Given that Ronda Rousey has taken a year off from fighting in UFC, it "would be understandable if her tremendous marketability took a hit," but her "appeal outside the Octagon has never been greater," according to Darren Rovell of ESPN.com. Rousey on Friday returns against Amanda Nunes in UFC 207, her first fight since losing to Holly Holm in Nov. '15. In a "strange way," that loss "made her more important to Reebok," which signed her to an endorsement deal in Dec. '14 to go along with the brand's deal with the UFC. Reebok VP/Sports & Entertainment Marketing Todd Krinsky said, "We had a campaign that we started called 'Be More Human,' and after she got knocked out, that campaign fit into what we were doing." Krinsky said that as Reebok "continues its quest to rise back to relevance," Rousey is as "important a figure as anyone to have in their stable." Because Rousey "doesn't participate in a traditional sport with regular appearances, her immense appeal is often overlooked" (ESPN.com, 12/27). More from the Daily is available here.
