Sickening title isn't it, now before you blow a load hear me out, I'm not directly comparing their careers as an entiriety, but rather the legacy Rousey may leave many years from now if she manages to retire undefeated.
So take a deep breath, let the emotions settle and read on my pretties:
Now firstly, let's assume Ronda Rousey continues on her current trajectory, finishing her opponents, a majority in the first round, and eventually retires with a ridiculous MMA record, something similar to (just an example) 22-0 18, finishes, 12 in the 1st round. Now I can see a lot of present day MMA fans ridiculing her lack of competition and accusing her of dodging Cyborg among other things, but that record would speak for itself really.
Now second, if we assume (or hope) MMA can continue to grow and becomes the number 1 combat spectacle in the world, rivalling boxing in it's heyday, 20 - 30 years from now kids will look back at the pioneers of MMA, the legends of today, they will learn of a woman who was untouchable in her time and was armbarring women left, right and centre. They won't have the invested emotions of seeing Cyborg fighting in a different org, just as we don't have any invested emotions to scrutinise Marciano's record. All they will see is an incredible record which is what we see of Marciano today. The myths and legends of Rousey will probably have grown into a monster similar to Marciano's aura of invincibility.
TL;DR
In conclusion, my question to you potatoes, do you think Ronda Rousey will enjoy a similar mythical legacy that Marciano has IF she retires undefeated?
So take a deep breath, let the emotions settle and read on my pretties:
Now firstly, let's assume Ronda Rousey continues on her current trajectory, finishing her opponents, a majority in the first round, and eventually retires with a ridiculous MMA record, something similar to (just an example) 22-0 18, finishes, 12 in the 1st round. Now I can see a lot of present day MMA fans ridiculing her lack of competition and accusing her of dodging Cyborg among other things, but that record would speak for itself really.
Now second, if we assume (or hope) MMA can continue to grow and becomes the number 1 combat spectacle in the world, rivalling boxing in it's heyday, 20 - 30 years from now kids will look back at the pioneers of MMA, the legends of today, they will learn of a woman who was untouchable in her time and was armbarring women left, right and centre. They won't have the invested emotions of seeing Cyborg fighting in a different org, just as we don't have any invested emotions to scrutinise Marciano's record. All they will see is an incredible record which is what we see of Marciano today. The myths and legends of Rousey will probably have grown into a monster similar to Marciano's aura of invincibility.
TL;DR
In conclusion, my question to you potatoes, do you think Ronda Rousey will enjoy a similar mythical legacy that Marciano has IF she retires undefeated?