Among today's champions, trailblazers, fan-favorites, and hot prospects are openly gay women. In , the Ultimate Fighting Championship accepted what many had been saying for years - women can fight, and people want to see it. In creating their first female division they revolutionized the entire sport. Since then, a woman has become the biggest star MMA has ever seen and scores of female fighters have been given the opportunity to compete at the highest level. A former aviation technician with the U. Though she had Rousey in trouble early, "Girl-Rilla" would eventually succumb to Rousey's signature armbar. When Carmouche entered the UFC cage she also became the first openly gay fighter to compete in the biggest MMA promotion on the planet.

Jennifer McClearen does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. The mixed martial arts pay-per-view event UFC features two bouts that would have been unheard of just 10 years ago. The rise of women in mixed martial arts — which the late Sen. While women may glow under the bright lights of the Octagon , exploitation and deep inequalities persist.

This article was published more than 8 years ago. Some information in it may no longer be current. Now the former U. Carmouche still can't quite believe it is her in the spotlight as pioneer. Andrade, a pint-sized fighter with a big smile, says she hopes she is helping open the door for others to be open about who they are and how they feel.