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Ronda Rousey To Host ‘SNL’ January 23, Can UFC’s Biggest Draw Deliver The Laughs?

By Ernest Shepard
Published on: 09:47 PST, Jan 5, 2016

Ronda Rousey is taking on another challenge, but not inside the UFC Octagon. This time the challenge will be SNL. According to USA Today, the biggest draw in mixed martial arts will attempt to deliver the laughs as she serves as guest host on Saturday Night Live. Her appearance on the long-running sketch comedy series will take place on January 23.

Ronda Rousey has defied the odds to become the most recognizable name in the UFC. Her appearance is the first for an UFC athlete. Also a rarity, she will become one of only three female athletes to host SNL, according to BDCWire. The other female athletes that hosted the show were tennis great Chris Evert and Olympic gold medal-winning figure skater Nancy Kerrigan. With such small company, the pressure will be on Ronda Rousey to deliver the goods.

With appearances in the movies Expendables 3, Fast and Furious 7, and Entourage under her belt, Ronda Rousey can act, but can she deliver the funny jokes in a timely manner? Forget about Rousey and her dominance inside the octagon; hosting SNL will be her stiffest challenge to date. She must deliver the goods, or risk being ridiculed forever.

Ronda Rousey is a natural fighter. Beyond her losing to Holly Holm at UFC 193, she seemingly didn’t face a lot of challenges during her UFC run. How she destroyed quality opposition during her bantamweight title reign would suggest that fighting is easy for her. The killer instinct she has shown inside the Octagon will not help her when she hosts SNL on January 23. The character that Rousey has created will aid her as she gets comfortable performing in front of the television audience. Unlike in the UFC where she typically is finished with her foes in two minutes or less, Ronda Rousey will be performing much longer, with a different type of crowd.

How Rousey prepares for SNL will determine how good she will be.

The one-liners must be avoided. For those who watched the first time Charles Barkley hosted SNL, it was the one-liners that hurt him, while the rest of the jokes was memorable. The one-liners were hit and miss during the recent appearance of Donald Trump.

The one-liners from Ronda Rousey will all seem forced. With her already dabbling in Hollywood, she does not want to come across as stiff on stage — not with a spotlight that big. Rousey will have to come across as natural as she does when she is doing the promotional work for her fights.

Again, the big question is, can she can deliver the funny?

It would not be surprising to see Ronda Rousey joking about her defeat to Holly Holm. If so, which SNL cast member will get the opportunity to play Holm? It would be a huge hit if Kate McKinnon could play the boxer who handed Rousey her lone defeat. McKinnon’s comedic timing is a flawless thing of beauty at times. She could really deliver the scene, elevating anything that Rousey can bring to the table.

(Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images Sport)
(Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images Sport)

What is most interesting is the fact that the star on Ronda Rousey has not fallen. Rousey hosting SNL is an honor which most people get to do when their arc in entertainment is pointing upwards. Ronda Rousey is hosting SNL in spite of losing her bantamweight championship, which is a true testimony to how well she moves the needle. There is also little doubt that she will share a scene or two with Selena Gomez, who is slated to be the musical guest for the night.

Ronda Rousey will face her biggest challenge on January 23 when she hosts SNL. The spotlight will be on her as she will become only the third female athlete to handle the show-hosting duties in the long-running sketch comedy’s history. Rousey should be entertaining that night, but can she be funny enough to not become an infamous host?

What skits would you like to see Ronda Rousey perform? Please, share your thoughts.

(Photo by Frazier Harrison/Getty Images Entertainment)

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