Ronda Rousey's return at UFC 207 on Friday night produced "record-breaking attendance," as the 18,533 fans broke the "previous T-Mobile Arena record of 18,202 set by UFC 200 this past July," according to Dan Hiergesell of MMAMANIA.com. UFC President Dana White said, "For the first time ever in the history of T-Mobile Arena we broke the attendance record here tonight. It was the first time they ever opened up standing room only. Almost 20,000 people here at the largest fight ever in Las Vegas." But Hiergesell noted the event did "not do as well when it came to the live gate." The $4.75M live gate was "considerably lower than that of UFC 200 [$10.7M] and UFC 202 [$7.7M]" (MMAMANIA.com, 12/31). ESPN.com's Brett Okamoto noted Rousey, who lost to Amanda Nunes in the card's main event, "received a disclosed payday" of $3M. Nunes "netted a disclosed purse of $200,000" (ESPN.com, 12/31). The AP noted Rousey's 13-month absence "didn't diminish her star power with the UFC's brass." The $3M guarantee "matches Conor McGregor's guaranteed payday earlier this year as the biggest disclosed check in UFC history." Rousey and McGregor also "typically make millions more in undisclosed bonuses and pay-per-view revenue shares" (AP, 12/30). USA TODAY's Josh Peter noted the VIP section included Pro Football HOFers Michael Irvin and Cris Carter, rapper Ludacris and Cubs 3B Kris Bryant (USATODAY.com, 12/31).
TIME TO CALL IT QUITS? Peter writes one "sane move" for Rousey is to retire. The "mental damage she suffered during the beatdown" against Nunes will "last forever." Fighters "don’t dare enter the octagon without their confidence fully intact." Rousey’s confidence after being knocked out in 48 seconds is "shattered beyond repair based on what’s already known." Peter: "Here's what she's not equipped to do: fight again. Ever" (USATODAY.com, 12/31). In Las Vegas, Ed Graney wrote Rousey "cemented the fact she never recovered from being knocked out by Holly Holm after beginning her career 12-0" in November '15. Rousey "might return to the octagon again," but she "is done." Graney: "I'm not sure anyone wants to see Rousey again" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 12/31). YAHOO SPORTS' Dan Wetzel wrote Rousey is "no longer capable of competing against the best mixed martial artists in the world." She is a "pioneer though, and like any great pioneer, what she created was eventually flooded with competition that swamped over her." Wetzel: "The explosive growth in talent and training that followed her success changed women’s mixed martial arts overnight" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 12/31). In Las Vegas, Case Keefer wrote Rousey was "so much better than everyone else for so long that changing anything may have felt unnecessary." However, everyone around her was "improving while she was stuck in the status quo" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 12/31).
