UFC co-founder: Rousey is the new Tank Abbott
“She’s a world-class athlete. Tank is not a world-class athlete. He just showed up, would fight anybody and was super tough. They just did the same kind of thing for MMA.”
This is the undefeated Ronda Rousey:
This is 10-15 David “Tank” Abbott:
At first glance, they do not appear to have much in common.
However, in an interview with Marc Raimondi for FOX Sports, UFC co-founder Campbell McLaren explains that Ronda Rousey is this generation’s Tank Abbott.
“She’s the first fighter to open up a new audience to the UFC and MMA,” said McLaren. “She’s smart, she can talk, she’s tough. She has real fight credentials. She’s got it all.”
During the earliest days of the UFC, Tank too brought a new audience to the sport, such as it was.
In March 1996, Esquire magazine covered the new sport in an article titled “Gentlemen, Start Your Bleeding.” In is, the author noted that up until then, the sport had been as designed martial artist vs. martial artists. Tank was something new – the scary next door neighbor, if he had a 600 pound bench.
“He made it look like he just walked in off the street or from the bar,” said McLaren. “That wasn’t the case, but it was a great way to promote him.”
Although their looks were different, both fighters receive considerable attention for their looks. And both fighters receive attention for their words.
McLaren compared Abbott saying I’m starting to get sexually aroused right now. You better get that off,” after watching a replay of his knockout of John Matua, with Rousey calling Cris Cyborg “an it.”
Both comments caused an uproar, which is the point.
“They’re nothing alike,” said McLaren. “Their personas are nothing alike. She’s a world-class athlete. Tank is not a world-class athlete. He just showed up, would fight anybody and was super tough. They just did the same kind of thing for MMA.”
McLaren is currently promoting the Combate Americas MMA reality series/promotion.