When we talk of UFC, the discussion always surfaces around the all-time greats. Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Randy Couture, the list goes on and on and because of such a list of talented luminaries, it has skyrocketed Dana White’s plaything to the pinnacle of MMA.
From humble beginnings to pay-per-view riches and although the global pandemic has done its best to stop events from continuing, the introduction of ‘Fight Island’ in the United Arab Emirates indicates that where there’s a will, there’s always a way.
Even though there have been no audiences as of late, the popularity of the UFC has far from waned and with live sport playing such an essential role in people’s lockdown lives, the company is seemingly going from strength to strength.
While it is evident that the UFC’s success has been built on a platform of clever promotional tactics and although the biggest names can talk the talk, they can more importantly walk the walk when it really matters.
The ability to back up the mouthing up, is key to just how strong a spectacle has been created and with the likes of Khabib Nurmagomedov, Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic ready to trade blows with whoever gets their way, the future certainly looks bright for this MMA juggernaut.
Of course, it would be unfair to dedicate all of the UFC’s success over the past quarter-century to the male of the species and with the female aspect of the sport flourishing in the past decade, they have undoubtedly blazed a trail of their own.
Names such as Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate and Holly Holm have become household names in their own right and with some bruising encounters along the way, they have shown that women have just as much a rightful place in the octagon than anyone else.
Nine years ago today, Ronda Rousey submitted Sarah D'Alelio in her Strikeforce debut.
— Jon Realejo (@BloodyCanvasJon) August 12, 2020
Good stoppage??? #UFC #Strikeforce
pic.twitter.com/AVmoJKNXFL
You must go back to 2012 for the start of the female revolution within the UFC and the signing of Rousey to the roster - a capture which was ready to put the former Olympic Judoka back into the spotlight.
While in February 2013, Rousey would make history, as she and Liz Carmouche would be the first two females to ever headline a UFC card, as the Olympic Bronze Medal winner defended her Bantamweight championship.
This was just the first step on a path that made the Riverside, California based fighter a huge name and with every win that followed, not only did her star get brighter but it also opened doors for some many of her female fighting contemporaries.
While although Rousey’s star would eventually burnout, there is no doubt that she had made female UFC fights a legitimate spectacle and the fighter who handed her defeat in what has been a last duel do date, has certainly taken on the baton since.
At UFC 207, Amanda Nunes would defend her Bantamweight championship and humble Dana White’s golden girl within 48 seconds of the first round, a performance that suggested a new Queen had taken to the throne.
Since then Nunes has never looked back and although she is now set to take a maternity break, whenever she feels it is the right time to go to war again, she will undoubtedly be any bookmakers favorite.
The Brazilian currently carries an MMA fight record of 20-4 and with her last defeat coming at the hands of Cat Zingano at UFC 178, it has been six years since another victorious hand was raised by a referee.
She is a catch!!! ? @NinaAnsaroff pic.twitter.com/mKAihZNHO7
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) August 8, 2020
Of course, the spacing of fights can take the shine away from a lengthy streak such as this, therefore if we measure it in consecutive wins, 11 fights have gone Nunes’ way since the 2014 reverse to Zingano.
Fights that have included some of the very best the industry has to offer, with Rousey already mentioned, you can add the likes of Shayna Blazer, Cris Cyborg, Holly Holm and Valentina Shevchenko (twice) to her list of scalps.
While of course, that run of 11 wins has also meant two rather important things. First the possession of the Bantamweight championship in 2016 and the additional gain of Featherweight championship two years later.
Not only is the 32-year old, the first female two-weight UFC champion but she still lays claim to both belts to this day and with a recent win over Felicia Spencer added to the list, it shows the 12-year veteran is at the peak of her career right now.
