10 fighters vying to fill gap left by Rousey loss
Ronda Rousey is such a mainstream star that the august New York Times recently did an article on the 10 UFC fighters vying to fill the gap left by her loss.
Ronda Rousey is such a mainstream star that the august New York Times recently did an article on the 10 UFC fighters vying to fill the gap left by her loss. The author, Victor Mather, is undoubtedly a tremendous writer. He unfortunately shows less knowledge about the sport than that guy in Australia who likened MMA to child abuse. The result is something like Brock Lesnar doing an Op-Ed for the Times on those Chinese ground troops in Syria. CM Punk is #8.
But it is still interesting to see mainstream coverage of the sport at this level.
Here are the 10 fighters best equipped to become the U.F.C.’s biggest name in the months ahead:
10. DONALD CERRONE
9. DEMETRIOUS JOHNSON
8. C. M. PUNK
7. ANDERSON SILVA
6. CHRIS WEIDMAN
5. HOLLY HOLM
4. JOSÉ ALDO
3. CONOR MCGREGOR
2. JON JONES
1. RONDA ROUSEY
Yes, there’s no getting around it. Ronda Rousey is still the U.F.C.’s biggest star. Part of her appeal lay in her invincibility. That is gone, but it has been replaced by an equally appealing comeback story line.
Love her or hate her — and based on the reaction to her loss, many hate her — Rousey makes news. Her comeback fight, probably against Holm, will draw as much attention, if not more, than any in her career.
When she gets over this loss, she’s going to be a savage, the U.F.C.’s president, Dana White, told M.M.A. Junkie. If the loss motivates Rousey to get better, her continuing stardom will be assured.
So the article is uneven, but the question is sound. What figures in the UFC are mostly likely to rise up and become mainstream stars? While the hardcore fanbase admires and appreciates Demetrious Johnson or Jose Aldo, at this stage in their career, they do not appear poised for superstardom.
Conor McGregor is for sure, if he wins vs. Aldo. PVZ has the looks to, but that is a lot of wins off. Bellator is doing a great job of burnishing the lustre of older stars. Chris Weidman is dominant and clean cut. Holly Holm is world-class in two combat sports, and a role model in her deportment. Joanna Jedrzejczyk has some hard to define but you know it when you see it It Factor.
What’s your list?
