While there are still a few people out there that would say women shouldn't be in the octagon unless they are holding up a round card, women are making their presence known in the world of mixed martial arts. It's definitely taken a while for the ladies to garner some respect, although organizations such as Strikeforce and Bellator recognized the potential of women's MMA far before UFC let them compete. Women fighters have made some significant strides in the last few years, proving their power and profitability.
Obviously, the first UFC women's bout grabbed a lot of attention, and this fight, which featured Ronda Rousey versus Liz Carmouche, was the main event of the evening. Rousey went on to defeat Meisha Tate at UFC 168, and although this fight was still on the main card, it was a bit overshadowed by the fight between Chris Weidman and Anderson Silva.
The formation of Invicta Fighting Championships also has been an important milestone for women in MMA. This organization, unlike most other MMA organizations, offers five different divisions. Most organizations only feature one or two divisions for women. Invicta has gotten off to a bit of a shaky start with some management problems and the lost of the top run of its strawweight division to the UFC, but hopefully, this organization will be here for many more years, offering a variety of options for fighters and encouraging young women to think about MMA.
Pairing up enemies Ronda Rousey and Meisha Tate for The Ultimate Fighter was another big step in women's MMA. Obviously the tension between these two fighters made for interesting TV, but it's noteworthy because it is the first time that women were chosen as coaches for this popular TV program. People have strong emotions regarding Ronda Rousey, but there is no doubt that she has pushed women's MMA into the limelight.
Women's fighting, in general, has progressed by leaps and bounds in the last few years, and not just with mixed martial arts but within specific categories of martial arts, such as Muay Thai. For instance, Lion Fight, one of the top Muay Thai organizations in the country, recently announced that Tiffany Van Soest and Caley Reece will be the headliners for their February, 2014, event in Las Vegas. Van Soest is considered not only to be one of the country's best female Muay Thai fighters, but also one of the best Muay Thai fighters in general.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu also has its fair share of exceptional female athletes competing for various titles. Leticia Ribeiro, for example, has won more than one dozen jiu-jitsu championships. As a light featherweight, Ribeiro has won the World Brazilian Jiu-Jistu Championship for her division for the last four years.
Obviously, the first UFC women's bout grabbed a lot of attention, and this fight, which featured Ronda Rousey versus Liz Carmouche, was the main event of the evening. Rousey went on to defeat Meisha Tate at UFC 168, and although this fight was still on the main card, it was a bit overshadowed by the fight between Chris Weidman and Anderson Silva.
The formation of Invicta Fighting Championships also has been an important milestone for women in MMA. This organization, unlike most other MMA organizations, offers five different divisions. Most organizations only feature one or two divisions for women. Invicta has gotten off to a bit of a shaky start with some management problems and the lost of the top run of its strawweight division to the UFC, but hopefully, this organization will be here for many more years, offering a variety of options for fighters and encouraging young women to think about MMA.
Pairing up enemies Ronda Rousey and Meisha Tate for The Ultimate Fighter was another big step in women's MMA. Obviously the tension between these two fighters made for interesting TV, but it's noteworthy because it is the first time that women were chosen as coaches for this popular TV program. People have strong emotions regarding Ronda Rousey, but there is no doubt that she has pushed women's MMA into the limelight.
Women's fighting, in general, has progressed by leaps and bounds in the last few years, and not just with mixed martial arts but within specific categories of martial arts, such as Muay Thai. For instance, Lion Fight, one of the top Muay Thai organizations in the country, recently announced that Tiffany Van Soest and Caley Reece will be the headliners for their February, 2014, event in Las Vegas. Van Soest is considered not only to be one of the country's best female Muay Thai fighters, but also one of the best Muay Thai fighters in general.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu also has its fair share of exceptional female athletes competing for various titles. Leticia Ribeiro, for example, has won more than one dozen jiu-jitsu championships. As a light featherweight, Ribeiro has won the World Brazilian Jiu-Jistu Championship for her division for the last four years.
About the Author:
Rod Bourgoine enjoys blogging about mixed martial arts advantages. For more information about martial arts San Diego or to find San Diego boxing classes, go to The Arena MMA website now.
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