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Ronda Rousey Says Women in Combat Sports Earn More Respect Because of Her Impact

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Prince Horton | Last updated Sep 8, 2025 9:24 PM ET

Rousey reflects on her lasting influence, crediting her UFC run for paving the way for women in combat sports

For years, women struggled to find a spotlight in combat sports, often pushed to the margins or treated as an afterthought in promotions. The shift didn’t happen overnight, but one voice now insists that her career played a defining role in changing how female fighters are viewed. This perspective comes from Ronda Rousey herself, as reflected in a recent Yahoo Sports UnCrowned feature, where she confronts how quickly people forget her contributions.

Ronda Rousey, the first woman to hold a UFC title, believes her presence in the Octagon altered the entire landscape.

In a recent interview, Rousey reflected on what she values most from her career: ‘I think I'm most proud of being able to create a way for women in combat sports to be able to make a living that just didn't exist before.’ She noted that the ripple effects of her UFC run can be seen in WWE and boxing, where women are ‘getting a lot more respect and making a lot more money.’

That legacy is visible today in athletes like Claressa Shields the GWOAT, Katie Taylor, who has become a global icon in women’s boxing, and UFC standouts such as Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko, who helped make women’s MMA a proven main-event draw.

Fans have long debated how much credit belongs to her, but there is little doubt her star power pushed the UFC into new territory. What began as a single breakthrough moment evolved into an era where women’s fights headline arenas and command massive audiences. For Rousey, that’s the true victory—watching today’s athletes take the torch and run with it, while setting fires of their own.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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