Feminism and the NFL are not compatible

[jakeXT]

2. The MMA is now looking for more money from female fans, but it sounds like a pipe dream to me

The female-friendly pitch comes as the testosterone-fueled sport tries to shed a reputation as a haven for misogynistic behavior. Three brutal domestic violence incidents this year involving male MMA fighters have reinforced the sport’s bad boy image and threaten to make any appeal to women a tough sell.

The courting of female fans and fighters follows the surprising rise of Ronda Rousey, a former Olympic judo medalist who has quickly become one of MMA’s brightest stars. She works under the banner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the biggest of the MMA circuits. Her success comes only three years after the UFC’s president said he would never hire a female fighter.

On Sept. 10, Fox Sports (FOX) kicked off a new season of the reality television series The Ultimate Fighter, which this year features a cast made up entirely of female fighters. The 16 women will be competing to win the championship of a new female-only division in the UFC.

Bellator MMA, a rival league owned by media giant Viacom (VIA), plans to reintroduce female contests in October after an 18-month hiatus. The executives in MMA are hoping women fighters will draw female fans inspired by seeing members of their own gender in the octagon, while also targeting male fans who will view the new crop of brawlers as both sexy and exciting to watch. “Easy on the eyes and hard on the face,” is how Fox is promoting the reality show, which premiered on Sept. 10.

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-09-11/ufc-courts-more-female-fans-after-domestic-violence-incidents