Over the past twelve years, women`s bouts have held prominent spots on UFC pay-per-view cards, with Ronda Rousey and Amanda Nunes leading the way, each having headlined six events.
However, a notable shift seems underway. With UFC 315 approaching, featuring a women`s flyweight title fight between Valentina Shevchenko and Manon Fiorot only as the co-main event, it marks nearly two years since a women`s bout last topped a PPV card (Nunes vs. Irena Aldana at UFC 289). Adding to this picture, the current landscape shows a scarcity of young talent among the top ranks, with only three female fighters under 30 in the women`s pound-for-pound rankings, and all current champions aged 35 or older.
UFC veteran Matt Brown speculates that this change is less about individual drawing power or a lack of rising stars and more about the initial public fascination with women`s MMA having simply faded in recent years.
Speaking on The Fighter vs. the Writer, Brown described the early excitement as a “little bit of a honeymoon thing.” He explained that when women`s MMA was first introduced, there was widespread enthusiasm, particularly among casual fans. However, as fans became more knowledgeable, he feels they started to recognize that it cannot be compared to men`s MMA.
“After the honeymoon period kind of faded off,” Brown stated, “I think everybody’s just started to realize they’re not as great of fights. That’s all there is to it.”
Brown controversially believes the skill level in women`s fights doesn`t measure up to that of men`s bouts, which he argues has resulted in decreased interest from a large segment of the overall UFC fanbase.
“I don’t know how to say it politically correct, but women are just not as good as fighters as men,” Brown said, acknowledging the potential controversy but asserting, “They’re in a different division for a reason, right? They’re just not as good.” He speculates that once fans look past the drama and initial excitement, they ultimately desire to see the highest echelon of fighting, which he implies is predominantly found in men`s MMA.
While anticipating potential backlash, Brown maintains that, in his view, women fighters are “simply not as good.” He contends that fights perceived as less exciting don`t hold the same appeal for fans who see the UFC as the pinnacle of the sport and want to witness the absolute best fighters in the world.
Brown feels the frequency of truly memorable women`s fights has decreased recently, contributing to the decline in overall interest. He pointed out that since June 2023, the last time a women`s fight headlined a UFC pay-per-view, only four women`s bouts have earned “Fight of the Night” honors. Of those, only two occurred on a pay-per-view card, and neither was featured in a main card slot.
“I don’t find the fights nearly as exciting,” Brown reiterated, adding that he wants to see “the baddest human being in the world,” executing the best techniques, regardless of gender, implying this standard is less consistently met in women`s bouts.
He also highlighted the significant impact of Ronda Rousey`s departure, noting that her unique star power and ability to generate buzz through controversial statements created captivating conversations that haven`t been replicated since she left. Brown mentioned her infamous claims about beating male fighters as something that genuinely generated excitement among fans, a dynamic he feels is now missing.
Brown cited Kayla Harrison as a rare exception who might plausibly perform well against men, underscoring how uncommon such a perception is.
Brown fully expects his candid opinions to be met with strong criticism but remains resolute in voicing his views on women`s MMA within the UFC.
He concluded by stating that fans ultimately seek “the peak level of human violence,” including spectacular knockouts and high-level techniques, which he claims are less prevalent in women`s MMA. Despite anticipating “all kinds of f*cking hate” from the interview, Brown asserted, “it is what it is… I just say the truth.”
