Ronda Rousey offered 'SNL' just after UFC 193 but didn't hesitate to say yes
Following a loss to Holly Holm at UFC 193, Ronda Rousey didn't feel like doing much of anything but when "Saturday Night Live" came calling and offered her a hosting slot on the show, she couldn't say no.
Hosting the iconic comedy series is an honor that's only passed along to certain celebrities and even fewer athletes, so Rousey being asked to join the show was a big deal even if she wasn't in the most joyous mood when the call came in.
Still, Rousey didn't hesitate to accept and now she's set to host the show on Saturday night with Selena Gomez acting as the musical guest.
"My initial reaction was like, 'Yes, let's do it.' " Rousey told UFC.com. "I found out right after the fight and it was the first thing I was really thinking of doing besides eating ice cream and crying."
Athletes have been considered some of the best hosts to ever grace the "Saturday Night Live" stage including Charles Barkley, Peyton Manning and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson all stealing the show when they played host, among many other sports legends.
For Rousey, hosting "Saturday Night Live" is not only a big deal for her career but also for women's athletes in general as she becomes only the third female to ever lead the NBC series.
Tennis great Chris Evert and ice skater Nancy Kerrigan are the other two women's athletes whom Rousey joins in exclusive company. But the Olympian and UFC bantamweight hopes her performance will help more women get the same opportunity down the road.
"It's really an honor to be able to like represent that position of being a female athlete," Rousey said. "I just have to try to do my best job so they'll want more of us to come back."
Rousey will take the stage on "Saturday Night Live" this weekend with the show scheduled to air at 11:30 p.m.
