Quickly after winning the first women’s UFC bout via her signature first round arm bar, Ronda Rousey was sent to New York with some of the sport’s finest. Rousey along with CEO of the UFC Lorenzo Fertitta, and middleweight contender Chris Weidman traveled to New York to lobby for a lifted ban on MMA in the state.

The NY senate voted to legalize MMA 47-14 in a recent poll. The next step will be the Assembly, which would be a significant stride should it pass.

In an interview with TimesUnion.com Rousey voiced her thoughts on where she believes this ban will end up, and why the UFC will make it to the Empire State.

“I’m always optimistic,” Rousey said. “I always have really good faith in people that they’ll see the value that’s in the sport and I really feel like it’s bound to happen. The only problem with this issue is just ignorance on what the sport really is and once people become more educated, they’ll come around and make the right decision”

Rousey acknowledges the negative prejudices surrounding mixed martial arts, and thinks that is soon to be a thing of the past.

“I think a lot of the stereotypes involving MMA that it’s just for men and it’s a testosterone-driven sport is eventually fading out,” she said. “That’s why it’s so important that women do it because once it’s accepted as normal for women to do, then it’s gonna go more through all of society.”