It was announced earlier tonight (Sat., June 9, 2018) during the UFC 225 pay-per-view (PPV) broadcast that former UFC woman’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame on July 5 at The Pearl at the Palms in Las Vegas. She will be part of the ceremony.
“There would be no women in UFC without Ronda Rousey,” said UFC President Dana White in an official press release. “Ronda is an absolute pioneer who helped me personally, and a lot of other people, look at women in combat sports differently. She accomplished everything she set out to do with UFC and became a global icon and role model in the process. Today, the women’s divisions are packed with incredibly talented fighters and they produce some of the best fights you’ll ever see. We’re proud to announce Ronda as the first woman to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.”
Rousey, 31, was crowned UFC champion before she ever made her Octagon debut, but it really didn’t matter. The former Olympian scorched the competition in the 135-pound division just like she did in Strikeforce. She won her first six fights in UFC all by way of finish. Four of those came under the one minute mark.
Rousey (12-2) holds victories over former UFC champion Miesha Tate, former Olympian Sara McMann, Liz Carmouche, Cat Zingano, and Alexis Davis. Even despite losing her final two Octagon appearances via knockout at the hands of Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes, “Rowdy” is still considered one of the best female fighters of all time.
She is also one of the most influential combat athletes of her time. Her meteoric rise in UFC was historic, especially considering the promotion originally passed on featuring female fighters. Rousey eventually became the UFC’s biggest star and brought in some of the greatest PPV numbers in company history.
Being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame will be just another cap in the former fighter’s cap, which also includes a Hollywood career and current stint in WWE.
Stick with Mania for more news on Rousey’s Hall of Fame induction.
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