In the last 12 years, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has featured women`s bouts as the main event for 16 pay-per-view cards. Ronda Rousey and Amanda Nunes stand out significantly, having headlined six events each, leading the pack by a wide margin.
However, with UFC 315 approaching and a flyweight title clash between Valentina Shevchenko and Manon Fiorot slated as the co-main event, it will have been almost two years since a women`s fight last headlined a pay-per-view (Nunes vs. Irena Aldana at UFC 289). Furthermore, only three female fighters (Erin Blanchfield, Natalia Silva, and Maycee Barber) under 30 years old are currently ranked in the women`s pound-for-pound top 15, while all current champions are 35 or older.
Regardless of whether this trend is due to diminished star power or a lack of rising young talent, UFC veteran Matt Brown suggests the core issue is that the initial fascination surrounding women`s MMA has simply decreased over recent years.
“I think it was somewhat of a honeymoon period,” Brown commented during an appearance on The Fighter vs. the Writer podcast. “When women`s MMA first started, everyone was incredibly excited. A large portion of the audience consists of less experienced fans, like the typical person watching a main event on a Saturday evening. But as they become more knowledgeable, and I`m not trying to be negative towards women`s MMA – they are excellent at their level – you just can`t compare it to men`s MMA.”
“Once that initial honeymoon phase subsided, I believe people began to understand that the fights simply aren`t as compelling. It`s as straightforward as that.”
Brown genuinely feels that the skill level in women`s bouts does not match that of the men`s division, which he believes has led to decreased interest among a significant portion of the wider UFC fanbase.
“I`m unsure how to phrase this delicately, but female fighters are simply not as skilled as male fighters,” Brown stated. “Perhaps that`s a contentious statement. They compete in separate divisions for a reason, correct? They are simply not as proficient. I think once people look beyond the drama, the excitement, and all of that, and truly get into the sport, they start wanting to witness the absolute best compete. That`s my theory.”
“I don`t intend this as criticism or to diminish anyone. I`m not saying this offensively. So, if a clip of this from a media outlet ends up on social media, it will likely attract a lot of negativity, which is fine. I believe we can all acknowledge they are simply not as good. It`s less exciting to watch those who aren`t at the absolute peak level. The UFC represents the pinnacle of MMA. We desire to see the very best fighters globally, full stop. That is what generates excitement for us.”
While historical records contain numerous outstanding moments from top women`s fights in the UFC, Brown feels the frequency of such memorable performances has decreased recently, contributing to the decline in overall fan interest.
Since June 2023, the date of the last women`s bout to headline a UFC pay-per-view, only four women`s contests have been awarded Fight of the Night bonuses. Just two of these occurred on a pay-per-view card, but neither was part of the main televised portion.
“I don`t find the fights anywhere near as thrilling,” Brown stated. “This is because I want to witness the most formidable individuals on the planet – male or female is irrelevant – performing the most advanced techniques and going head-to-head in brutal competition.”
The absence of Ronda Rousey`s significant star power is undeniably a factor that cannot be overlooked, particularly given the immense attention she garnered as one of the most prominent figures across the entire UFC roster during her career.
Brown feels Rousey`s dominant performances fueled discussions that further solidified her legendary status, but since her departure, no other fighter has truly emerged to fill that void or achieve a similar level of prominence.
“Years ago, a major topic of discussion involved Ronda making bold statements, like suggesting she could defeat male heavyweights such as Cain Velasquez. That was a genuine point of debate happening in bars and conversations,” Brown recalled. “People would say things like, `Ronda could beat you!` It created excitement, generated buzz, and provided dramatic talking points.
“I think we`ve somewhat realized that such scenarios aren`t realistic for most female fighters. Someone like Kayla Harrison, however, could likely handle herself against some male opponents. She would probably perform well in the men`s division, but that is an exceptionally rare exception.”
Naturally, Brown understands that his views are almost certain to provoke strong disagreement and criticism, but he stated he will not hold back his opinions regarding women`s MMA in the UFC.
“We want to see the most formidable, the most skilled… in MMA, we look for spectacular knockouts,” Brown asserted. “We want to witness spinning elbows, the absolute pinnacle of human physicality and aggression. With no disrespect intended, you simply don`t see that level in women`s MMA, full stop. It`s simply a reality.”
“I`ve probably just exposed myself to all sorts of intense backlash from this podcast appearance. But it is what it is. Frankly, I don`t even care; I`m just stating the truth as I see it.”
