Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

UFC

Ronda Rousey is so beloved, Brazilian fans started crying when meeting her

By Damon Martin FoxSports
Published | Updated
57a55caf-

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - JULY 29: Womens bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey of the United States takes photos with fans during open training session at Pepe Beach on July 29, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

If there was any doubt about Ronda Rousey's appeal on a global stage, her appearance in Brazil on Wednesday at the UFC 190 open workouts should answer all of those questions.

Rousey is supposed to be stepping into enemy territory this weekend as she faces Brazilian fighter Bethe Correia in the main event at UFC 190, but if the crowd in Rio de Janeiro during her workout is any indication, she might be the fan favorite on Saturday.

Rousey worked out with her sparring partner on the stage while the crowd surrounding the area grew with each minute she was performing.

At different points during the workout, the crowd broke out into loud chants screaming "Ronda, Ronda" over and over again. Whenever Rousey would execute one of her famous Judo throws, the crowd would roar in excitement.

Following the conclusion of her workout, a little boy made his way on stage and rushed towards Rousey and immediately embraced her like she was a superhero who just saved his city from ruin. Rousey gave the boy a hug as she greeted him with a big smile while she was still on stage.

From there, Rousey made her way down to the crowd and the fanfare there quickly reached a fevered pitch.

The Brazilian crowd began screaming and chanting her name, and fans were visibly shaken and crying as Rousey started making her way through the mass of people to take pictures and sign autographs. Reports out of Brazil said that Rousey delayed her media interviews by almost an hour so she could meet as many fans as possible after concluding her workout.

Correia was already fighting an uphill battle as she faces Rousey as one of the biggest underdogs in UFC history, but now she might walk into the arena on Saturday night at UFC 190 with the Brazilian crowd rooting for the women's bantamweight champion.

Hometown advantage? Not so much!