Ronda Rousey has found an unlikely ally in the wake of the widespread criticism coming her way after losing to Holly Holm: previous antagonist Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Former UFC bantamweight champion Rousey was knocked out brutally by Holm at UFC 193 in Melbourne, Australia, setting social media ablaze. Naturally, a lot of the chatter has been critical of the MMA star, but retired boxed Mayweather thinks some of it has been over the top, per Ben Thompson of Fight Hype:
I don't think it's cool how everyone is trolling her on social media. Certain things you have to learn. People will love you on Friday and then Sunday morning, it's nothing but negative comments and people making jokes and people making fun about you, which I don't think is cool.
I've never been on the other side, so I don't know how it feels. I'm pretty sure she's a very, very strong person, but we still have to take into consideration that she has feelings. Everything happens for a reason. This was already written. Listen, if God says, 'In Floyd's career, I don't want him to lose,' you know what? I wasn't going to lose.
That doesn't mean that I haven't took a loss before. I'm not talking about boxing; I'm just talking about life. When you lose a loved one, that's taking a loss. I think that everything is just a learning experience. In due time, she'll be able to bounce back and make some noise again in mixed martial arts.
Here's the knockout suffered by Rousey on the night, per BT Sport UFC:
Mayweather did initially seem to be behind some of the most high-profile criticism of Rousey. His close friend, rapper 50 Cent, posted the following on his Instagram account, editing the beaten MMA star onto the iconic image of fictional character Rocky Balboa tending to a dying Apollo Creed in the film Rocky IV:
According to 50 Cent, Mayweather put him up to the stunt, although that’s been denied by the 38-year-old. “That's not true at all,” said the undefeated fighter, per Thompson. “I haven't really spoke to anyone about the Ronda Rousey situation, just to set the record straight. I don't have anything against MMA fighters.”
The support for Rousey is a change in dynamic after some heated words have been exchanged between the pair. The UFC star had previously responded to Mayweather's jibe that he didn't "know who he is" (in reference to Rousey) after beating the boxer to the Best Fighter gong at the ESPYs. Rousey asked Mayweather, "I wonder how Floyd feels being beat by a woman for once?" per Scott Rafferty of Rolling Stone.
With that in mind, many expected Mayweather to stick the boot into Rousey given the chance, although it seems as though he’s decided to take a more neutral stance on the matter. And he’s correct in his assessment that despite this defeat, the former champion will bounce back again.
While Mayweather himself won all 49 of his professional fights in boxing, UFC is a lot more intense and, therefore, much easier for one sequence to swing the result of a bout. As Luke Thomas of MMA Fighting noted, some of the greats of the sport have suffered losses in the past too:
One of the fighters noted by Thomas, Anderson Silva, has also come out in support of Rousey, posting a heartfelt message to her on his Instagram account, per Ryan McKinnell of Yahoo:
You are a great athlete and transcend the MMA world. My kids love you. So, don’t forget: to fall makes us stronger to stand up. You deserve the best of this world. Nobody is forever. All of us lost and to lose make us stronger. So, I wish you peace and lots of patience. Hold this experience with intelligence and don’t blame yourself.
Indeed, it seems those who are or have very recently been at the top of their respective sports have been much more understanding in their assessment of Rousey's loss. Silva and Mayweather are versed in the pressures that accompany being the very best in their respective disciplines and, as such, are much more likely to be sympathetic toward Rousey, who is of a similar stature.
The fast-paced nature of social media means reaction to shock results such as this one will always be overblown, but it’s encouraging to see someone like Mayweather take a respectful stance on this occasion.
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