How did Ronda Rousey make history for women in the UFC?

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Two mixed martial arts fighters face off inside a caged ring, viewed through the chain-link fence with a referee and audience in the background. — mixed martial arts Two fighters competing in a mixed martial arts contest.

Ronda Rousey made significant history for women in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) through several groundbreaking achievements:

Pioneering Participation: In 2012, she became the first female fighter to sign with the UFC to compete in the organization.1
Championship Success: She became the first female UFC title-winner and successfully defended her championship crown six times.21
Hall of Fame Recognition: In 2018, she became the first woman to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.1

Beyond these milestones, Rousey’s influence helped elevate the profile of women's mixed martial arts. Her 2015 bout against Holly Holm at UFC 193, for example, generated 1.1 million pay-per-view buys, ranking it among the top-selling events in the organization's history.3