Rousey v Holm

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Wow, if you told me 20 years ago any womens sport would be this popular with men to get this level of attention I would have told you that you are insane and that is as unlikely as a black president.

[Spider-Dan]

Wow, if you told me 20 years ago any womens sport would be this popular with men to get this level of attention I would have told you that you are insane and that is as unlikely as a black president.

Besides, I don't think that's an accurate description of the situation; there are people who don't really care about boxing but despise Floyd Mayweather.  Similarly, while I'm an MMA fan and I'm quite aware of Rousey, all of her opponents save one (Tate) were total unknowns to me.

Unless Holm's next fight is against Rousey (or Cyborg), I doubt any of us will be discussing it here.

[Phishfan]

Besides, I don't think that's an accurate description of the situation; there are people who don't really care about boxing but despise Floyd Mayweather. 

I don't think this is an accurate comparison either. The people who don't like Mayweather and don't care about boxing are not discussing his technique at all. They are discussing him being a woman beater and his personality. This discussion is completely about the sport which means someone (all of us commenting) is paying attention to women's sports.

So put me on Hoodie's side of this, people were paying attention to women in sports in this instance.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Both those photos were from relatively recently not 20 years ago.  Nor in either case did the women's event eclipse the men's event. 

In this case you had a fight card where the MAIN EVENT was the women's fight.  That's like the the NCCA women's basketball final getting a larger male audience than the mens.  Or the women's world cup getting more attention from men than the mens.  Or an LPGA tournament getting more attention than a PGA one from guys.

 

[Dave Gray]

I fully pay attention to women's UFC.  It's the only sport I can say that about.

Rousey is just polarizing.  She's not the best in terms of sportsmanship.  And she's a media darling, despite having some serious flaws in her stand-up, that the MMA community has been barking about for a while now.  So, for her to get beaten soundly in exactly the fashion that the community has been barking about is pretty noteworthy.

I'll say it again: This is great for the women's game.  The fact that there exists primarily stand-up fighters that can fend off Rousey's excellent judo means that the sport has come a long, long way.

[Spider-Dan]

I don't think this is an accurate comparison either. The people who don't like Mayweather and don't care about boxing are not discussing his technique at all.

I think it's a very fair comparison.

I objected earlier both to Rousey's lack of quality competition (i.e. the sport) and to her lack of class (i.e. her attitude outside of the ring).
Many people who are not "boxing fans" object to Mayweather's style (e.g. "he is boring and just turtles," a complaint about his technique) and to his general attitude and criminal history (which have nothing to do with the sport).  During the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, even among casual viewers there were people rooting against Mayweather because of his style.

I think it's completely fair to say that both Mayweather and Rousey generate strong opinions based on their actions outside of the ring.

[Spider-Dan]

Both those photos were from relatively recently not 20 years ago.

Nor in either case did the women's event eclipse the men's event.

In this case you had a fight card where the MAIN EVENT was the women's fight.

At this year's US Open, the biggest story by far was whether Serena would win.  It totally eclipsed everything on the men's side.

Women's tennis has been extremely popular (at least on parity with men, possibly even more popular in stretches) for many decades.

[Phishfan]

  Or the women's world cup getting more attention from men than the mens. 

 

I would bet this regularly happens in this country. Our women's team gets a lot of support.

[CF DolFan]

I would bet this regularly happens in this country. Our women's team gets a lot of support.

No it doesn't. The men still get all the money and more support. It's crazy with all of the success our women have had. Last time I looked with endorsements aside ... Alex Morgan who is the current face of women's soccer makes less than $500,000 to play and most make far less than $100,000. They aren't bringing in the money you would expect and butts in seats and ratings equate to money.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I would bet this regularly happens in this country. Our women's team gets a lot of support.

if the men don't make the world cup and the women make it to the finals then yes the team in the finals will get more press than the one sitting home.  But if they are having equal success they don't get equal attention.

[Tenshot13]

I think we've gotten off topic. 

So how long do you think Holm will hold the title?  If I recall, she's already 34.

[Phishfan]

No it doesn't. The men still get all the money and more support. It's crazy with all of the success our women have had. Last time I looked with endorsements aside ... Alex Morgan who is the current face of women's soccer makes less than $500,000 to play and most make far less than $100,000. They aren't bringing in the money you would expect and butts in seats and ratings equate to money.

I get that but it isn't what I meant by support. I meant compare the ratings of the Women's World Cup team against the men's. People watched that last game that I bet never watched the men play in their last tournament.

[Phishfan]

if the men don't make the world cup and the women make it to the finals then yes the team in the finals will get more press than the one sitting home.  But if they are having equal success they don't get equal attention.

Case in point, the U.S. men's team has not failed to make the World Cup since 1986 (seven tournaments) so that really isn't of discussion to think that it is because the men didn't make it.

[Spider-Dan]

So how long do you think Holm will hold the title?  If I recall, she's already 34.

I'd really like to see Holm vs. Cyborg, but I think Dana White correctly realizes that a loss by any of his champions to Cyborg pretty much nullifies the last 6 years of the sport.

[MikeO]

I don't see Cyborg ever making weight (135) and fighting in the UFC.