This has been the Ronda Rousey show for some time now. The UFC 157 Pre-Fight press conference did little to change that fact.

After some minor technical difficulties UFC President Dana White stated during the beginning of the press conference “This is the most media attention we’ve ever had leading up to a title fight.” He squashed any doubts that this fight is not doing well, but not going as far as giving any real numbers to back up the statement. The fact is the fight, and the UFC, is garnering more media attention. “Big media” as Dana called them is covering the UFC now when they have not in the past. This is happening by the UFC doing something that White himself said would never happen; allowing women to fight on an event.

White talked about how Rousey has garnered so much attention that even when he is interviewed along with her, his cuts don’t make the interview. That seems to sit just fine with him as he summed it up nice and neat with an “I like it.”

After the initial onslaught of talking about the debut of Rousey, and the Women’s Banatamweight division, the reporters started to ask questions of the other fighters on the panel. “My focus is on Dan Henderson,” said Lyoto Machida answering a question of how he would fight Jon Jones in a rematch. White then announced that the winner of the Henderson vs. Machida fight would get the next crack at the Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones.

The questions quickly went back to the Women’s division. Dan Henderson was asked about his opinion of women’s MMA. “I think it’s great, I’m a fan,” Henderson said. “I’m excited that I get to watch the last fight after I am done.” This was the only question that was asked of Henderson.

Attending the event was the rest of the UFC Women’s Bantamweight division. White tried to show that this division is not just about Rousey, but about all of the women fighters signed to a UFC contract. “They’re the best in the world, and that’s why they are here,” said White.

The Main Event at UFC 157 is the focus of this weekend’s fights. All the fights before the main event have been relatively flying under the radar, and that did not change for this press conference.

UFC 157 is scheduled to take place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, on Saturday, February 23^rd.

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