Ronda Roussey

Not sure where you are from but I'm in the UK followed MMA for over a decade and to be honest Gina wasn't even on my radar, Rosie sexton yes but honestly Gina's impact was minimal until RR UFC wasn't even thinking of a women's division, until her no mainstream magazine had female fighter (even male fighters) on their covers, . Gina was one of the first but not a standout really, RR changed MMA, not just women's MMA but MMA

 

Rosie Sexton was a massive influence in the UK, and has done a lot outside of fighting behind the scenes of MMA for better organisational standards and rehab

 

Yep it's American centric thinking to say Gina was important and not mention Rosie, and British centric to mention Rosie and not Gina, the fact is only one person globally made women's MMA acceptable, mainstream and as viewable as men's MMA, Rhonda.

Her influence dwarfs everyone else's and that's partly down to Dana but it's simply the truth without Rhonda women's MMA would still be a part time side show sport

 

Who influences who isn't that important for instance Rosie sexton started fighting 4 years before Gina, cyborg a year, I'm sure if Rhonda had seen them fight and not Gina she would have still been interested.

What we do know is that without Rhonda there would be no mainstream womens MMA, Gina had long been retired by cyborg when Dana decided to allow women's MMA Into the UFC and we all know why that was.

 

I may be American centric but America is where the major organizations are we are the biggest market so a fighter has to make it here, not somewhere else in order to become mainstream.

 

I think you missed the point, Gina was never at the level that Rhonda reached because outside of America no one really cared for or even knew of Gina, that's the American centric bit.

It had nothing to do with a fighter making it in America it had everything to do with the global impact rousey had

To be fair outside of women's MMA no one really cared about Gina , UFC weren't interested in a women's division full stop until RR

 

I think Invicta played a role in changing Dana Whites mind too.

 

"
“I wouldn’t have done it without Ronda,” said the UFC president about brining women into the organization. “You could line up all the greatest girls on Earth from here to (expletive) Pluto, and she’s the one that when I met her I said, this chick is insanely competitive and just a different animal. And she’s what it took to get women in the UFC.”

When Carano was headlining events on CBS and Showtime, White didn’t even consider offering her a contract. It took Rousey to break down that barrier.

“Hate her or not, the reason why all these girls fight in the UFC is because of her,” said White. “Ronda Rousey is a different animal. She’s a different animal. I’m telling you, and I know her a lot better than all of you do.”

"

Source

Dana White: "Ronda Rousey is What It Took to Get Women in the UFC" | MMAWeekly.com

 

Dana White has praised other women fighters. Not just Ronda.

 

Anyway, like I already said, I don't know what was going on with Ronda but she seemed really emotional before the Holly fight. She may have helped beat herself. Amanda had her figured out when they fought. Ronda had become one dimensional and predictable. She was a great fighter before she melted down. I cant blame her for sticking with what made her successful but she became predictable as a result.

 

Indeed, but ronda is what got WMMA into the UFC.

 

Just like he praised the technical ability of the light weight men classes without wanting them anywhere near the UFC for a long time

 

In Holly Rhonda finally met someone with almost as much combat sport experience As she had, and someone who had a great clinch game which really nullified RR's upper body take-down game, and with that loss her aura of invincibility went south. So Amanda wasn't scared of her and RR stayed too loyal to her camp who are second rate

 

how did Dana White know who Ronda was? Wasnt it because she competed in Strikeforce? If not for that Dana never would have met her.