While Conor McGregor has become one of UFC's main rising stars, another fighter has become one of the leading faces of MMA.
Former Olympic judo medallist Ronda Rousey has got to the stage where she has got modelling contracts and also begun to make the transition into becoming a movie star with casting in Expendables 3 and Entourage.
But the current UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion had to overcome some challenges before reaching her current status within mixed-martial arts as leading UFC journalist Ariel Helwani told Off The Ball tonight.
"She has broken barriers and she continues to do so. It all really started when UFC President Dana White was on a website called TMZ and they asked him 'would you have women in the UFC?' And he said 'absolutely not'. Ronda Rousey, who was a bronze medallist in the Olympics in judo took that as a personal challenge. She worked her way up the ladder."
Two years ago she finally entered the UFC and her impact has been stratospheric.
Ronda Rousey (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
"In my opinion, she has become the face of the UFC - not just women's MMA - she is the face of the UFC. Period. She is a gigantic star," said Helwani, who sees her as the 'Mike Tyson of MMA'.
Helwani also discussed the debate building about whether Rousey, who has become hugely dominant in her division, should be included in the UFC's male pound-for-pound list, and the challenges she could face from future rivals.
Helwani also gave us an insight into her "humble" personality and how it mixes with Rousey's hard-working and confident side.
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