The 3 Best Ambassadors for the UFC Right Now

Despite the shroud that currently envelops the UFC, one created by the recent barrage of failed drug tests by high-profile athletes, there are those who rise above and excel in all aspects of the fight game.

From becoming champion to assisting in mainstreaming the UFC to heavily advocating for a clean sport and serving as a role model for the younger generation, Ronda Rousey, Anthony Pettis and Georges St-Pierre represent phenomenal examples of those superstars who are game-changers and ideal ambassadors for mixed martial arts and the UFC.

Ronda Rousey

Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

Ronda Rousey - UFC Hong Kong Media Day

As she prepares to effectively clean out the women’s bantamweight division at UFC 184, Rousey represents the UFC and mixed martial arts in a way that may never be duplicated.

She is the first American female judoka to medal in the Olympic games and is the fighter most responsible for the existence of women’s MMA in the UFC today.

Rousey has expanded her marketability by starring in major motion films like The Expendables 3, Furious 7 and Entourage (the latter two are set to release on April 3 and June 5, respectively). She is an undefeated trendsetter who is redefining beauty and women in the media and serves as a role model for young girls across the U.S.

Regarding her most recent Sports Illustrated photo shoot, per Chris Strauss of USA Today, Rousey stated:

"

They (Sports Illustrated) always seemed to use a lot more real women and as the years have gone on, I think that has increased and really affected how people perceive women and what they should look like. They use all kinds of body types and use real women, not genetic freakish gazelles of people that look beautiful, but it’s a very small percentage of the population that looks like that.

"

In an interview with Debora Rubi of Sports Terra, Rousey expanded on her thoughts regarding her status as a role model and the amount of pressure she places upon herself:

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Of course, I’m honored that people are referring to me in that way but it’s also a lot of responsibility. I’m human. I’m flawed. I try to concentrate on being a role model to my little sister, because she’s the one I’m obligated to be a role model to. … If you’re a role model, everyone wants you to be perfect, but it never really is equal to the pressure I put on myself. I care about myself succeeding for myself more than fighting for other people.

"

In the end, Rousey represents an exceptional example of excellence on both sides of the Octagon. She is determined to retire undefeated, is revered by many, and if she defeats Cat Zingano at UFC 184 in dramatic fashion, UFC President Dana White stated jokingly that Rousey will “have to start fighting men."

Anthony Pettis

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UFC Media Day 2014

Nothing exemplifies a sport's mainstream status more than one of its star athletes on the cover of a Wheaties box. In 2014, Pettis became the first MMA athlete to achieve such a status.

For the first time in 91 years, fans were allowed to vote on the athlete they wished to grace the cover of the box. In a press release (h/t Matt Boone of MMA News), Wheaties Marketing Manager David Oehler acknowledged the tremendous feat.

"We are thrilled to welcome Anthony Pettis to the Wheaties family and congratulate him and his fans on their remarkable effort and accomplishment," Oehler said. "It has been inspiring to see communities across America get out and move this summer by supporting the athletes and the sports they love."

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The champ is here. pic.twitter.com/wmsevy9ds4

— Wheaties (@wheaties) December 4, 2014"

Andrew Jenks, host of MTV’s World of Jenks, spent time with Pettis in 2010 and has described his own paradigm shift regarding MMA fighters. He describes Pettis as an inspiration to many who, like the Milwaukee native, grew up impoverished. Per Jack Bratcher of Pro MMA Now, Jenks stated:

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With ultimate fighting rapidly gaining in popularity, spending time with a fighter was at the top of my list. Plus, I never understood people who beat each other up for a living. From the info we were able to dig up online, Anthony was a perfect choice and we quickly reached out to get him involved. Little did I know that his career in the WEC was just one of his many important responsibilities. From tragedy striking his family, to being a role model in his community, Anthony had way more than a possible title shot weighing on his shoulders. My time with Anthony shattered my perception of his sport and taught me a lot about what it really means to be a champion. Even though there’s only two guys in the ring, they’re never fighting alone.

"

Pettis is a two-time world lightweight champion (World Extreme Cagefighting and the UFC), has never been finished and has beaten the likes of other former champions and MMA veterans in Gilbert Melendez, Benson Henderson (twice), Donald Cerrone and Joe Lauzon.

Given his accomplishments and the beacon of light he represents in his community and beyond, Pettis embodies all that it means to be an exceptional UFC ambassador. At 28 years old, he will seemingly carry that banner for a long time.

Georges St-Pierre

John Shearer/Associated Press

Georges St. Pierre at the Captain America: The Winter Soldier Premiere

St-Pierre is not only a significant representative for the UFC and MMA as a whole, he is a national icon whose star power assisted in the realization of the largest MMA event to ever take place in North America. At UFC 129, the French Canadian fought Jake Shields at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, selling 55,000 tickets.

St-Pierre is the UFC's longest-reigning welterweight champion of all time and has beaten former champions and MMA stars in Matt Hughes, B.J. Penn, Johny Hendricks, Nick Diaz, Jake Shields and Matt Serra.

Outside of the Octagon, St-Pierre started the GSP Foundation, whose goal is to "help youth, stop bullying and promote physical activity in schools." The 33-year-old was bullied as a child, and he founded an organization to provide the youth of today with the skills and resources necessary to protect themselves against the ever-growing phenomenon.

Since his departure from the UFC in 2013, St-Pierre has served as a staunch advocate for a drug-free sport. On Wednesday, via Twitter, he praised the UFC's new policy that would increase drug testing for athletes and produce harsher penalties for those who fail drug screenings:

"

Very happy to learn about the UFC announcing a new comprehensive random PED testing.

— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) February 18, 2015"

"

Clearly a big step in the right direction for our sport.

— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) February 18, 2015"

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Can't wait to get more details about the actual protocol, 3rd party testing agency and new sanctions.

— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) February 18, 2015"

According to Damon Martin of MMAWeekly.com, White has praised St-Pierre for serving as a role model and a great representative for the sport for years.

“He’s a professional, he’s always in shape, he does everything he’s supposed to do, you couldn’t meet a nicer guy," White said in 2011. "You couldn’t ask for a better role model, you couldn’t ask for a better representative of the sport.”