Garrett’s Grumblings – An Outsider’s View of the Aftermath of Ronda Rousey’s Defeat

Before I get into the heart of this article, let me say this right off the bat. I do NOT watch UFC. In fact, I have not watched one UFC match since 2007, when an ex girlfriend of mine was obsessed with the sport and we would order them monthly. So I have never seen one of Ronda Rousey’s matches, and for a full on analytical view of what this loss means for the sport and Rousey’s career, keep checking in with the site, because I’m sure Luke Norris is going to address it on his Binge Sports show.

What I am going to say here is strictly from an outsider’s point of view of what I have seen going on. I do not know Rousey personally. But I have had contact with her, as I was THIS CLOSE to nabbing her for an interview on the Aftertaste a few months ago. Unfortunately, her hectic schedule would not allow her time to come on the air, and I respect that. Most athletes in her position would not even address the other party. But she let me know that it just was not going to work out. Also, don’t come at me with comments like, ‘she got cocky,’ ‘she didn’t take the fight seriously,’ ‘she was thinking about Hollywood.’ Because in reality, ALL of those things are what I am going to address here.

Facebook is a lot of things. It is a tool to keep in contact with long lost loved ones. It is a business enhancement. It is a way to keep your toxic way of thinking in tact. But it is also a pulse taker on what is ‘in’ in today’s society. And a mere two months ago, even going back less than a month ago, I saw NOTHING but positive posts about Rousey. How the woman is a flag bearer for modern day feminism. How she respected the late Roddy Piper so much she went to him and asked permission for his nickname. How she was a champion who could not be stopped. About how good a role model she is for girls growing up. About how hot she is for being such a physically and mentally strong woman. There were even pushes by people within geeky film circles to try and get her to be Ms Marvel.

However, something happened which in some ways is sickening and others gratifying. In the immediate aftermath of Holly Holm’s second round KO of Rousey, the internet turned full circle. Stills of Rousey being held down by the Lion King’s Simba surfaced. People were clamoring to jump on the fact she took the fight lightly.  Most people, mind you almost ALL of the same people who praised Rousey so highly merely a month ago, were doing their best to kick her while she was down. It was such an odd display that I almost felt sorry for the woman. As someone who has not seen one fight with her, I was witnessing the social media world aching to push down a woman, one who won a bronze medal in the Olympics and spent a few years on top of the world, even further than Holm had.

In witnessing this bizarre occurrence, I decided to compare it to Iron Mike Tyson’s similar fall back in 1990. On the surface, their uprisings are very similar. They both came from broken down living arrangements and worked their asses off to get as high as they got. In 1990, Tyson was coming off a half decade of dominance. He had video games named after him. He was making one talk show appearance after another. Quite similar to Rousey, Tyson had made his once looked down upon sport a household name. But there is a huge difference here. In 1990, Tyson was already looked at as a nuisance to society. He was coming off a tumultuous marriage with Robin Givens, and rumors were surfacing that he was being investigated for rape. Rumors that were eventually proven true, as when all was said and done in court, he ended up spending five years in prison.

In looking at Rousey’s rise to prominence, I see nothing of the sort. The girl could have gone the route of easy money, and made a sex tape to be even more in the limelight. But outside the ring, she always carries herself with dignity. Of course, I will say it again. I have not seen her fights and have heard many outcries against the fact she would not shake hands before a fight, and that her cockiness and believing of her own hype got to her. But I am just going to put this out there. If you rose through a female portion of a sport that was given no real exposure until your image surfaced, and you made that sport a household name just with your image, wouldn’t you get cocky too? Especially coming off working with Sylvestor Stallone, and all amid rumors abound that you were going to take the mantle of an iconic female Marvel superhero? I defy you to not get a tad full of yourself, and root for that circumstance to come your way someday so you can find out for yourself.

In my eyes and brief dealings with her, I have found Rousey to be a sportsman and phenomenal role model. Though I will say right now. I applaud Holm’s ability to take Rousey down a peg with a sheer ass kicking. I do not want to overlook that fact. Is Rousey overrated? Does she know how to strike just as well as grapple? Will Dana White stand by Rousey’s side as she attempts a comeback? I have no idea of the answers to these questions. I am just an outsider looking in. And as such, I think the public should really look at who they laugh at in the face of adversity. Because that pie is not so far from their face.