“Never.”
Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White had that one-word answer in 2011 when asked when women would be able compete in the UFC.
Well, never say never.
On the 22nd anniversary of UFC 1 — which — a 5-foot-7 woman stands tall as the company’s biggest and brightest star.
PHOTOS:
And with good reason. “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey (12-0) wins. She wins quickly. And she wins impressively.
Rousey’s opponents have lasted a total of just two minutes, 10 seconds over her last four fights. And eight of her 12 career wins have ended in less than a minute.
The UFC women’s bantamweight champion has her seventh title defense Saturday, headlining UFC 193 in Australia. This time against former world champion boxer and No. 7-ranked Holly Holm (9-0). Few are giving Holm much of a chance to win. Rousey’s recent history of dominance makes her an overwhelming favorite at 1-to-20 odds — meaning a bet of $2,000 would be needed to win $100 — according to UFC.com.
In the traditionally male-dominated sport, Rousey’s rise in popularity is not about her gender. Watching Rousey fight is special — she’s an athlete who’s been far and away at the top of her sport, on the same vein as Michael Jordan or Lionel Messi.
As UFC commentator Joe Rogan said, “Once in a lifetime does not apply to Ronda Rousey. Once ever. In human history, there’s never been a human like her.”
Her charisma adds to her popularity and she’s not one to mince her words. From calling out Floyd Mayweather to professing her and , Rousey’s been the total package as the golden girl for MMA.
But can she keep her momentum going Saturday? Holm is by far the most talented striker to face Rousey to date. However, if you ask the champ, the answer’s simple.
“I think I can beat every girl in my division with one hand,” Rousey said during an interview to promote the fight.
In a February 2015 interview with ” ,” Dana White was asked about his comments from 2011.
“What an idiot that guy was,” he said.
CHEW ON THIS
• The UFC has come a long way from its infancy. In , there were no weight classes and just two simple rules: no eye-gouging and no biting.
• A pair of stars from that inaugural event — Ken Shamrock, 51, and Royce Gracie, 48 — are back in the news. The two legendary MMA fighters . Seriously.
• Should the Broncos go after Matthew Stafford next year? NFL reporter Troy E. Renck answers this and more in .
• Broncos linebacker Shane Ray on .
• Demaryius Thomas’ mother has been , but is on a 60-day travel restriction.
WATCH THIS
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Legendary sportscaster Al Michaels turns 71. Check out Nicki Jhabvala’s . Also, it’s former WCW star Disco Inferno’s 47th birthday. Here’s .
Joe Nguyen: jnguyen@denverpost.com or @joenguyen
