Ronda Rousey was the reason why the UFC opened its doors for women. And now that it’s unclear if she will ever return to the Octagon, that changes the way will company handle its women’s divisions.
After “Rowdy" suffered her first loss in the sport, an epic knockout against Holly Holm in 2015, the UFC promised her an immediate rematch for the gold. Holm decided not to wait for Rousey, and the belt changed hands until the judo star decided to return.
In Dec. 2016, the promotion around UFC 207 was focused on Rousey’s return against bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes, but “Rowdy" only lasted 48 seconds.