LAS VEGAS – UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey lived up to her billing on Saturday, finishing Miesha Tate with her patented arm bar, but in the process became perhaps the most disliked fighter in the UFC.
Rousey went past the first round for the first time in eight pro fights, but she pummeled Tate throughout before getting the arm bar submission at 58 seconds of the third round in the co-main event of UFC 168 at the MGM Grand Garden.
The 2008 Olympic bronze medalist in judo threw Tate several times and was clearly physically dominant. She had Tate in bad positions throughout the fight, but Tate was gritty and battled her way out of several precarious situations.
Rousey, though, raised the ire of the sell-out crowd when she snubbed Tate when Tate offered to shake hands after the finish. Seconds after referee Mario Yamasaki broke them up, Tate stood up and extended her right hand to Rousey.
The two have had a long hatred of one another that was heightened during their stint coaching opposite each other on the reality series, "The Ultimate Fighter," earlier this year.
Rousey looked at Tate and walked away, refusing to shake hands. The fans responded with a thunderous series of boos. The booing was so loud that when Rousey was being interviewed by Joe Rogan in the cage after her win, it was virtually impossible to hear her speaking.
It was a classless act, but it was likely calculated to increase her status as the UFC's top heel. She's now the fighter the fans love to hate, and that will sell her a lot of pay-per-views.
So, too, will fighting aggressively throughout the bout, as she did in dominating Tate.
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