Tate vs. Rousey: Why Ronda Rousey Is Good for Women's MMA

There's nothing like a good villain.

Ronda Rousey has become that villain after stealing away Sarah Kaufman's shot at the title and securing a fight with Strikeforce women's 135-pound champ Miesha Tate.

Tate and Kaufman both seem to despise Rousey. The 25-year-old Rousey has managed to finagle her way into a title fight after just four professional fights and less than a full round of combined cage time.

Tate "can't stand Ronda," per SI.com. Kaufman calls her "loud and crass." And Rousey actually appears to agree.

Rousey has gotten to where she is now by basically giving controversial interviews and appearing in photo shoots.

Rousey said, via SI.com:

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"This day a year ago I was working three jobs and struggling to train and do all this stuff, and I just wanted to be done with all of that. I just wanted to be able to support myself through fighting and I wanted to do it as quickly as possible. I didn't want to sit around and do that for a few more years and slowly work my way up while telling everybody 'please' and 'thank you' and bowing my head. I knew that I could win the title the day that I started, and the quicker I could get it the better. If giving a couple more entertaining interviews than some of the girls helps me out, then I'm going to do that."

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In comparison, Kaufman has 15 fights to her name and has been working her way up the ladder since 2006. She's followed what appears to be the code of women's MMA and now finds herself getting burned for it.

Kaufman said:

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"It's frustrating, because you put your time in, you put your work in, you think you represent yourself well, and then you get stepped on. I'm not a huge talker. I'm not going to make outrageous comments about other fighters. I really try to stay true to myself."

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But while Kaufman and Tate have reason to be upset with Rousey's tactics, what they don't understand is Rousey has brought the kind of drama to women's MMA that men's MMA has had for a long time. And, because of this, the title fight on Saturday is the biggest women's MMA fight since Gina Carano-"Cyborg" Santos in August 2009.

Tate said:

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"Even though we're fighting each other, we have to work together to promote each other, help each other, and work off other in order for women's MMA to be successful. Ronda's not about it. She's just about Ronda, Ronda, Ronda."

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The reality is, Rousey is promoting women's MMA and doing so effectively. Whether you agree with her methods or not, she presents a fight dripping with good versus evil. And as women's MMA becomes more popular, Rousey could be just the kick-start it needs to burst into the mainstream.

MMA fans have a new villain to root against.

And it's a blessing in disguise.

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