I remember this day well. It doesn’t feel like it was 7 years ago tho, 3 or 4 maybe.
But on a Saturday night on the 5th of June 2014 in the middle of the desert in Las Vegas. A young and undefeated Ronda Rousey took on Alexis Davis at Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino for the Women’s Bantamweight World Championship.
Up until this point I had already shot a few UFC fight nights back in Australia but nothing as huge as this. Growing up in the 80s and 90s like many of my generation I was a huge fan of the Rocky movies. It was hard not to be. And at the same time a young Mike Tyson was also making headlines around the world.
Both of those were about World Champion title fights and the bright lights of Vegas. So add in my profession as a photographer, and my biggest dream in life was to photograph a World title fight is Las Vegas.
This was that day.
Ronda Rousey was the sole reason that women were fighting in the UFC. And the President of the UFC Dana White said several times that no way would women compete in the UFC.
That was until a young superstar in the making Ronda Rousey came along. Already a two time Olympian and a World Champion in Strikeforce. She was now a World Champion in the UFC too.
And on a Saturday night in Vegas she was looking to defend her crown again against underdog Alexis Davis.
The buzz in the arena was just insane, it’s not often you get to experience a night like this with such a superstar like Ronda Rousey.
Rousey walks out with her trademark demeanour and the crowd goes nuts.
A true superstar at this point in time and only getting bigger. As a photographer you get used to being ready for anything during a fight, but once the opening bell rang, both Rousey and Davis rushed each other, a few punches from each girl were thrown, which then led to a clinch and finally a Judo takedown by Rousey.
Upon landing Davis was now trapped and a flurry of punches to the face landed from Rousey. Every punch was undefended and the ref had no choice but to call an end to the fight.
16 seconds of chaos. Insane.
The atmosphere was awesome and the adrenaline running through my veins while I was shooting was something you need to experience. It’s moments like that, that make you love the world of sports photography. The buzz is just unreal.
A lifelong dream all over in 16 seconds.
Vegas, a World Championship fight and some cool pictures of a future legend.
A dream come true and a night I’ll never forget. Not that long after that night in Vegas. Ronda Rousey made it all the way to Melbourne to take on another contender in Holly Holm. A packed house and another huge night of UFC that I was grateful for here https://chasinglight.photo.blog/2019/11/16/ronda-rousey-v-holly-holm/
Til next time!
Chris Lane
Chasing Light by Chris Lane 