Well, I just ran across the documentary via Facebook and ended up watching it.

    Could have had about 10-15 minutes edited out and it would have been better. Parts had a slow pace and meandered. For example- lots of footage of her hitting and kicking pads. Would have been nice to get into more detail about the specifics of her training as that is being shown so much. I almost quit watching at one or two points. Picked up later though. Wasn't great, wasn't bad.

    I see the trailblazer stuff was not in the documentary at all. That is Mushroom's take on things. Ok, I thought that was how she was marketing herself, but she wasn't.

    She seems like a cool person, made me more of a fan after watching it. And I liked her before. She cried a little too much in the documentary for my tastes. Just a tad.

    And frankly, I didn't believe her when she said her husband gave up boxing for her in a way where she didn't feel guilty. Because in other parts of the documentary, her discussions and talks sound like she does have some conflict about accepting the sacrifice he made. Not sure he is all that at peace with it either. But it is just a few clips in one documentary, so who knows? Could be the editing.

    I didn't realize her connection to Thailand and Muay Thai before. That was very interesting. I wish her well. I will continue to root for her most fights, as I have before. I don't see her beating Joanna Jedrzejczyk though. (And yes, I had to cut and paste that name!) But then again, my track record in predicting MMA fights isn't all that good.:D

    As a side note: Winklejohn talking about how he lost an eye- Yikes! I didn't know that. A case of the meandering as it really didn't fit the documentary theme of the movie, but I found it interesting.
     
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2017

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