Ronda Rousey is the biggest draw that the UFC has, but it’s not like that drawing power is going to just transfer with the belt – or will it? Ronda drew huge numbers because she got a whole new batch of mainstream fans interested in the sport, people who had never watched UFC before.
Over a million homes tuned in to watch her fight Holly Holm, so how much of that hype is going to transfer to Holly, especially if Holly isn’t getting huge headlines every week for rude comments and picking fights with boxers?
Will fight fans embrace Holly’s super likeable, sweetheart personality the same way that they tuned in to watch Ronda’s abrasive and edgy style?
Back to Schaub’s comments, he’s wondering what would happen if Ronda just decided to bail on fighting.
“What’s going to be interesting to see in the UFC — let’s just say Ronda was like ‘f*** this noise, I’m out, I’ve got so much money I’m Scrooge McDuck of girls’ so she peaces out, what happens to women’s MMA? ‘Cause you can paint it how you want, but Ronda made women’s MMA. She’s a superstar. There’s no other headliner like her. You can’t have Paige (VanZant) as a main event on a pay-per-view. Would never happen. That’s not a main event. It’s not going to sell pay-per-views. (Ronda) was a superstar since day one. She’s not Ronda Rousey — (Paige) could be but right now if Ronda dips out, Holly Holm vs. Miesha Tate is a co-main event. It’s a co-main event. There’s a dude as a main event, there’s no other girl right now who could carry a pay-per-view card. You’re bat shit crazy. The UFC knows that. I’m just saying what Ronda did for the sport, there’s no one even close. Right now, every other girl’s a co-main event. I’m just saying women’s MMA, if Ronda peaces out, has a long way to go and ‘Cyborg’ isn’t your answer. If ‘Cyborg’ is your champ, it kills women’s MMA for a little bit and Holly (Holm) doesn’t have the personality to carry the torch the way that Ronda does.” – Schaub
Holly Holm has already filled Ronda’s shoes on late night talk shows and daytime TV shows, reaching both spectrums of the UFC’s demographic for women’s MMA. Instead of making headlines for beefing with Floyd Mayweather, Holly made headlines for trading complements with the boxer.
Just because Holly’s personality is the opposite of Ronda’s that doesn’t necessarily mean that she can’t reach the same level of fame. Look at GSP for example, he’s one of the friendliest, most humble, and polite fighters ever and also the biggest draw the UFC has ever had. So if Schaub thinks people aren’t going to tune in to watch Holly Holm…
“I think you’d be surprised.”
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