Filed under: Featured , News , UFC (This story first appeared at USAToday.com .) LAS VEGAS — A women’s fight is headlining the UFC’s summer showcase this week, and Ronda Rousey has no part in it. That in itself is no surprise, given that the last time Rousey stepped into the octagon here she made it just 48 seconds . Her conqueror on that late December night, Amanda Nunes, will top the bill at UFC 213 on Saturday, defending her bantamweight title against Valentina Shevchenko in the main event. However, in one of the most empowering weeks for female fighting that the UFC has ever had, Rousey isn’t just absent from the cage, but seems to be completely out of the sight and minds of the MMA community. On Wednesday, the organization hosted a “Women of UFC” discussion panel as part of its “International Fight Week” series of events designed to bring fans into Las Vegas for several days, rather than just fight night. Over the course of an hour and in front of several hundred fans, four prominent women’s UFC fighters and moderator Megan Olivi spoke about how far the sport has evolved, where it might be headed next and its position in providing role models to young girls and women.
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While UFC celebrates women in sport, ex-champ Ronda Rousey nowhere to be found – MMA Junkie