In the past 12 years, women`s fights have headlined 16 UFC pay-per-view events. Ronda Rousey and Amanda Nunes stand out significantly, having each main-evented six of these cards, far exceeding any other female fighter.
However, looking ahead to UFC 315, where a women`s flyweight title fight is scheduled as the co-main event, it`s notable that nearly two years have passed since a women`s bout topped a PPV card (Nunes vs. Aldana at UFC 289 was the last). Furthermore, the presence of young talent at the top seems limited; only three female fighters under 30 are currently ranked in the women`s pound-for-pound list, and all current champions are 35 or older.
According to UFC veteran Matt Brown, this trend – whether attributed to a perceived lack of drawing power or a slow development of young contenders – suggests the initial fascination and excitement surrounding women`s MMA in the UFC has diminished in recent years.
“I think it was a bit of a honeymoon phase,” Brown commented on The Fighter vs. the Writer podcast. “When women`s MMA was first introduced, everyone was highly enthusiastic. The majority of fans, particularly casual viewers watching a main event on a Saturday night, were very excited initially. But as people became more knowledgeable, and without trying to disparage women`s MMA – they are great at what they do – you simply can`t compare it to men`s MMA.”
“Once that honeymoon period passed, I believe people started to realize the fights aren`t as compelling. That`s the simple truth of it.”
Brown genuinely feels the skill level displayed in women`s fights isn`t comparable to men`s bouts, and this disparity has led to decreased interest among a large portion of the UFC fanbase.
He stated, “I don`t know how to phrase this politely, but women are simply not as skilled fighters as men. I`m not sure if that`s a controversial statement. They compete in separate divisions for a reason, right? They just aren`t on the same level. My guess is that once people look beyond the drama and initial excitement and become serious fans, they want to see the absolute elite fighters compete.”
Brown clarified, “I don`t intend to hate or put anyone down. I`m not saying this offensively. I know if this gets clipped for social media, it will attract negativity, which is fine. But I think we can universally acknowledge they are simply not as good [as men]. It`s less exciting to watch those who aren`t at the highest level. The UFC represents the pinnacle of MMA. We desire to see the world`s absolute best fighters, full stop. That`s what generates excitement.”
While acknowledging remarkable moments in women`s UFC history, Brown believes the frequency of truly compelling fights has decreased, further contributing to the decline in overall interest.
As evidence, since June 2023 (the last time a women`s fight headlined a UFC PPV), only four women`s bouts have received `Fight of the Night` bonuses. Only two of these occurred on a PPV card, and neither was featured on the main card.
Brown reiterated, “I just don`t find the fights nearly as exciting. I want to witness the most formidable human beings on the planet, male or female, showcasing the highest level of technique and engaging in brutal contests.”
The loss of Ronda Rousey`s star power was undeniably detrimental, especially given the immense attention she garnered, becoming one of the UFC`s biggest names and a significant draw.
Brown suggests Rousey`s dominance fueled significant discussion and enhanced her legend, but since her departure, no one has truly emerged to fill that void or generate the same level of mainstream buzz.
He recalled, “A few years back, a major topic of conversation was Ronda making outlandish claims, like suggesting she could beat Cain Velasquez. That was genuinely debated in bars – people saying, `Ronda would mess you up!` That generated hype and excitement, creating drama and talking points. I think we`ve come to realize that`s not the reality for most female fighters. Someone like Kayla Harrison is probably an exception; she might do well against some men, which is very uncommon.”
Brown fully expects his views to be met with criticism, but states he won`t hold back his opinions on women`s MMA in the UFC.
“We want to witness the toughest, the best… In MMA, we seek spectacular knockouts, dynamic strikes like spinning elbows, the absolute peak of human combat intensity. Without any malice, you simply don`t see that level consistently in women`s MMA. That`s just a fact.”
“I`ve probably just opened myself up to a lot of backlash from this podcast,” he concluded. “But it is what it is. I don`t even care, I just speak the truth.”
