By Jake Donovan

Following his financially historic 12-round win over Manny Pacquiao this past May, unbeaten World welterweight  Floyd Mayweather seemed to be a shoo-in to claim the Best Fighter award an unprecedented 7th time during the 2015 ESPY Awards.

Instead, the award went to MMA standout Ronda Rousey, who beat out a field that included three boxers—Mayweather, unbeaten middleweight titlist Gennady Golovkin and undefeated former lightweight king Terence Crawford—and unbeaten UFC lightweight contender Donald Cerrone.

The Best Fighter win by Rousey is the first by any MMA fighter, and also the first time that a fighter other than Mayweather or Pacquiao claimed the ESPY  since the category was formed in 2007. Pacquiao claimed top honors during the 2009 and 2011 Awards, while Mayweather had won the other six years (2007, ’08, ’10, ’12, ’13, 14) prior to this year’s awards ceremony.

Rousey was nominated for the second time, earning honorable mention during last year’s awards show. Leading into the event, a groundswell of buzz formed  over the possibility of a caged fight between Mayweather and Rousey.

As he should have, Mayweather dismissed the very thought of such a sideshow, although his attempts to downplay Rousey’s popularity including his taking a shot at her athletic build.

“I don’t even know who he is,” Mayweather shot back to a field of reporters when fielded on the subject around this time last year.

The comment clearly stuck with Rousey, reminding the world’s best boxer of his remarks as she accepted her award, while offering a parting shot of her own.

“I wonder how Floyd feels being beat by a woman for once,” Rousey quipped to ESPN announcers during the pre-awards red carper arrival. “I’d like to see him pretend to not know who I am now.”

Mayweather is due to return to the ring on September 12 in Las Vegas. The bout will serve as the last of a six-fight deal with Showtime and CBS Corporation, with rumors swirling of his upcoming bout airing live on free-to-air CBS.

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox