Few things are as nebulous and uncertain as the future. As human beings, we struggle to look past the here and the now. In evolutionary terms, this was probably a gift; what use is there in thinking about tomorrow when today is all we can contend with?
There is little mystery, then, as to why we cannot imagine a world without Ronda Rousey. Like Anderson Silva in his prime, Rousey is such a dominant champion that the mere thought of a women’s bantamweight division without her at the helm seems like nonsense.
But it’s coming, sooner than we all would like to probably admit. Whether it’s the movie pay-days that lure her away, or the lack of any real challenge, Ronda Rousey will one day retire from the sport of mixed martial arts.
Critics have said since day one of her UFC career that the division is too shallow as is, and that without her, there wouldn’t even be one. This past weekend, however, made me rethink that assertion.
Amanda Nunes’ complete domination of Sara McMann at UFC Fight Night 73 was the glimmer of hope in an otherwise forgettable fight card. Nunes needed less than one round to dismantle McMann both on the feet and the ground. Using markedly improved takedown defense and power shots on the feet to set up the eventual rear-naked choke submission, Nunes looked excellent.
This was important for several reasons, most notably: it was exciting. Few women’s fights end in finishes. It’s the unfortunate truth for ladies fighting below 145-pounds; they lack a certain amount of power that set up knockout punches, and often times match each other on the ground leading to stalemates.
Nunes, on the other hand, has finished every single opponent she’s faced in the UFC save for Cat Zingano, a former title challenger. If Ronda Rousey didn’t exist, Amanda Nunes could very well be her equivalent. Is she as talented? Not even close. Is she as popular? Again, it’s not even a fair comparison.
And that’s where part of the problem lies, in comparison. We live in a world today where every undefeated fighter seems infallible, that is, until they lose. We need look no further than the case study of Renan Barao. Oft-touted as a “monster” that deserved mentioning in any pound-for-pound list, Barao is now yesterday’s-news. After two losses to bantamweight champ T.J. Dillashaw, Barao is looked at as just another contender: good, but not great.
But what happened after GSP left the sport? What happened after Anderson Silva’s aura of invincibility was knocked away by one Weidman left hook? The welterweight and middleweight divisions were given new life. To make an inappropriate comparison, what happens when an iron-fisted dictator is thrust from his position of power? A new generation is given the chance to experience democracy and all its trappings.
Once Queen Rousey grows tired of her throne, she will move on to greener pastures, and the women’s bantamweight division will explode in competition. Part of the reason many ladies fights goes the distance is because they are so incredibly evenly matched. That’s what makes Nunes seem so special: she clearly is more talented than 90% of her peers in the UFC. She finishes girls, either knocking them out or making them so uncomfortable they’re forced to quit. In a Rousey-less world, that’s vital.
And for better or worse, that’s where we’re headed. Ronda will step away probably much sooner than we would all like to imagine, and her parting gift (aside from a 20+ minute highlight reel of tyranny) will be one of the most competitive divisions in the UFC.
We’re not seeing the real women’s bantamweight division right now. It’s the Ronda Rousey division, and we all know it. Like St. Pierre and Silva before her, Ronda is the alpha and the omega; she is without equal.
Her exit from the sport will draw complaints from fans and promoters alike, but her peers will only smile and wave, saying to themselves, “Thank God that’s over.” And, honestly, I’m right there with you ladies.
