In the last year, Topps has made a significant breakthrough with the increasing number of female athletes featured on its trading card products. Starting in autumn 2013 with its card set commemorating the American contingent competing at the Sochi Winter Games; other female athletes were given the trading card treatment in 2014, as part of Topps annual Allen and Ginter plus World Wrestling Entertainment card releases.
With autumn marking hockey card season, Topps counters with its newest offering featuring the heroes from Ultimate Fighting Championship. A 200-card base set, UFC Champions consists of the most competitors from the women’s division in any one set.
The first card in the set featuring a member of the women’s division is number 9 as Jessica Andrade is featured. Following her at number 10 is Julianna Pena. Part of Team Rousey during the 18 season of The Ultimate Fighter, she would defeat Jessica Rakoczy in the season finale. Currently suffering from an injury to her right knee, her presence in the set can only help build the momentum for her comeback.
Gold variation on Ronda Rousey’s trading card (Obtained from http://www.cardboardconnection.com/)
Two other fighters from season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter are part of the set. Peggy Morgan, another member of Team Rousey, is known as the Daywalker. Featured on card number 57, Morgan lost to Jessamyn Duke in the season finale of Ultimate Fighter 18. Raquel Pennington, whose nickname is Rocky, graces card number 179. A member of Team Tate during the season, she defeated Roxanne Modafferi by unanimous decision in the season finale. Her first UFC fight after said finale came on March 15, 2014, suffering a loss to Jessica Andrade.
Women’s champion Ronda Rousey, quite possibly the most popular competitor in UFC can be found on card number 76. Only three of the four competitors that Rousey has defeated in UFC have also been given the cardboard treatment.
Liz Carmouche, the first-ever opponent of Rousey in the UFC can be found on card 119. One of Rousey’s biggest rivals, Miesha Tate, who was defeated by armbar submission on December 28, 2013, is on card 42. Of note, card 116 features Sara McMann, facing defeat in the first round on February 22, 2014. Canadian Alexis Davis, which elevated Rousey’s career MMA record to 10-0, was not featured
Rousey’s next opponent, Cat Zingano is on card 97. Ranked as one of the top five female MMA Fighters in the world, Zingano will challenge Rousey at UFC 182 on January 3, 2015. Another top ranked fighter in the set is Bethe Correia. Hailing from Brazil, she holds a 9-0 record in MMA. Card number 91 is where collectors can find her. Another Brazilian featured in the set is Amanda Nunes. On card 35, the Lioness of the Ring holds a 2-1 career mark in UFC. Her loss came to Cat Zingano at UFC 178 on September 27, 2014.
The fighters involved in one of the more controversial UFC women’s matches are both part of the set. Jessica Eye, whose October 19, 2013 victory over Sarah Kaufman was overturned due to testing positive for marijuana can be found on cards 106 and 133. Of note, Eye is looking for her first-ever UFC win, and is hoping to obtain it after a November 15, 2014 match against Leslie Smith.
Kaufman, the first Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion also earned the first-ever Hardcore Championship Fighting Women’s Bantamweight Champion. Having lost to Rousey in Strikeforce competitions, she has a 17-2 career mark.
Of note, the female fighters even make their way into the various insert sets. Of note, Rousey leads the way as she can be found in 9 different insert sets. Such sets include Autographs, Autographed Relics, Autographed Jumbo Fight Mats, Champions Single Belt, Champions Full Belt, Fight Night Highlights, Octagon Greats, Octagon Greats Autographed and Mat Relics.
Jessica Eye and Julianna Pena join Rousey in the Autographed insert cards. Part of the Autographed Relic inserts includes the likes of Amanda Nunes and Miesha Tate. Of note, Pena is also part of the Autographed Jumbo Fight Mat Relics set.
Considering that in years past, the only women of the UFC that were featured on trading cards were the ring girls, the inclusion of so many fighters (especially with the insert sets) in its base set is an encouraging sign that the women’s division is a substantial part of UFC.
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