UFC
UFC Champ Ronda Rousey is fine with boos at UFC 168, says "Gotham City needs the bad guy for the good guy to shine"
Dec 29, 2013 - 11:05:58 AM UFC Champ Ronda Rousey is fine with boos at UFC 168, says "Gotham City needs the bad guy for the good guy to shine"

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Ronda Rousey picked up yet another dominant and destructive armbar win on Saturday night at UFC 168, it just took her a little longer than usual.

Miesha Tate proved a resilient challenger, defending a bunch of submission attempts that came close in the first two rounds, and dealing with multiple, hard throws as well. However, like she did in the first fight, and like every fighter who has competed against Rousey has been forced to do, she tapped.

Afterward, Tate extended her hand, and Rousey simply walked away. It brought out a ton more boos from an already anti-Rousey crowd, and led to many of her fellow fighters labeling her "classless" after the fact. But it doesn't concern Rousey, and she had a principled reason for not shaking Tate's hand and burying the hatchet then and there.

"I respect her as a fighter," Rousey said on the Fox Sports 1 post-fight show. "She did an amazing job tonight. But I can't shake her hand until she apologizes to me and my team for what she said."

It's an extension of their Ultimate Fighter 18 feud, and for Rousey, it doesn't come to an end just because the fight is over with. She wasn't faking her feelings towards Tate at any point in time, and this was simply a continuation of that.

But she's not concerned by the fan reaction to it, as she knew her role coming into the event. It's also one she's more than comfortable with, so if the fans want to boo her, they can feel free.

"I went to 30 different countries for judo and got booed everywhere," Rousey explained. "Getting cheers is something new. I'd rather be the heel. Everyone talks about the Joker and not Batman. Gotham City needs the bad guy for the good guy to shine. I take the role that is needed for every situation and every fight is different."

Penick's Analysis: Rousey's star-power isn't diminished by her actions on Saturday night. In fact, if anything, it's elevated. Those who understand just how special a fighter she is and appreciate that aspect of her personality will continue to tune in to watch her fight. Those who can't stand her attitude and want to see her get her comeuppance will tune in to see if the next challenger can put her in her place. It's a win-win for her, because people are either loving her or hating her at this stage. There's no ambivalence, only passion, and that's a beautiful thing for a prize fighter.