Ronda Rousey’s decision to re-enter the cage at age 39 has the MMA world in disbelief. CM Punk, having faced the hurdles of fighting later in life, urges caution as the once-dominant champion takes another swing at the sport she helped define.

When UFC President Dana White predicted that Ronda Rousey’s return would surpass Conor McGregor’s staggering popularity, few doubted her star power. Yet this article examines how those claims ultimately did not come to fruition and why the McGregor phenomenon remained on top.