BACKLASH

IN THE WAKE OF RHONDA ROUSEY LOSING TO HOLLY HOLM VIA KO, THERE HAS BEEN A PUBLIC BACKLASH TOWARD HER, AND SHE HAS EVEN BECOME THE SUBJECT OF VARIOUS MEMES.  IT SEEMS PEOPLE ARE HAVING A BIT OF FUN AT HER EXPENSE, AND THERE'S ALSO SOME PEOPLE WHO FEEL THIS IS UNNECESSARY.  ALTHOUGH, IT MAY BE SOMEWHAT OVER THE TOP, AS WITH ALL PUBLIC BACKLASH, I DON'T FEEL IT WAS UNWARRANTED.  RHONDA ROUSEY SORT OF BECAME A LARGER THAN LIFE CHARACTER, AND SHINED A LOT BRIGHTER THAN HER PREDECESSORS IN THE SPORT.  SHE BECAME THE FACE, AND VOICE EVEN, OF FEMALE MMA COMPETITION, AND RATHER QUICKLY.  HOWEVER, HER DEMEANOR AND ATTITUDE GREW, THE MORE HER FAME DID, AND SHE BECAME OUTSPOKEN TO THE POINT THAT SOME DEEMED IT ARROGANT TO AN EXTENT.  IT WAS THE ARROGANCE THAT TURNED SOME PEOPLE OFF TOWARD HER.  SHE MAY HAVE SEEN IT AS, CONFIDENCE, OR NOT BEING A TYPICAL WELL-MANNERED WOMAN, BUT IT CAME OFF TO SOME AS ARROGANCE.

THE ISSUE THAT MOST PEOPLE HAD, IS THAT IN HER FLOURISH OF ARROGANCE AND OUTSPOKENNESS, SHE WAS FIGHTING CONTENDERS THAT NOBODY REALLY KNEW OF.  IT WAS ALMOST AS IF THEY WERE SIMPLY FEEDING HER COMPETITION TO BEAT, AND IT WAS HER ATTITUDE AND CONTROVERSY THAT WAS SELLING THE FIGHTS, OR SELLING HER CHARACTER, I SHOULD SAY.  WHEN HOLLY HOLM ENTERED THE PICTURE, THINGS CHANGED, BECAUSE NOW THERE WAS AN ACTUAL COMPETITIVE FIGHTER, WITH EXPERIENCE AND TALENT AND CHAMPIONSHIP STATUS UNDER HER BELT.  THE NORMAL TRICKS THAT RHONDA ATTEMPTED TO USE TO WIN FIGHTS, DID NOT RATTLE HOLLY HOLM, AND SHE WENT OUT WITH A SOLID GAMEPLAN, TO DEFEAT THE CHAMP AND WON.  NOW THE PUBLIC IS SEEMINGLY TURNING ON RHONDA ROUSEY DUE TO THIS, AND SOME DISAGREE.

HOWEVER, IS IT NOT EXPECTED?  A WOMAN WHO IS DOMINATING QUESTIONABLE TALENT, BEING CONTROVERSIAL VIA ARROGANCE, AND INTIMIDATION HER STRONG SUIT, IS DEFEATED, AND REALLY OUTCLASSED BY AN ACTUAL EXPERIENCED FIGHTER?  WHAT'S WORSE IT WAS BY A FIGHTER WHO BEGAN IN BOXING, A SPORT ROUSEY RECENTLY BAD MOUTHED.  I THINK THIS IS THE HUMILITY BEING SERVED TO HER, AS A REMINDER TO US ALL, THAT YOU REALLY HAVE TO BE HUMBLE SOMETIMES.  NOW, THE WOMEN'S MMA FIGHT GAME HAS FOREVER BEEN CHANGED NOW, BECAUSE OF HOLLY HOLM'S PERFORMANCE, AND I CAN SEE HER RUNNING THE DIVISION FOR QUITE AWHILE, DUE TO HER EXPERIENCE.  I SEE HOLM ONLY GETTING BETTER, THE MORE COMFORTABLE SHE GETS IN THE OCTAGON, AND OPENS HER GAME UP.  THE GOOD THING IS THAT UNTIL THEY FIND A SOLID COMPETITOR TO PUT IN FRONT OF HER, HOLM, CAN USE THE TIME TO HER ADVANTAGE TO EXPAND HER FIGHTING PROWESS.  THE QUESTION IS, WILL RHONDA ROUSEY CHANGE, OR WILL SHE FADE INTO THE BACKGROUND?