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Was backlash on Rousey warranted?

It’s been almost two weeks since Ronda Rousey was shockingly defeated in front of a record-breaking crowd at UFC 193 in Melbourne and dethroned as bantamweight champion by Holly Holm.

While the majority of experts and fans didn’t consider the loss a possibility, I think even fewer could have predicted the backlash against Rousey following the bout.

Social media exploded with venomous and unrelenting comments about the former champion being too arrogant, unsportsmanlike and overrated.

A dazed Ronda Rousey against Holly Holm. Image: Getty
A dazed Ronda Rousey against Holly Holm. Image: Getty

Parents expressed disappointment at how Rousey’s behaviour had “destroyed” their young daughters who had idolised the mixed martial arts star. Others were a lot more colourful with their language and unforgiving in their critique.

How did this happen? Why did it happen? Is it OK?

Initially, I didn’t care. No matter the sport, no one person or team is adored by everyone. I thought the comments were harsh, but no different than anything said in the past about others. But the volume of insults continued to grow and the vitriol was unsettling. Within days, I was angry.

Before I go on, let me establish that until recently, I would not have even called myself a Rousey fan.

In fact, I was one of the minority who picked Holm for the upset win.

I respected Rousey as a fighter, but – and Ronda, if you ever read this, I’m sorry – my opinion from watching her in interviews and on The Ultimate Fighter TV show gave me the impression that she was, indeed, arrogant and lacking in humility.

Then came fight week and I had the opportunity to see her up close, in public and in private. I saw her interact with thousands of her fans and I saw her when the cameras were on and off. In those few days my respect grew and my perception changed.

Then came the fight. I will not discuss my opinion of her performance or why I felt sorry for her the moment that kick caught her and she fell to the ground.
This piece is about the hypocrisy of keyboard cowards.

At first, I found the irony of people calling Rousey unsportsmanlike and lacking in humility while they used profanity laden posts to confess their hate for her and wish further harm and loss upon her comical.

However – and pardon the pun – with person after person kicking her while she was down, the humour turned to disgust.

This is what I saw during fight week – a professional athlete who knows how to market herself and a young woman who carries a responsibility most of us would probably reject because we wouldn’t even be able to fathom how to go about it.

People attacked Rousey for not touching gloves. Did Georges St. Pierre and Nick Diaz touch gloves? Did Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock? Did Ortiz or Diaz with countless others? Did Muhammad Ali and Ernie Terrell?

In Ali’s case, he slapped Terrell and called him an Uncle Tom – one of the worst things you could call a black man – at a pre-fight press conference and Ali is still considered by most as the greatest ever boxer and greatly respected.

Where was the backlash against any of these fighters for this act of defiance or is it OK because they were men? Is it because we don’t expect better from people like the Huntington Beach Bad Boy? Does a bad attitude make it all right for us to overlook it?

Ronda was also condemned for being aggressive at her weigh-in.

Firstly, the undisputed fact is that Holm put her hand on Rousey’s chin before the latter did anything. Where was the condemnation for Holm? More importantly, that scuffle was minor compared to so many that happen in the lead up to almost every UFC event.

Just look at the pre-fight publicity for the bouts between Conor McGregor and Jose Aldo or even Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier. Those were way more animated than Rousey and Holm and yet, people seem to be a lot more forgiving and forgetful with them.

Again, is it because they’re men or is it because people know that the fight game is a business and feisty encounters sell fights? If that’s the case, why wasn’t this an acceptable reason for Rousey?

Rousey understands better than most how to get the press involved and get fans talking. Her “Rowdy” moniker comes from the world of professional wrestling where it’s the performers’ job to get fans riled up and interested. Do you think she hasn’t learnt from them how to sell interest in herself? The woman is a marketing machine, yet people, myself included, saw a lot of her behaviour as genuine. Some of it truly may be, but a lot of it is an act.

During fight week I saw a 28-year old woman who blushed when fans confessed their admiration for her, I saw humility as she lost her rhythm while skipping at the open workouts and burst into a luminous smile because fans were cheering so loudly and I saw respect as she spoke about Holm’s achievements and skills.

I also saw a feigned cockiness when proclaiming she was going to defeat Holm. How many fighters in the history of combat sports have ever proclaimed their opponent doesn’t stand a chance?

I saw a cold exterior when broached by media on sensitive topics regarding loved ones. Who of us would act any differently?

I’m not saying people should love Ronda Rousey. I’m not even saying they should like her. Everyone is free to feel and behave as they want.

This is a plea for all of us to take a more humanised approach towards the people we cheer for or against, and make sure we hold ourselves to the same standards we demand of them.

Ultimately, in Rousey’s case, she trained to the best of her abilities to be able to defend herself against her opponent’s punches and kicks and failed. Hopefully, she’s better equipped to deal with adversaries who throw stones.

MMA MADNESS