UFC fighters Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche at UFC 157 in Anaheim on Saturday “went out and put on a dynamic show that brought down the house,” according to Kevin Iole of YAHOO SPORTS. Their fight “saved" the card "after a stinker of a co-main event” between Lyoto Machida and Dan Henderson. The reception for the Rousey-Carmouche bout “made those who had angrily said they wouldn't buy a ticket or watch the show because the UFC was somehow disrespecting Machida and Henderson look awfully small.” Rousey and Carmouche also “carried the show on the promotional end.” UFC President Dana White said that “early estimates are that the results will be far higher than anticipated, squelching concerns in some corners that it might flop.” The fight “proved that women could compete on a show featuring men and still be the star attractions.” The two fighters “stood up to the scrutiny and the grind and the pressure and delivered a scintillating performance” (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/24). In Las Vegas, Case Keefer noted any “final concerns about females headlining a card for the world’s largest fighting organization were alleviated ... in more ways than one" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 2/24). The SUN’s Keefer reported the two women “dominated the action” with a fight “that was far more exciting than any of the others on the main card” (LASVEGASSUN.com, 2/23). SI.com’s Jeff Wagenheim wrote, “What a debut for women in the UFC. What a fight, period” (SI.com, 2/24). In San Diego, Matt Calkins wrote the “spectacle” around the fight “had the Honda Center rockin’ as though it were overtime of a Game 7.” It was a “watershed moment for fighters such as Julie Kedzie.” Kedzie predicted after the fight “hundreds of little girls are going to put gloves on because of Ronda.” It is “a new day in MMA, and quite frankly -- there’s no fighting it” (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/24).
