In 2011, it was announced that the UFC would be purchasing the popular MMA promotion, Strikeforce. Strikeforce housed a ton of elite talent and a handful of future UFC champions such as Daniel Cormier, Fabricio Werdum, Luke Rockhold, Tryon Woodley, Miesha Tate, and Ronda Rousey. Yet the most important story to come out of this purchase was that the fact that women would finally have the chance to compete in the UFC.
Since Rousey was already the champion of her division in Strikeforce, the judo Olympian was promoted to UFC women’s bantamweight champion as a result of the acquisition. In the main event of UFC 157, Rousey and Liz Carmouche made history by being the first women to fight inside the Octagon.
A close family friend, “Judo” Gene LeBell, happened to be the grappling coach for pro wrestling legend Roddy Piper, and when Rousey saw Piper, she asked her childhood hero for permission to use his famous “Rowdy” nickname for her first amateur MMA bout. Piper gave Rousey his permission to use the nickname.
Watch The First Women’s Bout Between Rousey and Carmouche on UFC Fight Pass
Rousey’s time in the UFC was dominant, as she successfully defended the UFC women’s bantamweight championship six times. After her eighth fight in the Octagon, Rousey decided it was time to end her fight career, officially retiring from MMA. In 2017, it was announced that Rousey had signed with the WWE on a full-time basis. Just as she did in the UFC, Rousey made history in the WWE by being in the first women’s main event at Wrestlemania. “Rowdy” is back in the squared circle this Saturday at Wrestlemania 38.