Ronda Rousey isn’t as popular as the UFC thinks

Dana White doesn’t care if you love or hate the women’s bantamweight champion.

By Simon Samano – November 11, 2013 at 10:38pm EST

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/11/ronda-rousey-ufc-miesha-tate-popularity/

Did you hear about Miesha Tate’s big win over UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey?

No, it didn’t happen inside the octagon. The two bitter rivals are still slated to settle that score Dec. 28 at UFC 168.

Tate beat Rousey in the first round of the “EA Sports UFC” vote to determine who will grace the video game’s cover, along with Jon Jones.

Not a “big win”, you say? No big deal? Well, look at it this way: Miesha Tate just beat Ronda Rousey in a popularity contest among UFC fans.

A popularity contest.


Shouldn’t Rousey be the most popular female fighter in the UFC? She’s the reason UFC president Dana White changed his mind about creating a women’s division. So, what’s happened? And why has Rousey’s image taken such a hit?

Look no further than the current season of The Ultimate Fighter, which pits Rousey against Tate as two of the show’s coaches. Rousey hasn’t exactly been portrayed in a positive light — something she told USA TODAY Sports she was concerned about in September — and fans have criticized her for acting like a sore loser whenever one of her fighters lost, among other things.

Dana White spoke about Rousey’s reputation with reporters after UFC Fight Night 32.

From SB Nation:

It’s not the way she portrayed herself; it’s who she is. It’s why women fight in the UFC, because of her. I [couldn't] care less if you don’t like her or you like her. It doesn’t matter to me. She’s the world champion, she’s badass, and she goes out to win. We were talking about it when we were flying here on the plane. One of our financial guys was basically asking if the women’s division would have got started without [Ronda Rousey]. I said, ‘We wouldn’t have done it without Ronda. I wouldn’t have even done it without Ronda. You could line up all the greatest girls on Earth from here to [expletive] Pluto. And she’s the one that, when I met her, I said this chick is insanely competitive and just a different animal. She’s what it took to get women in the UFC. Hate her or not, the reason all these girls fight in the UFC is because of her. …


The thing is, with her and Miesha, she hates Miesha Tate. When she and Cat Zingano were gonna be the coaches, you heard them talk on the podium, the mutual respect. She hates Miesha Tate. Hates her. And anyone who’s ever hated somebody before knows how that feels. I’ve hated a few people in my life so I know how that feels. Yes, when you hate somebody, you might stoop low and do some things that make you look like a jackass. But, oh well.

We suppose “oh well” is one way to look at this. But, then again, White seems to have tied the future of women’s MMA in the UFC to Rousey. “Oh well” might not cut it.

No voting limit and Tate spammed the link to vote to her 150k followers about 50 times a day. Her and Caraway probably sat there voting 1000 times a day since it means so much to her.

Ronda is the draw, sorry Miesha

Rousey is turd.

I don't think i've jerked off to Rousey even once, her voice is like cold water



and no i would not say that to her face, id just let her rape me

Miesha Tate: ‘EA Sports UFC’ cover vote win a consequence of Rousey being ‘exposed’

While Miesha Tate isn’t overreacting to her victory over Ronda Rousey in the cover vote for the new “EA Sports UFC” video game, the women’s bantamweight contender does believes the result is a reflection of Rousey’s public persona.

“I think a lot of people have been turned off by Ronda’s poor sportsmanship and just the overall negative attitude on ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’” Tate told MMAjunkie on Monday. “I think she’s been kind of exposed.”

As announced on Monday, Tate (13-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC) narrowly edged the current women’s bantamweight champion in the first round of fan voting for a cover spot next to 205-pound champ Jon Jones on the upcoming video game.

Few, including Tate, expected “Cupcake” to receive more support than one of the sport’s most notable figures, which is why she was overjoyed when the news came to light.

“I was absolutely ecstatic,” Tate said. “I didn’t expect to win, but I was full of hope. I knew that Ronda was in the lead, and I was just like, ‘Man, she has double the followers I do on Twitter. She’s probably going to win.’ But I didn’t want to give up hope … I couldn’t be more thankful. It felt really great, so I’m ecstatic.”

Many are wondering if the result was a consequence of Tate’s rise in popularity, or possibly because fans turned on Rousey (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC). While the 27-year-old believes it is a combination of both factors, Tate also believes if the vote were to take place before “TUF,” she would have suffered a landslide defeat.

“Honestly, I think that she would have [won before the reality show],” Tate said. “I think people were under this kind of sentiment that Ronda Rousey can do no wrong and she’s the princess of MMA, she’s the golden girl, she’s the Olympian, she’s the blond-haired, blue-eyed all-American perfect girl and she has the full support of the UFC.

“Everyone has gotten to see the Ronda Rousey that I haven’t got along with for a long time.”

Tate has been vocal about Rousey’s actions on “TUF” since the show debuted a few months ago, and she believes the portrayals of Rousey and herself have been accurate.

The Washington native says she is pleased with how she’s come across and believes fans warming to her and souring on Rousey has a direct correlation with the show providing deeper insight into their personalities.

“Getting on ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ has been one of the best things for myself just because I’ve gotten a voice,” Tate said. “I’ve been able to show my personality a little bit, and I’ve had more of an outlet to express myself versus just Ronda.”

“It was kind of unequal balance, and with ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’ it has been more equal, and people are seeing more of her side of the story and a lot more of my side of the story. I think people are making their decisions [to vote] based off that.”

Tate’s video game victory over Rousey  adds another layer to the complicated and storied rivalry between the two fighters. But even with that in mind, Tate doesn’t intend to rub Rousey’s nose in her win, though she knows deep down her foe is agitated over the situation.

“I’m sure she’s probably bitter about it already,” Tate said. “You can tell just by the way that she was upset when they lost the first fight on ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’ you can imagine probably how she felt.

“I’m not going to go there. It wasn’t my goal to piss Ronda off again. It was my goal to better myself, and I would have done the same thing if I would have been going up against anybody. I would have handled it the same way as now. I’m not making this personal, and that’s the way that I’m handling it.”

While the news brings excitement to Tate, she’s still focused on the ultimate goal of defeating the former Olympic medalist for the UFC women’s bantamweight championship at UFC 168.

A little more than a month out from the fight, Tate is focused on the task at hand, but she also can’t help to think what it would mean to win the entire cover vote contest.

“[To win] would be a pretty incredible feat,” Tate said. “I’m really excited just to get past the first round, and with that being said, one of my biggest challenges is out of the way, and I’m excited to make the best run that I can to get on that cover.

“To have a woman on the cover would only make sense. Women’s MMA is taking MMA by storm, and we’re just really making waves, and there would be no better time to have female representation on the cover of the ‘EA Sports UFC’ game.”

Fans can cast their second round votes for the video game at ufc.com/covervote.

For more on UFC 168, visit the UFC Rumors section of the site.

TUF has turned a lot of people off in regards to her. I've had friends say how they liked her before the show but after watching her they don't like her anymore and are all rooting for Tate now.

These are all hardcore fans though. She's still one of the most popular fighters in the UFC

bobbitt15 wrote:

These are all hardcore fans though. She's still one of the most popular fighters in the UFC

So she's still one of the most popular fighters in the UFC, but not really with people who actually like the sport more then casually?  I'd say Rousey is more visible and accessible through various media, right now, then Tate, but everyone who is interested enough in MMA to actually see whats happening week to week in the sport sees a shiny turd for the most part.

GDPofDRC wrote:

bobbitt15 wrote:

These are all hardcore fans though. She's still one of the most popular fighters in the UFC

So she's still one of the most popular fighters in the UFC, but not really with people who actually like the sport more then casually?  I'd say Rousey is more visible and accessible through various media, right now, then Tate, but everyone who is interested enough in MMA to actually see whats happening week to week in the sport sees a shiny turd for the most part.

ie popular. Yes, I agree

Ronda by armbar in a fight Miesha doesn't deserve. Peace out Tater tot

That's not what being popular means.  It means people like you, being well received or being widely accepted.  Less and less people appreciate or like Rousey each day.  It's clear.

Liking someone based on TUF is pretty lame in my humble opinion

ronda has a nice ass and great armbar

thats the extent of her in my mind