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IS THE FEMALE MMA TIPPING POINT ON MARCH 3RD?

For anybody who has ever heard or read an interview featuring UFC President Dana White about women’s MMA, one thing is for sure…he is not a fan! However, it seems that the upcoming Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Title Fight between champion Miesha Tate and challenger Ronda Rousey has caught the imagination of Zuffa and Dana White. The proof is in the pudding and that proof could be found on the January 7th Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine event.

In between the fights on the main card, color commentator Mauro Ranallo interviewed Dana White about several topics. When it came to the upcoming women’s fight on March 3rd, Dana White showed more interest in that fight than he has ever shown in any previous women’s encounter. Could this supposed interest lead to an improved opportunity the female fighters have under the Zuffa banner?

From a timing perspective, this battle between Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey could not come at a better time for the sport. For those not in the know, the now former Strikeforce Women’s Featherweight Champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos was busted for a failed drug test. Following the stripping of her title, UFC President Dana White said that the women’s featherweight division will be shut down, possibly forever.

With that division in shackles, that leaves the lone women’s bantamweight division to put the load on their back and carry it forward. The first title fight following the “Cyborg” debacle is going to bring interest before the fight happens, during the actual fight and after the fight happens. Before the fight was even announced, champion and challenger were both battling verbally on many online forums.

That trash talking war was what seemingly brought interest to Dana White’s mind and keeping that man happy with good fights and build up is what is going to keep the division around. Also, there is one interesting fact that could prove that Dana White does believe the female fight game has a future. The battle between Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey will be the first female MMA fight to headline a card run under the Zuffa banner, UFC, WEC, Strikeforce or otherwise.

Now, a women’s fight has headlined Strikeforce before, which was a battle between Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos and Gina Carano for the women’s featherweight title. While that fight was historical in its own right, this fight in 2012 could mean more to the future of female MMA then the first fight did. It will be interesting to see if the same interest will build by March 3rd for this fight like it did for the first female MMA main event in Strikeforce.

On March 3rd, 2012…Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate will defend her title against Ronda Rousey in the main event, with the future or women’s MMA, not just the title, on the line.

Follow me on Twitter at #DaveTeesMMA

Contact me at bigteesps3@yahoo.com

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