Showtime Committed To Women's MMA

[No More Sorrow]

Showtime Sports' new executive vice president and general manager Stephen Espinoza says the future of the women's divison looks bright.

SI.com: After women's champion Cris Santos allegedly tested positive for steroids in early January, White said that this essentially "killed" that Strikeforce division. What is Showtime's standpoint on Strikeforce's 145-pound women's division?

Espinoza: Strikeforce and Showtime have both been big proponents of women's MMA and it goes to the point that we discussed earlier. A year ago, Ronda Rousey wasn't on the radar. Now she's arguably the hottest topic of conversation in the sport. They're phenomenal athletes. I have no questions about the depth of the talent pool. I think that's been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, so we remain committed to women's MMA with our full support.

SI.com: Specifically, with the women's featherweight division, would Showtime like to see Zuffa bring 145-pound matchups to the network?

Espinoza: I don't think limiting the women's division to a single weight class is necessarily the best thing for women's MMA. I'd like there to be enough of a depth of talent to support multiple weight classes. We shouldn't force all of the women into one division.

SI.com: A lot of women fighters will be grateful to hear this.

Espinoza: One thing I'm not worried about is the talent pool in MMA. I think we've only hit the tip of the iceberg. And that goes for both men and women. Every time MMA expands to a new territory, a new country, we discover a huge new talent pool of fighters. I don't think we've even scratched the surface of the talent pool yet.

MMAJunkie.com

 

[Troy]

I just can't see it catching on and I can't see them finding enough quality female fighters to have a proper division let alone multiple weight classes.

 

[Heisenberg]

Agree with Troy, I don't see it catching on and I wouldn't be interested in it. Same goes with diva matches in the WWE.

 

[The Cork]

They get bigger ratings than some of the top guys, so I'd say it's already clicked on.

Tate v Rousey will draw big, they are both pretty good looking so that helps.