First women to fight in UFC: On February 23, 2013, history was made in the world of MMA as Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche became the first women to ever fight in the UFC. The fight, which took place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, was the main event of UFC 157 and was a pivotal moment in the history of women’s combat sports.
Ronda Rousey was already a superstar in the MMA world at the time of the fight, having won the Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Championship and successfully defending it twice. She had also become a mainstream celebrity, appearing in films and on television shows. Her opponent, Liz Carmouche, was a relatively unknown fighter at the time, but had a record of 7 wins and 2 losses.
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The fight was highly anticipated and drew a lot of attention from both MMA fans and the media. It was a landmark moment for women’s combat sports, as the UFC had previously refused to allow women to compete in the promotion. However, Ronda’s success in Strikeforce and her star power convinced UFC President Dana White to allow her to fight in the promotion.
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The fight itself was a thrilling back-and-forth battle, with Liz Carmouche taking Ronda’s back early in the first round and nearly submitting her with a rear-naked choke. However, Ronda was able to escape and eventually secured a victory by submitting Carmouche with her signature armbar in the first round.
The fight was a huge success, both commercially and critically, and helped to legitimize women’s MMA in the eyes of many fans and critics. It paved the way for other female fighters to compete in the UFC and helped to raise the profile of women’s combat sports around the world.
Ronda Rousey went on to become one of the biggest stars in the UFC, defending her bantamweight title six times before suffering her first loss to Holly Holm in 2015. She retired from MMA in 2016 with a record of 12 wins and 2 losses, and has since transitioned to a career in professional wrestling and acting.
Liz Carmouche also went on to have a successful career in MMA, fighting in the UFC and Bellator and compiling a record of 14 wins and 8 losses.
In conclusion, February 23, 2013, was a historic day in the world of MMA, as Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche became the first women to ever fight in the UFC. Their groundbreaking fight helped to pave the way for other female fighters to compete in the promotion and helped to raise the profile of women’s combat sports around the world. It will forever be remembered as a pivotal moment in the history of MMA.
