Shayna Baszler: “Love Or Hate Her, Ronda Rousey Makes You Watch MMA”
Former UFC fighter and fellow best friend of former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, Shayna Baszler has posted a new blog on Combat Press talking about Rousey’s loss to Holly Holm this past weekend at UFC 193.
Baszler explained that Rousey makes fight fans watch MMA even if you love or hate her. It’s the Ronda Rousey show, not the UFC show when she fights, which Baszler has a point to a certain extent. The UFC does major business when Rousey fights. That is not a secret. When Rousey fights everyone in the world watches. Even Donald Trump.
“Love her or hate her, boo or cheer, Ronda gets you talking. Ronda gets you watching. If it wasn’t for her, women wouldn’t be main and co-main on a major fight card. If they were, you wouldn’t have watched. Does this mean the talent wasn’t there? No, you just didn’t care. Holly Holm represents the American dream in more ways than one. Hate Ronda, be happy she lost but take the fact that she isn’t a trailblazing legend who has ruined her legacy out of the argument. That’s just ignorance.
“Muhammad Ali is considered to be the greatest boxer to have ever lived. He transcended the sport of boxing to become a household name. His antics were looked down on and hated. His remarks were racist and disrespectful in a time of controversial tension. He spoke political views that were not popular. But, here’s the kicker: No one remembers any of that. In fact, the picture of him standing over Sonny Liston while taunting him is one of the most iconic images in all of sports. It’s even used as a background for motivational quotes and inspiration. It would be borderline blasphemous to use it in a meme meant to show arrogance and disrespect. Instead, it is used to symbolize confidence and believing in oneself.“
“Before you stretch your fingers and get ready to post a “laughable to compare Ali to Ronda Rousey” quote in the comments, at least admit that there are a lot of parallels between the two. Ronda paved a way for how women are viewed in sports. Ali paved a way for how African Americans are viewed in sports. Never before had anyone used the “heel” antics in the sport. His clever catch phrases and quotes are etched in history. Boxers didn’t “sell” fights like that. Neither did women fighters in MMA. Ali said his inspiration for his interviews and antics was pro wrestling’s Gorgeous George, a precursor and huge influence on another famous name: Ric Flair.”
You can read the entire blog here.
Baszler was released from the UFC earlier this year after dropping her last three bouts. Since then, she’s been training and even done some professional wrestling.
Rousey is expected to fight Holly Holm in 2016.
