Women's mixed martial arts

While mixed martial arts is primarily a male dominated sport, it does have female athletes.[1][2][3][4][5][6] Female competition in Japan includes promotions such as DEEP Jewels. Now defunct promotions that featured female fighters were Valkyrie, and Smackgirl.[7] Professional mixed martial arts organizations in the United States that invite women to compete are industry leader Ultimate Fighting Championship, the all female Invicta Fighting Championships, Resurrection Fighting Alliance, Bellator Fighting Championships, and Legacy Fighting Championship. Now defunct promotions that featured female fighters were Strikeforce and EliteXC.[8][9][10][11]

There has been a growing awareness of women in mixed martial arts due to popular female fighters and personalities such as Gina Carano, Ronda Rousey, Megumi Fujii, Miesha Tate and Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos among others.[12] Carano became known as "the face of women's MMA" after appearing in a number of EliteXC events.[13][14][15] This was furthered by her appearances on MGM Television's 2008 revival of their game show American Gladiators.[16][17][18][19][20]

But it is Ronda Rousey, and UFC's decision to allow female fighters to compete because of her, that is often cited as the reason women's mixed martial arts became known to the general public.[21] Rousey won the Best Fighter ESPY Award at the 2015 ESPN ESPY award's, beating out noted fighters such as Floyd Mayweather Jr., and becoming the first UFC and MMA fighter to win the award.[22]

History

Women competing in an MMA event.

In Japan, female competition has been documented since the mid-1990s. Influenced by female professional wrestling and kickboxing, the Smackgirl competition was formed in 2001 and became the only major all-female promotion in mixed martial arts.[23] Other early successful Japanese female organizations included Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling, ReMix (a predecessor to Smackgirl), U-Top Tournament, K-Grace, and AX.[24][25]

In the United States, prior to the success of the The Ultimate Fighter reality show that launched mixed martial arts into the mainstream media, there was little major coverage of female competitions.[26] Some early organizations who invited women to compete included, International Fighting Championships, SuperBrawl, King of the Cage, Rage in the Cage, Ring of Combat, Bas Rutten Invitational, and HOOKnSHOOT.[27] The first recorded US female competition was at an IFC 4[28]on March 28, 1997. This was soon followed by an IFC four women tournament sanctioned by the Louisiana Boxing and Wrestling Commission on September 5, 1997 in Baton Rouge.[29] From the mid-2000s, more coverage came when organizations such as Strikeforce, EliteXC, Bellator Fighting Championships, and Shark Fights invited women to compete.[30][31][32]

Outside Japan and the United States, female competition is almost exclusively found in minor local promotions. However, in Europe some major organizations have held select female competitions, including It's Showtime, Shooto Europe, Cage Warriors, and M-1 Global.

Following Zuffa's acquisition of Strikeforce in March 2011, there has been lots of speculation concerning the future of women's competition, in term both of relevance and popularity.[33][34][35][36]

The next step was for the UFC to pick up women's MMA, however UFC President Dana White was resistant. He has said, "There is not enough depth to create a women's division."[37]

However, Dana White warmed up to the idea of including women in the UFC and solely credits Ronda Rousey as the reason women are fighting in the UFC.[38]

Rule differentiation

The traditional MMA rules have often been adjusted for female competitions because of safety concerns. In Japan, ReMix prohibited ground-and-pound and featured a 20-second time limit for ground fighting. This rule remained following ReMix's 2001 re-branding as Smackgirl, though the time limit was extended to 30 seconds. The rule was abolished in 2008.[39]

In the United States, women's bouts organised by EliteXC saw three-minute rounds while those of Strikeforce were originally of two minutes' duration.[40] These lengths compare to the more usual five minutes for men.[41][42] Strikeforce later changed this rule to allow for five-minute rounds.[43][44]

Another form of rule differentiation is a change in both weight limits and weight classification. This has been seen in a number of organizations including, Strikeforce, Smackgirl, and Valkyrie.[45]

While men are required to wear a groin protector, women are forbidden from doing so. Women must wear a top and chest protector, while men are allowed neither.[46]

Milestones

First female MMA fight in United States held on March 28,1997 by the International Fighting Championships between Becki Levi and Betty Fagan.[47]

Strikeforce became the first major promotion in the United States to have held a female fight as the main event on August 15, 2009. The fight between Carano and Cristiane Santos attracted 856,000 viewers.[48] Santos made history with her victory over Carano as she became the first Strikeforce Women's 145 lb Champion.[49]

Invicta Fighting Championships in early 2012 became one of the first major women's pro mma organisations.[11][50][51]

Ronda Rousey became the first woman fighter signed to the UFC on November 2012, and was promoted to the division's bantamweight champion. She successfully defended her title in the first UFC women's fight against Liz Carmouche at UFC 157.[52]

Miesha Tate and Cat Zingano fought at the Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale on April 13.[53]

On December 11, 2013 the UFC picked up the contracts of 11 female fighters to fill up their 115-pound division. The Strawweights took part in the 20th season of The Ultimate Fighter, the season winner will be the first UFC women’s strawweight champion. Some of the fighters include Felice Herrig, Claudia Gadelha, Tecia Torres, Bec Hyatt, Joanne Calderwood, and even Invicta FC's Strawweight Champion Carla Esparza and many more.[54][55]

Carla Esparza would become the first UFC strawweight champion after defeating Rose Namajunas at the The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned finale.[56]

Esparza would lose her title to Joanna Jędrzejczyk at UFC 185.[57]

Disagreement

Since its inception the role of women in mixed martial arts has been a subject of debate.[58][59][60] Some observers have treated women's competition as a spectacle and a taboo topic.[61][62]

References

  1. ↑ Smith, Malissa (2014). A History of Women's Boxing. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 263. ISBN 9781442229952. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  2. ↑ "Fighting for the Right to fight". Cauldron. Retrieved 2015-05-17.
  3. ↑ "Examining the Growth and Popularity of Women's Mixed Martial Arts". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2014-12-30.
  4. ↑ "Women in Mixed Martial Arts: Fighting for Equality Part I | POW! Mixed Martial Arts & Fitness". chicagonow.com. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  5. ↑ "Women in Mixed Martial Arts: Fighting for Equality Part I". Chicago Now. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  6. ↑ "Women's mma comes of age". Vice. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  7. ↑ Sherdog.com (2008-10-08). "Valkyrie Takes Flight Nov. 8". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  8. ↑ "Elite XC Signing More Female Fighters | Cagepotato". cagepotato.com. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  9. ↑ "MMAWeekly.com: EliteXC to create women's title during '09 season - MMA - SI.com". si.com. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  10. ↑ "EliteXC still bullish about female MMA - Five Ounces of Pain". fiveouncesofpain.com. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  11. 1 2 "Fightland talks to Shannon Knapp". Vice. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  12. ↑ "EliteXC’s Shayna Baszler fighting for what’s hers | MMAjunkie". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  13. ↑ "Gina Carano refutes position as 'face of women's MMA'". MMAJUNKIE.com. Retrieved 2015-02-04.
  14. ↑ "Carano-'Cyborg' set to make history - Las Vegas Sun News". lasvegassun.com. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  15. ↑ "Who is Haywire's Gina Carano? | TIME.com". entertainment.time.com. 2012-01-19. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  16. ↑ Dorothy Willis. "American Gladiators: Gina Carano Takes the Plunge | Bleacher Report". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  17. ↑ "American Gladiator Gina Carano a mixed martial arts pioneer - Sports Update". blog.chron.com. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  18. ↑ "Haywire Star Gina Carano GQ January 2012 Interview". gq.com. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  19. ↑ Steven Rondina. "Gina Carano: How Would Women's MMA Pioneer Do in the Sport Today? | Bleacher Report". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  20. ↑ "Eight-Sided Vindication". Retrieved 2014-10-15.
  21. ↑ "How Ronda Rousey Became MMA's Biggest Star". newyorker.com. Retrieved 2015-07-21.
  22. ↑ "Espn Celebrates 23rd Annual Espy Awards". espn.com. Retrieved 2015-07-21.
  23. ↑ "BREAKING BARRIERS". Sherdog. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
  24. ↑ Green, Thomas A.; Svinth, Joseph R. (11 June 2010). Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation [2 volumes]: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation. ABC-CLIO. p. 490. ISBN 978-1-59884-244-9.
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  26. ↑ "Why Season 20 of 'The Ultimate Fighter' might be can’t-miss TV". Yahoo. Retrieved 2014-09-10.
  27. ↑ "JULIE KEDZIE, SILVIO BERLUSCONI, AND THE EARLY DAYS OF WOMEN'S MMA". Vice. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  28. ↑ Sherdog.com. "International Fighting Championship Fights, Fight Cards, Videos, Pictures, Events and more". Sherdog. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  29. ↑ Sherdog.com. "IFC 5 - Battle in the Bayou". Sherdog. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  30. ↑ "Bellator signs Marloes Coenen, Julia Budd to open women's 145-pound division - MMA Fighting". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  31. ↑ "EliteXC's Shayna Baszler Defends Women's MMA: 'I Don't Care What Dana White Says' - MMA Fighting". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  32. ↑ "Women fighters are EXC's true elites - Yahoo Sports". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  33. ↑ "Bleacher Report". Bleacher Report. 2010-01-14. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  34. ↑ Fowlkes, Ben. "Zuffa-Strikeforce Deal Could Mean Uncertain Future for Women's MMA". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  35. ↑ "canada.com - Blogs". Communities.canada.com. 2012-11-20. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  36. ↑ "Is This the End of Women's MMA?". Bleacher Report. 2009-08-16. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  37. ↑ Ciapala, Derek (2012-06-30). "Women’s MMA and Its Future in the UFC - Yahoo News". News.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  38. ↑ "Dana White: "Ronda Rousey is What It Took to Get Women in the UFC" | MMAWeekly.com". mmaweekly.com. Retrieved 2014-01-23.
  39. ↑ "Frank Pozen's Big Bad Blog: Ward, Tavares, Marquez arrive in Tokyo for Smackgirl show". Frankp316.blogspot.com. 2008-04-24. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  40. ↑ "Rawesome Fight and MMA News | MiddleEasy.com". middleeasy.com. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  41. ↑ "Kim Couture Says MMA Rules Should Be the Same for Women and Men, I Say She's Right - MMA Fighting". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  42. ↑ "Carano-"Cyborg" to go five, five-minute rounds - MMA Blog - ESPN". espn.go.com. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  43. ↑ "Carano and Cyborg talk 5-minute rounds - Sports Update". blog.chron.com. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  44. ↑ "- CARANO, CYBORG, WOMEN GET 5-MINUTE ROUNDS | MMAWeekly.com". mmaweekly.com. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  45. ↑ Samantha Talavera. "Bellator Re-Launches the Next Era of the Women's Division | Bleacher Report". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  46. ↑ "Rules and Regulations - Unified Rules and Other MMA Regulations". Ufc.ca. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  47. ↑ Sherdog.com. "IFC 4 - Akwesasane". Sherdog. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  48. ↑ Meltzer, Dave (2009-09-08). "Carano-Santos a ratings hit". Sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
  49. ↑ "Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos Defeats Gina "Conviction" Carano, Becomes First Ever Strikeforce Female 145-Pound Champion". Worldextremefighter.com. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  50. ↑ "LIFE, DEATH, AND COOL GIRLS". Vice. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  51. ↑ "Shannon Knapp and Invicta move to conquer women's MMA". Pitch Weekly. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  52. ↑ "UFC 157 Live on Pay-Per-View: Rousey vs. Carmouche". ufc.com. Retrieved 2014-01-23.
  53. ↑ "Women really arrive in the ufc". Vice. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  54. ↑ "UFC Picks Up 11 Female Fighters to Create 115-Pound Women’s Division". MMAWeekly.com. 2013-12-11. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  55. ↑ "THE UFC INTRODUCES ANOTHER WOMEN'S DIVISION, AND THE WORLD TAKES A GREAT LEAP FORWARD". Vice. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  56. ↑ "Carla Esparza Becomes First Strawweight Champion". espn.com. Retrieved 2014-12-12.
  57. ↑ "Joanna Jedrzejcyk Trash Talk Broke Carla Esparza". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2015-03-17.
  58. ↑ "The Martial Chronicles: Fighting Like a Girl". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2015-11-05.
  59. ↑ Cochrane, Joe (2014-03-12). "Pioneers of Asian Women’s M.M.A. Step Into the Cage". The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-04-09.
  60. ↑ "Women's mma comes of age". Vice. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  61. ↑ Pollack, Seth. "Cat Fighting: MMA Women's Tournament Coming To Phoenix - SB Nation Arizona". Arizona.sbnation.com. Retrieved 2014-04-25.
  62. ↑ "Mma meets third-wave feminism". Vice. Retrieved 2014-01-12.

Bibliography

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