Say my name: 'Rowdy' Bec Rawlings explains her recent name change
The Ultimate Fighter season 20 will begin filming in May with an all new cast of strawweight women competing inside the Octagon for the first time ever with a champion being crowned at the end of the year.
For some fans this will be the first time hearing names like Carla Esparza or Felice Herrig, but there's one name you'll hear this season that's going to be new to everybody – 'Rowdy' Bec Rawlings.
You see prior to just a few days ago, 'Rowdy' Bec Rawlings was best known to American fight fans as 'Rowdy' Bec Hyatt because that's the name she's used in all of her fights while competing under the Invicta Fighting Championships banner and during her whole MMA career. Following a turbulent marriage and divorce that Rawlings bravely spoke out about last year, she's decided to ditch the old and start fresh with the new.
So as she arrives from her home in Australia to the United States later this year, when you say her name say it right – it's 'Rowdy' Bec Rawlings.
"I've been thinking about it for a long time pretty much as soon as I split up from my husband and I've just been thinking about going back to my roots," Rawlings told FOX Sports about returning to her maiden name. "I'm always a Rawlings, everyone says I have the Rawlings genes – the temper and the fiery attitude. So I've always been known as a Rawlings in my hometown and stuff, so I think it's just about time for me to follow my heart and represent my name, not the past."
The timing of the name change isn't coincidental because Rawlings knew her exposure from appearing on The Ultimate Fighter would launch her name to a new stratosphere she's never felt before. There was no better way to move on from the past and get ready for an exciting new future than to make the change now so all of the fans maybe finding out about her for the first time will just know her by one name.
"I'm going to gain a lot of exposure on the show and gain a lot of new fans. So I thought now would be the perfect time to gain fans that wouldn't be so confused if I changed the name further down the line," Rawlings said. "Before I really get into the spotlight I can change it and half of my fan base, if I gain fans after the show, won't be confused it will just be a natural thing to them."
Rawlings is excited for a fresh start not only because of her name change, but also to travel to the United States and begin her pursuit of the first ever UFC 115-pound women's title.
There's one other name she's bringing with her, however, that won't be changing.
Rawlings' nickname just happens to be shared by the UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, but that's not something the Aussie born fighter is willing to give up. The UFC fans will just have to get used to things getting a little rowdier upon her arrival.
"I don't think anyone's ready for another 'Rowdy'," Rawlings said with a laugh. "But they don’t have any choice. I'm coming."
