UFC star Ronda Rousey has revolutionised mixed martial arts for women

UFC president Dana White could never stomach the idea of a female throwing punches. But then Ronda Rousey came along and revolutionised the sport.

Ronda Rousey

ULTIMATE Fighting Championship president Dana White could never stomach the idea of a female throwing punches inside the Octagon.

Three years ago, as he left his favourite Chinese restaurant in Los Angeles, White said he’d never allow any female to step a foot inside the cage.

Fast forward to today and 27-year-old Ronda Rousey is one of the UFC’s biggest and most marketable stars.

She’s the current women’s bantamweight title holder and yesterday retained her crown with a 16-second knockout win over Alexis Davis at UFC 175 in Las Vegas.

That 16 seconds netted Rousey a cool $120,000 — and nine stitches to her knuckle — making her the highest paid female on the roster.

Far from his comments almost three years ago, White said: “She’s important to women’s sport, period.

“(Rousey’s win) was just so explosive and crazy and fast and just, you know, she’s unbelievable.

“She’s a huge superstar, she’s one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in the world, and she’s the most unique athlete that I’ve ever worked with in my whole life in every sense of the word.”

Rousey made history in early 2013 when she fought Liz Carmouche in the very first women’s UFC fight.

Her following grew when she was appointed as head coach opposite Strikeforce rival Miesha Tate on the hit reality TV series The Ultimate Fighter (TUF).

Ronda Rousey, left, takes down Alexis Davis during their women's mixed martial arts bantamweight title bout at UFC 175 in Las Vegas.

After the series Rousey defended her belt against Tate with a submission win in the third round.

At UFC 170 in February Sara McMann lasted just over a minute before she was submitted too.

And Rousey’s win yesterday was her 10th straight MMA win and fourth in the UFC. She has never lost a fight.

White told MMA Weekly late last year that he never would have opened up to the idea of females in the UFC if it weren’t for Rousey.

“You could line up all the greatest girls on Earth from here to Pluto, and she’s the one that when I met her I said, ‘This chick is insanely competitive and just a different animal.’ And she’s what it took to get women in the UFC,” White said.

“Hate her or not, the reason why all these girls fight in the UFC is because of her.

“Ronda Rousey is a different animal. She’s a different animal.”

Ronda Rousey, left, and Alexis Davis during a weigh-in for the UFC 175 mixed martial arts event in Las Vegas.

* In the main event at UFC 175 Chris Weidman defended his middleweight title against Lyoto Machina in a five-round battle.

Former WEC champ Urijah Faber submitted Alex Caceres in the third round while heavyweights Stefan Struve and Matt Mitrione never made it to the cage after a late cancellation.

* In today’s TUF 19 Finale, Frankie Edgar beat BJ Penn for the third time, finishing fight in the third round with a TKO.

Penn retired immediately after the fight. It was his third straight loss.