Ronda Rousey’s "streak of demolition through the UFC ranks was brought to a devastating end by Holly Holm over the weekend" at UFC 193 in Melbourne, leaving the women’s bantamweight division in a "fascinating limbo," according to Martin Rogers of USA TODAY. Previously, the organization’s involvement with women’s fighting was "built squarely around Rousey," but Holm's upset win "might not constitute a disaster for the sport." UFC President Dana White "might not admit it but he surely believed that the UFC was about to witness a one-woman dynasty." Instead, it may "have something even better -- a rivalry." White said that a rematch "made sense and admitted it would be the fight most desired by fans." Rogers notes UFC 200 on July 9 would be a "tantalizing option." For that night, White is looking to "stack the card, and there would be no bigger contest than a second meeting between the deposed champ and the new one" (USA TODAY, 11/16). White later said that he will "pursue a rematch" between Holm and Rousey. White said that he "originally planned for Rousey to next fight" at UFC 200. In L.A., Lance Pugmire notes Rousey is "involved in a film project, starring in Patrick Swayze’s former bouncer role in a remake of 'Road House.'” White said that Rousey has "earned an immediate rematch if she wants it." But he "wouldn’t commit to a date." One earlier possibility could be April 23 at MSG should the UFC "win a federal injunction that would allow New York to permit" MMA (L.A. TIMES, 11/16).
READY FOR A REMATCH? YAHOO SPORTS' Kevin Iole wrote interest "was intense in Saturday’s bout, and the rematch, if it happens, figures to be bigger" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 11/15). In Orlando, Jay Reddick wrote a rematch "seems inevitable, but will Rousey return sooner to avenge her loss, or will we have to wait for Rousey vs. Holm II, UFC's next women's superfight?" This loss is "certain to have a domino effect on the sport as a whole." Reddick: "Does the end of Rousey's aura of invincibility change the mainstream popularity of MMA?" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 11/15). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Jason Gay writes the result "presents an intriguing dilemma." In Rousey, MMA had its "first true mainstream celebrity," and in Holm, UFC "may have finally found a worthy opponent for its signature star" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 11/15). But ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne wrote despite the possibility of a rivalry, White could "barely hide his disappointment" after Saturday's fight. White has ridden Rousey's popularity "as hard as anyone these past few years as he's tried to transition the UFC into the mainstream" (ESPN.com, 11/15).
WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS: ESPN.com's Darren Rovell wrote Rousey "still might become the most marketable female athlete, but now there's going to be a required detour." Big deals that were ahead "will now go into a holding pattern." Blue chip companies that were "willing to make the risky crossover to MMA through Rousey might now stay away." As for the UFC, Rousey's defeat "didn't hurt the promotion as badly from a financial standpoint." A longer fight meant people "will have more faith in buying a rematch." Since the UFC "makes a lot of money off pay-per-view buys, restoring faith in a 'good fight' was key." If Rousey "loses the rematch, that's when the UFC suffers colossal financial damage." A one-loss Rousey could "still get the masses into the sport," but if she "loses a second time, even though MMA champions eventually lose, her appeal will be crushed." It "can be argued that never before has any sport's league or promotion had as much riding on a single event than the UFC will have when Rousey steps in the Octagon with Holm again" (ESPN.com, 11/15).
COME ON, AUSSIES: SI.com's Josh Gross noted a "massive crowd" of 56,214 turned out to Melbourne's Etihad Stadium on Saturday. The venue "proved to be a fantastic setting" for the crowd, which broke the previous record of 55,724 set at UFC 129 in '11. The combination of Rousey’s participation and UFC’s debut in Melbourne after a "long fight to get sanctioned by the state produced the largest attendance for a fight in Australian history" and tallied US$6.77M at the gate (SI.com, 11/15).
