“When Ronda Rousey lost at UFC 193 in November, it felt like a defining moment. The biggest star in the sport went supernova, sending shockwaves into the MMA universe that have just begun to register.
Before her fateful collision with Holly Holm’s shin, Rousey put women’s MMA on the map. She quickly rose to become the first legitimate female draw in MMA and then transcended that label to become one of the biggest draws in combat sports period. However, what we are now coming to understand is that Rousey did not only bring women’s MMA to the forefront of public consciousness — she single-handedly held it there. The proof lies in the declining fan interest around Invicta Fighting Championships featherweight titleholder Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino…”
