Esta dissertação tematiza as mulheres que praticam esportes socialmente considerados masculinos, com foco na inserção das lutadoras do Mixed Martial Arts profissional ou Artes Marciais Mistas (MMA) e no Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Tem como objetivo analisar se as performatividades dos corpos e das sexualidades reiteram e/ou subvertem os discursos sobre as relações de gênero que permeiam as práticas corporais e esportivas. Os pressupostos teóricos utilizados para dialogar com os dados empíricos são as Teorias Pós-Estruturalistas e, sobretudo, Estudos de Gênero e Queer, por possibilitarem maior visibilidade acadêmica a temas como as transformações sociais e biotecnológicas do corpo; assim como questões relacionadas ao gênero e as sexualidades. Dentro desta perspectiva, a pesquisa investiga a articulação dos discursos midiáticos veiculados nas reportagens e comentários postados pel@s usuári@s de dois sites específicos: Combate e Tatame. E tem como recorte temporal o período entre a contratação de mulheres pelo UFC, que vai de dezembro de 2012 até a última luta da temporada em dezembro de 2013. O “Mapa Empírico” foi composto por 331 reportagens e 4174 comentários, pesquisados nestes sites, sistematizados através da Análise de Conteúdo dos quais emergiram categorias de análise como: o discurso biologicista – que valoriza as representações macho/fêmea, homem/mulher, masculino/feminino, baseado nas características anatômicas corporais, legitimando atitudes arbitrárias na produção dos corpos generificados pelas práticas sociais; e a heteronormatividade, compreendida como o processo normativo das práticas que regulamentam e ditam uma suposta verdade sobre o sexo e o gênero ao conectar os termos sexo, gênero e desejo, construindo uma “matriz de inteligibilidade”. No âmbito do MMA, foi possível identificar que os argumentos d@s usuári@s em relação à mudança na ordem da “normalidade” e da “naturalidade”, como a potencialização dos corpos, a virilização e a masculinização das atletas, atravessam as categorias de análise. Desta forma, a análise visibilizou o quanto o acesso das mulheres ao MMA é permeado por restrições. Em grande medida, estão relacionadas à presença de seu corpo, a uma representação normatizada de feminilidade e a heteronormatividade. Os comentários que circulam em grande parte dos posts analisados contemplam argumentos sexistas e misóginos que ao mesmo tempo erotizam a performance esportiva das lutadoras e também as desqualificam. De outro modo, há uma série de publicações de caráter lesbofóbico e transfóbico que insistem em representar as lutadoras a partir da centralidade de seus corpos que são considerados abjetos e que suas presenças no octógono maculam esta prática esportiva. Estes argumentos deslegitimam reconhecimento às diferenças, às multiplicidades e à equidade de oportunidades nesta prática esportiva. / This dissertation thematizes women who play sports socially considered masculine, focusing on inclusion of professional fighters in the Mixed Martial Arts and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). It aims to analyze whether performativities of the bodies and sexualities reiterate and / or subvert the discourses on gender relations which permeate the body and sports practices. The theoretical assumptions used to dialogue with the empirical data are the Post-Structuralist theories and, above all, Gender Studies and Queer, since they offer higher academic visibility to issues of social and biotechnological transformation of the body, as well as issues related to gender and sexuality. Within this perspective, the research investigates the articulation of media discourse in the news and comments posted by members of two specific websites: Combate and Tatame. It has the time frame period between hiring women for the UFC, which runs from December 2012 until the last fight of the season in December 2013. The “Map Empirical” was composed of 331 stories and 4174 comments, surveyed on these sites was systematized through Content Analysis and emerged as categories of analysis: the biologicist discourse - that values the representations male / female, man / woman, masculine / feminine based on body anatomical features legitimizing arbitrary attitudes in the production of gendered bodies through social practices; and heteronormativity, understood as the process of normative practices that regulate and dictate a supposed truth about sex and gender to connect the terms sex, gender and desire, building a "matrix of intelligibility." Under the MMA, we found that the arguments of users in relation to the change in the order of "normality" and "naturalness" as the enhancement of the bodies, virilization and masculinization of athletes, cross categories of analysis. Therefore, the analysis visualized how women's access to MMA is permeated by restrictions. Largely relate to the presence of his body, a standardized representation of femininity and heteronormativity. The comments on most posts analyzed include sexist and misogynistic arguments that at the same time eroticize sports performance of the fighters and also disqualify them. Otherwise, there are a number of publications and transphobic lesbophobic character that insist on representing the fighters from the centrality of their bodies which are considered abject and that their presence in the octagon tarnish this sport. These arguments delegitimize recognition of differences, the multiplicities and equity opportunities in this sport.

Esta dissertação tematiza as mulheres que praticam esportes socialmente considerados masculinos, com foco na inserção das lutadoras do Mixed Martial Arts profissional ou Artes Marciais Mistas (MMA) e no Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Tem como objetivo analisar se as performatividades dos corpos e das sexualidades reiteram e/ou subvertem os discursos sobre as relações de gênero que permeiam as práticas corporais e esportivas. Os pressupostos teóricos utilizados para dialogar com os dados empíricos são as Teorias Pós-Estruturalistas e, sobretudo, Estudos de Gênero e Queer, por possibilitarem maior visibilidade acadêmica a temas como as transformações sociais e biotecnológicas do corpo; assim como questões relacionadas ao gênero e as sexualidades. Dentro desta perspectiva, a pesquisa investiga a articulação dos discursos midiáticos veiculados nas reportagens e comentários postados pel@s usuári@s de dois sites específicos: Combate e Tatame. E tem como recorte temporal o período entre a contratação de mulheres pelo UFC, que vai de dezembro de 2012 até a última luta da temporada em dezembro de 2013. O “Mapa Empírico” foi composto por 331 reportagens e 4174 comentários, pesquisados nestes sites, sistematizados através da Análise de Conteúdo dos quais emergiram categorias de análise como: o discurso biologicista – que valoriza as representações macho/fêmea, homem/mulher, masculino/feminino, baseado nas características anatômicas corporais, legitimando atitudes arbitrárias na produção dos corpos generificados pelas práticas sociais; e a heteronormatividade, compreendida como o processo normativo das práticas que regulamentam e ditam uma suposta verdade sobre o sexo e o gênero ao conectar os termos sexo, gênero e desejo, construindo uma “matriz de inteligibilidade”. No âmbito do MMA, foi possível identificar que os argumentos d@s usuári@s em relação à mudança na ordem da “normalidade” e da “naturalidade”, como a potencialização dos corpos, a virilização e a masculinização das atletas, atravessam as categorias de análise. Desta forma, a análise visibilizou o quanto o acesso das mulheres ao MMA é permeado por restrições. Em grande medida, estão relacionadas à presença de seu corpo, a uma representação normatizada de feminilidade e a heteronormatividade. Os comentários que circulam em grande parte dos posts analisados contemplam argumentos sexistas e misóginos que ao mesmo tempo erotizam a performance esportiva das lutadoras e também as desqualificam. De outro modo, há uma série de publicações de caráter lesbofóbico e transfóbico que insistem em representar as lutadoras a partir da centralidade de seus corpos que são considerados abjetos e que suas presenças no octógono maculam esta prática esportiva. Estes argumentos deslegitimam reconhecimento às diferenças, às multiplicidades e à equidade de oportunidades nesta prática esportiva. / This dissertation thematizes women who play sports socially considered masculine, focusing on inclusion of professional fighters in the Mixed Martial Arts and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). It aims to analyze whether performativities of the bodies and sexualities reiterate and / or subvert the discourses on gender relations which permeate the body and sports practices. The theoretical assumptions used to dialogue with the empirical data are the Post-Structuralist theories and, above all, Gender Studies and Queer, since they offer higher academic visibility to issues of social and biotechnological transformation of the body, as well as issues related to gender and sexuality. Within this perspective, the research investigates the articulation of media discourse in the news and comments posted by members of two specific websites: Combate and Tatame. It has the time frame period between hiring women for the UFC, which runs from December 2012 until the last fight of the season in December 2013. The “Map Empirical” was composed of 331 stories and 4174 comments, surveyed on these sites was systematized through Content Analysis and emerged as categories of analysis: the biologicist discourse - that values the representations male / female, man / woman, masculine / feminine based on body anatomical features legitimizing arbitrary attitudes in the production of gendered bodies through social practices; and heteronormativity, understood as the process of normative practices that regulate and dictate a supposed truth about sex and gender to connect the terms sex, gender and desire, building a "matrix of intelligibility." Under the MMA, we found that the arguments of users in relation to the change in the order of "normality" and "naturalness" as the enhancement of the bodies, virilization and masculinization of athletes, cross categories of analysis. Therefore, the analysis visualized how women's access to MMA is permeated by restrictions. Largely relate to the presence of his body, a standardized representation of femininity and heteronormativity. The comments on most posts analyzed include sexist and misogynistic arguments that at the same time eroticize sports performance of the fighters and also disqualify them. Otherwise, there are a number of publications and transphobic lesbophobic character that insist on representing the fighters from the centrality of their bodies which are considered abject and that their presence in the octagon tarnish this sport. These arguments delegitimize recognition of differences, the multiplicities and equity opportunities in this sport.

Esta dissertação tematiza as mulheres que praticam esportes socialmente considerados masculinos, com foco na inserção das lutadoras do Mixed Martial Arts profissional ou Artes Marciais Mistas (MMA) e no Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Tem como objetivo analisar se as performatividades dos corpos e das sexualidades reiteram e/ou subvertem os discursos sobre as relações de gênero que permeiam as práticas corporais e esportivas. Os pressupostos teóricos utilizados para dialogar com os dados empíricos são as Teorias Pós-Estruturalistas e, sobretudo, Estudos de Gênero e Queer, por possibilitarem maior visibilidade acadêmica a temas como as transformações sociais e biotecnológicas do corpo; assim como questões relacionadas ao gênero e as sexualidades. Dentro desta perspectiva, a pesquisa investiga a articulação dos discursos midiáticos veiculados nas reportagens e comentários postados pel@s usuári@s de dois sites específicos: Combate e Tatame. E tem como recorte temporal o período entre a contratação de mulheres pelo UFC, que vai de dezembro de 2012 até a última luta da temporada em dezembro de 2013. O “Mapa Empírico” foi composto por 331 reportagens e 4174 comentários, pesquisados nestes sites, sistematizados através da Análise de Conteúdo dos quais emergiram categorias de análise como: o discurso biologicista – que valoriza as representações macho/fêmea, homem/mulher, masculino/feminino, baseado nas características anatômicas corporais, legitimando atitudes arbitrárias na produção dos corpos generificados pelas práticas sociais; e a heteronormatividade, compreendida como o processo normativo das práticas que regulamentam e ditam uma suposta verdade sobre o sexo e o gênero ao conectar os termos sexo, gênero e desejo, construindo uma “matriz de inteligibilidade”. No âmbito do MMA, foi possível identificar que os argumentos d@s usuári@s em relação à mudança na ordem da “normalidade” e da “naturalidade”, como a potencialização dos corpos, a virilização e a masculinização das atletas, atravessam as categorias de análise. Desta forma, a análise visibilizou o quanto o acesso das mulheres ao MMA é permeado por restrições. Em grande medida, estão relacionadas à presença de seu corpo, a uma representação normatizada de feminilidade e a heteronormatividade. Os comentários que circulam em grande parte dos posts analisados contemplam argumentos sexistas e misóginos que ao mesmo tempo erotizam a performance esportiva das lutadoras e também as desqualificam. De outro modo, há uma série de publicações de caráter lesbofóbico e transfóbico que insistem em representar as lutadoras a partir da centralidade de seus corpos que são considerados abjetos e que suas presenças no octógono maculam esta prática esportiva. Estes argumentos deslegitimam reconhecimento às diferenças, às multiplicidades e à equidade de oportunidades nesta prática esportiva. / This dissertation thematizes women who play sports socially considered masculine, focusing on inclusion of professional fighters in the Mixed Martial Arts and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). It aims to analyze whether performativities of the bodies and sexualities reiterate and / or subvert the discourses on gender relations which permeate the body and sports practices. The theoretical assumptions used to dialogue with the empirical data are the Post-Structuralist theories and, above all, Gender Studies and Queer, since they offer higher academic visibility to issues of social and biotechnological transformation of the body, as well as issues related to gender and sexuality. Within this perspective, the research investigates the articulation of media discourse in the news and comments posted by members of two specific websites: Combate and Tatame. It has the time frame period between hiring women for the UFC, which runs from December 2012 until the last fight of the season in December 2013. The “Map Empirical” was composed of 331 stories and 4174 comments, surveyed on these sites was systematized through Content Analysis and emerged as categories of analysis: the biologicist discourse - that values the representations male / female, man / woman, masculine / feminine based on body anatomical features legitimizing arbitrary attitudes in the production of gendered bodies through social practices; and heteronormativity, understood as the process of normative practices that regulate and dictate a supposed truth about sex and gender to connect the terms sex, gender and desire, building a "matrix of intelligibility." Under the MMA, we found that the arguments of users in relation to the change in the order of "normality" and "naturalness" as the enhancement of the bodies, virilization and masculinization of athletes, cross categories of analysis. Therefore, the analysis visualized how women's access to MMA is permeated by restrictions. Largely relate to the presence of his body, a standardized representation of femininity and heteronormativity. The comments on most posts analyzed include sexist and misogynistic arguments that at the same time eroticize sports performance of the fighters and also disqualify them. Otherwise, there are a number of publications and transphobic lesbophobic character that insist on representing the fighters from the centrality of their bodies which are considered abject and that their presence in the octagon tarnish this sport. These arguments delegitimize recognition of differences, the multiplicities and equity opportunities in this sport.

Véritable phénomène de société, le mixed martial arts ou MMA est l'un des sports qui connaît actuellement le plus grand essor. Dans la traduction française, le terme d'arts martiaux mixtes revient fréquemment. Sport contemporain par excellence, le MMA est né et s'est développé au cours du XXème siècle où il est resté très marginalisé, pour connaître son aspect formalisé et médiatisé seulement dans les années 1990. Cette discipline qui a connu un processus de sportivisation inversée, est marquée par une réception difficile de la part des autorités, des fédérations sportives olympiques et de l'opinion publique : la cage qui accueille les combats, le sang et les frappes sur un homme au sol posent des problèmes d'acceptation. Ces éléments négatifs se retrouvent dans les représentations sociales et individuelles, chez les réponses des enquêtés qu'ils soient initiés ou non-initiés aux pratiques de combat hybride. En France, la compétition de MMA n'est pas autorisée alors que les clubs l'enseignent auprès de pratiquants de plus en plus nombreux. Les arts martiaux mixtes réunissent les contraires : une altérité fondée sur l'utilisation de l'agression instrumentale potentiellement destructrice, une réciprocité violente, mais socialisatrice et un sport « viril » capitaliste qui se nourrit du libéralisme et du débridement du pouvoir étatique. Pris dans un contexte post-moral, l'extériorisation d'une violence dans le MMA est à contre-courant du processus de pacification que la société connaît, associé à la quête de sécurité. Enfin, l'engagement corporel intense de ce sport ne correspond pas au culte du corps en bonne santé qui prédomine désormais. De ce fait, cette discipline questionne sur la place des sports-spectacles violents au sein d'une société pacifiée. / Nowadays MMA is truly a phenomenon of society, it is among the fastest-growing sports of our time. The French translation frequently uses the words: arts martiaux mixtes. Contemporary sport par excellence, MMA was born and expanded during the late 20th century where it remained very marginalized. Its expansion came in the 1990s thanks to media coverage. This sport experienced an inversed process of sportivization. It is characterized by a hesitant reception from authorities, Olympic sport federations and public opinion: the cage, blood and hitting a grounded opponent pose problems for many observers. These negative aspects may be found in the social and individual representations in the answers of surveyed individuals, both initiated and non-initiated to hybrid combat sports. Mixed Martial Arts competition is not allowed in France, while athletes are more and more numerous within French MMA academies and gyms. This sport combines opposing concepts: otherness based on the utilization of instrumental, potentially destructive aggression, a violent but socializing reciprocity and a manly, capitalist sport which is based on liberalism and a stripping of state power. Taken in a post-moral context, the violence acts out against the process of pacification. This process is associated with a search for security and peace. Finally, the intensive bodily engagement of MMA does not correspond with the healthy body cult which predominates nowadays. Therefore, this practice questions the role of sport entertainment within a peaceful society.

As mindfulness is often synonymous with equanimity, the intensity of competitive mixed martial arts serves as an ideal domain in exploring the underlying cognitive process of mindfulness in enhancing performance. Within the past two decades, interest has peaked in the positive outcomes that mindfulness produces in alleviating negative symptoms in health and clinical settings. Little research exists however in exploring the cognitive processes involved in producing the potential benefits of performance enhancement. The aim of the study was to gain a better understanding of the underlying cognitive processes involved in the workings of mindfulness; exploring whether increased levels of mindfulness would be positively correlated with increased martial arts ability. Using correlational analysis and standard multivariate regression, the participating fighters’ (n=46) levels of mindfulness were analysed in relation to their mixed martial artist’s ability. Results from correlational analysis showed that overall mindfulness was positively correlated with mixed martial arts ability, as a result confirming the study’s primary hypothesis. Results from standard multivariate regression further identified a fighter’s age as being a significant predictor for mixed martial arts ability. / Mini dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria 2016. / Psychology / MA / Unrestricted

The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a relationship between rapid weight loss and physical performance in combat sports athletes. The inclusion criteria were rapid weight loss and physical performance effects among combat sports researched in the last 20 years. Phrases, as well as keywords, were searched using multiple databases. The keywords included mixed martial arts (MMA), judo, wrestling, taekwondo, boxing, studies that looked at multiple disciplines at once, and unspecified disciplines. Results of the literature review indicate that there are negative effects on performance due to rapid weight loss and dehydration in combat sports. Appendix I summarizes the data found. However, other literature has suggested no physical performance effects following a period of rapid weight loss. Determination at what percentage of body mass loss unequivocally affects physical performance measures and the threshold in which a certain athlete is likely to experience these effects is key. Factors that seem to influence the magnitude of measured performance effects include the length of recovery time following the period of rapid weight loss, the magnitude of body mass lost, as well as methods used to achieve weight loss. The results of this study may help provide insight into areas of research that are lacking data on this subject and may also provide helpful guidelines for combat sports athletes and trainers alike.

This study is focused on representations of power and masculinities in the movie “Warrior”(2011). By using the notion of interdiscursivity, as discussed by Norman Fairclough, my goal isto analyze how the roles of the characters relate to existing discourses in today’s society. I amprimarily interested in discourses revolving around MMA-fighters, masculinities and familyrelations.The movie to be analysed in this study is suited for interpreting new sorts of masculinitiesthrough the sport of MMA, which itself is fairly new and therefore might represent a new type ofmasculinity in the making. To be able to analyse this in the best possible way, I will be looking atmasculinities using a perspective developed by the Australian sociologist Raewyn Connell. Byrelating to four different dimensions of masculinity, this theory enables me to interpret whichtypes of masculinities, or combinations thereof, are presented in the film.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-29T13:31:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Juliana Aparecida de Oliveira Camilo.pdf: 2361347 bytes, checksum: 8b9d66056b95927802e94842deb20149 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-01 / The purpose of this research was to identify the versions of MMA athletes who circulated in spaces where this mode is performaned. Our guiding athletes were considered professionals in the sport, linked to national and international events. In order to do so, we elected two MMA gyms located in the city of São Paulo where we lived during 2014. To support this research, we adopted a theoretical and methodological approach to the actor-network theory in dialogue with the Social Psychology. The methodology followed the assumptions of ethnography, with interactions in different practices in which athletes were involved: training, group meetings, various procedures for weight loss, activity on the day of the fight and subsequent conversations with the struggle. The descriptions of the two researched academies suggested that in one of them (gym B), an athlete deserve protection, support and care, and performing as an employee and in the second (gym A), as an idol, having importance while offering the opportunity to act in such way in different situations. Whereas at the camp, we accompanied a gym B fighter, it was possible to identify the fighter versions: a) worker who is precarious (training); b) idol (week of fighting); c) survivor (weighing); d) "tough guy" (day of the fight) and; e) "human" (post-fight). The thesis is that there is a specific type of fighter, or different perspectives on it, but it's multiple. These athletes are made in different practices, yet somehow related to each other. The complexity presented here opens up the possibility of other modes of operation, less essentialits human fighting MMA, claiming the weakening totalizing versions, exploring only one version of these fighters / O objetivo desta pesquisa foi identificar as versões de atletas de MMA que circularam em espaços onde esta modalidade é performanda. Nosso fio condutor foram os atletas, considerados profissionais na modalidade, vinculados a eventos nacionais e internacionais. Para isso, elegemos duas academias de MMA localizadas na cidade de São Paulo, na qual convivi durante o ano de 2014. Para sustentar esta pesquisa, adotei uma aproximação teórico-metodológica com a teoria ator-rede, em diálogo com a Psicologia Social. A metodologia seguiu os pressupostos da etnografia, com interações nas diferentes práticas em que os atletas se envolviam: treinamentos, reuniões de grupo, procedimentos diversos para perder peso, atividades no dia da luta e conversas posteriores às lutas. As descrições das duas academias pesquisadas sugeriram que, em uma delas (Academia B), um atleta merecia proteção, apoio e cuidados, performado como trabalhador e, na segunda (Academia A), como ídolo, tendo importância enquanto oferecia a possibilidade de apresentar-se desse modo em diferentes situações. Já nas fases de um camp, acompanhei um lutador da Academia B, em que foi possível identificar as versões de lutador como: a) trabalhador que é precarizado (treinamentos); b) ídolo (semana da luta); c) sobrevivente (pesagem); d) casca-grossa (dia da luta); e e) humano (pós-luta). A tese é que não há um tipo específico de lutador, ou perspectivas diferentes sobre ele, mas sim, que ele é múltiplo. Esses atletas são feitos em diferentes práticas, ainda que de algum modo relacionados entre si. A complexidade aqui apresentada nos abre a possibilidade de outros modos de atuação, menos essencializadores, dos humanos que lutam MMA, pleiteando o enfraquecimento de versões totalizadoras, que exploram apenas um modo de ser desses atletas

Sports commentary is an essential part of live broadcasted sports as well as eSports and is a task that requires that the caster be verbally proficient and can maintain a high tempo when speaking, especially in more fast-paced sports. This study aims to analyze this promotional language sportscasters use by approaching it from the linguistic phenomenon of metadiscourse. This will be achieved by utilizing a theoretical framework adapted from previous research on eSports commentaries. By comparing a traditional sport, in this case mixed martial arts, with that of the eSport of Super Smash Bros. Melee, the aim is to see what differences can be found between the two sports’ commentaries and their use of metadiscursive promotional language. After comparing these two sets of commentaries, the results show that there are some differences in how promotional language is used to enhance the understanding and excitement of their respective sports. The major differences found are in how the two sets of commentaries use metaphors as well as that the eSport casters show a pattern of using evaluative adjectives in a more varied and colorful way. / Sportkommentatorer är en väsentlig del av live-sänd idrott såväl som eSport och är en uppgift som kräver att kommentatorn är muntligt skicklig och kan hålla ett högt tempo när hen talar, särskilt i sporter med högre tempo. Denna studie syftar till att analysera det promotionsbefrämjande språk som sportkommentatorer använder genom att närma sig det från det lingvistiska fenomenet metadiskurs. Detta kommer att uppnås genom att använda sig av ett teoretiskt ramverk som anpassats från tidigare forskning om eSports kommentarer. Genom att jämföra det med en traditionell sport, i detta fall mixed martial arts, med eSporten Super Smash Bros. Melee, är målet att se vilka skillnader som kan hittas mellan dem två sporternas kommentarer och deras användning av metadiskursivt promotionellt språk. Efter att ha jämfört dem två kommentarerna så visar resultaten att det finns vissa skillnader i hur promotionsbefrämjande språk används för att förstärka förståelsen och spänningen i deras respektive sporter. De största skillnaderna som fanns är i hur de två kommentarerna använder metaforer samt att eSports-kommentatorerna visar ett mönster av att använda evaluerande adjektiv i ett mer varierat och färgrikt sätt.

”Never!” That was the answer UFC President Dana White gave when asked when women would be seen in the UFC. Two years later the first fight between two women took place and now there’s more than 50 female competitors in the UFC - an organisation that earlier was reserved only for men. ”Women will never fight in the UFC” – A qualitative content analysis of the depiction of women’s MMA in media is a study which focuses on how women’s MMA and Ronda Rousey as an individual athlete are portrayed in american internet based MMA media, with a gender research perspective. This study also investigates how the introduction of the first women’s division in the UFC might have affected the depiction women’s MMA in media. The theoretical framework consists of gender theory concepts such as gender performativity, the man as norm, sports and masculinity. With this theoretical framework as foundation, a directed content analysis was used as research method. The results of this analysis shows a frequent emphasis on the appearance of female athletes in the material. An attractive woman is preferable, and a muscular and more masculine woman is considered as deviant. Female athletes are constantly in comparison to male athletes, both in a positive sense, when their athleticism or talent is compared, and in a negative sense to downgrade their appearance. It is clear that the man is the starting-point, which the women are compared to. The material shows that before the introduction of a female division in the UFC there were strong concerns about women entering the organisation - would it be received as a positive or a negative change and thus if it was economically sustainable. After the first women’s fight in the UFC, the appearances of the competitors weren’t referenced as frequently in the material as before, and their performances were highlighted in a much higher degree. Ronda Rousey is portrayed as the most important individual competitor in women’s MMA. She’s got “everything”, both the looks and talent. But to some extent her talent is marginalized. A resistance that may be based in the unfamiliarity of seeing a woman in the spotlight of the MMA-world.