No Matter What Rousey-Holm Team You're On, You Win

The results of the UFC 193 fight between Ronda Rousey and Holly Holm was pretty much the definition of unexpected. With Rousey going down by knockout in the second round, fans were stunned by the loss of the former UFC women's bantamweight champion and the subsequent crowning of the division's new winner. And in the days following the fight, the general public has been quick to criticize Rousey for her seemingly misguided cockiness, doing some serious meme-teasing in the process. But whether you're Team Ronda Rousey or Team Holly Holm, it's a win for women no matter which side you're on.

Sure, Rousey may have done a bit of poor decision-making by not tapping gloves with Holm before the start of the match; that's indisputable. Good sportswomanship means providing your opponent the respect she deserves. Rousey, however, is still a champion. She may not be the current holder of her UFC divisions' championship belt, but that doesn't diminish her achievements as an athlete.

The woman won an Olympic medal in Judo at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and was undefeated in the UFC Octagon until her match-up with Holm. Rousey has publicly spoken about her struggles with an eating disorder in the past and recovery from a speech disorder as a child. She's not afraid to speak her mind and, when asked about being perceived as arrogant, Rousey said, "Why is self confidence arrogant?" Pretty sure my own self-esteem went up by about 1000 percent merely from Rousey saying those words.

Rousey faced fierce backlash in the wake of her loss, with detractors claiming Rousey and her cocky attitude had it coming. But Rousey responded with a short note to fans that focuses on the messages of support and her eventual return.

And her opponent? Holm was one of the first to remind critics that Rousey continues to be a winner by many standards.

"Ronda's been a very dominant champ and has taken the sport to new levels," Holm told TMZ Sports. "This fight wouldn't have happened if she didn't accomplish what she's accomplished."

Holm is an inspiration in her own right. As a professional boxer, Holm won 33 times and lost only twice; she defended her titles in three different weight divisions a total of 18 times. Then she decided to have her hand at MMA (because, why not?) and became an equally dominating boss in that sport. Including her latest UFC win, Holm's MMA record is 10-0. And by beating Rousey at UFC 193, Holm became the first athlete — male or female — to win titles in both boxing and mixed martial arts.

So no matter who you end up aligning yourself with — "Rowdy" Rousey or "The Preacher's Daughter" Holm — you're siding with strong women who radiate confidence and constantly strive to be the best at what they do. That's a win for all ladies in my book.