WMMA and the UFC: Is Ronda Rousey Trying Too Hard to Be Controversial?

When taking a look at Ronda Rousey, it seems she has done all she can to gain attention.

We’re not just talking about her current position as the first women’s champion in the history of the UFC. We’re talking about how she made good on just about every chance she was given.

She hasn't looked back since the Olympics.

She’s made more than a few enemies along the way, but now she has achieved the top position in perhaps the worlds most demanding sport. That is how it should be. Nothing is given away in MMA; it must be taken by force.

Now that Rousey is the best in the world of WMMA, she is beginning to express herself. Sport specific or not, she has no problems letting her feelings be known.

There is nothing wrong with a person speaking their mind, but they must also be ready for the consequences. We can look to Jon Jones as an example.

Once a media darling, Jones now has his every opinion criticized to the point where he can barely open his mouth without having words put into it.

Rousey has been one of many to judge him, and there is some irony to that. In many ways, she and Jones are in the same position. Both are relative newcomers to the sport, and both have found themselves thrust into the spotlight.

Recently, Rousey has commentated on the events of the Sandy Hook tragedy. Her Twitter comments looked at a “different perspective” of the story.

Before that, she was taking Georges St-Pierre to task, both for his style of fighting and (alongside Miesha Tate) his reluctance to embrace women fighting in any combative sport.

Displaying a critical opinion of ones peers is not wholly a bad thing, but it does need to be approached with a degree of respect and tact.

Upon looking at all of this, one begins to wonder if Rousey is trying too hard to be controversial, grabbing hold of that spotlight with both hands. Right or wrong, she is destined to be loved or hated because of her polarizing nature.