Ronda Rousey News: UFC President Dana White Says 'Rowdy' Became 'Bigger' After Losing To Holm
When Holly Holm knocked out former UFC bantamweight queen Ronda Rousey, the woman once touted as the "most dominant athlete alive" expectedly lost her aura of invincibility.
Overnight, "Rowdy" received a ton of backlash; particularly from celebrity personalities such as United States presidential candidate Donald Trump, and pop star Lady Gaga. After one kick to the jaw, Rousey was suddenly pushed out of the limelight, and Holm now enjoys an overnight superstar status.
Rousey is currently serving a medical suspension that can last as long as six months. Amidst her hiatus, the mixed martial arts world continues to bring some buzz around her name. Most recently, UFC president Dana White shared his thoughts on his now former top female superstar.
In an interview with ESPN First Take, the outspoken company executive boldly declared that Rousey is actually "bigger" now, after her loss.
"It's crazy, because you win and lose in the fight game," White explained. "It happens. It's funny because we were comparing her to Tyson, who had this invincibility. She was a Tyson."
Back in his heyday as a heavyweight boxing icon in mid-80's to early 90's, Mike Tyson held a reputation as one of the most (if not the most) dominant fighters the world has ever seen. "Iron Mike," who also went by the name of "Kid Dynamite" in his early years, managed to win his first 37 bouts, making him a force to be reckoned with.
It all changed when he faced James "Buster" Douglas, who was reported to be a 42-1 underdog entering the fight. Like Holm, Douglas was able to shock the world when he knocked out Tyson in the tenth round of their February 1990 bout.
White explains that the similar situation perfectly applies to Rousey, since the magnitude of the fight and post-fight reactions were mainly anchored on the shock that people felt when they saw her in defeat.
"It was never more true than when she lost," White said. "Because when she lost, everybody was shocked. A hundred million people were talking about it on social media. And I actually think that Ronda Rousey is bigger now after the loss than she was before the fight. And there's gonna be a rematch."
