Ronda Rousey and Holly Holm have made themselves into household names, but the UFC is desperate for its male athletes to do the same.
"Rowdy" has become a trailblazer, crossing over into the mainstream by making movie appearances after carving out a name for herself in the Octagon. Holm became a well-known entity by simply defeating the seemingly unstoppable Rousey to win the womens' bantamweight championship.
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While the females are setting the bar and netting some huge exposure for the UFC, the males haven't quite put it on the map in the same fashion. Perhaps, that explains some of the company's decisions as of late.
CM Punk, who hasn't had a single fight in the UFC up to this point, was put in the EA Sports UFC 2 video gameplay series trailer. At first glance, this is an odd move.
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There's a finish waiting every fight. How you find it, is up to you. #EASPORTSUFC2 pic.twitter.com/2qJJjCECb2
— EA SPORTS UFC (@EASPORTSUFC) January 11, 2016
Not since Samus Aran was revealed to be a woman have dummies been this butt hurt about a video game. — Coach (@CMPunk) January 11, 2016
Looking further into it, this makes complete sense. The UFC is so desperate to put a face on its male division -- like Rousey is for the women -- that they're thrusting the buzzworthy former wrestler into the spotlight by not only putting him in the game, but making him the face of the trailer.
Sure, guys like Connor McGregor have carved out a name for themselves, but no one has put themselves on the map like Rousey. Though Punk's debut remains up in the air, the UFC has shown a lot of faith in him.
Punk may not have entered the Octagon yet, but the pressure is on him to succeed with the UFC desperate for a breakout male superstar.
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