Ronda Rousey launched a sharp attack on UFC fighter compensation during the press conference for her return to mixed martial arts, unleashing criticism about the promotion's pay structure after being asked about ongoing disputes between the organisation and its athletes.
Rousey said fighters at the ground level cannot support their families despite earning full-time, and that with the UFC having received a $7.7 billion deal, "there is no reason why they can't afford to pay their athletes at least a living wage."
In the most pointed part of her remarks, Rousey said the UFC is no longer focused on "putting on the best fights possible" now that it is an employee operation rather than one run by its president as before, and that "the UFC is one of the worst places to go" for athletes seeking fair compensation.
According to Rousey, the UFC refused to offer her the guaranteed purse she and Carano deserved, citing concerns about setting a precedent that could "raise that tide" for the broader fighter roster. She contended that since the UFC signed its $7.7 billion Paramount deal, the company's interest lies in spending as little money as possible to maintain margins rather than staging the best possible matchups.
Rousey explained that after the UFC shifted to a streaming model, Dana White became "legally beholden to the shareholders and to maximise shareholder value," making decisions on cost grounds rather than sport.
Rousey initially approached UFC president Dana White about making her return against Gina Carano, but negotiations did not materialise. The breakdown came once the promotion's broadcast agreement with Paramount changed financial terms, with the shift away from the pay-per-view model meaning the UFC could not match previous guarantees. She instead signed with Most Valuable Promotions, the company led by Jake Paul.
Rousey returns to action for the first time since 2016 to face Carano on May 16 at Intuit Dome in a featherweight bout on Netflix's first-ever MMA event.
The criticism is not isolated. Former champion Cris Cyborg, who left the UFC for Bellator in 2019, backed Rousey's remarks about the promotion's focus on cost-effective fights rather than the biggest matchups. Cyborg said she experienced the same issue after the UFC moved to ESPN, with her team pushing for higher guaranteed money during negotiations before ultimately being told the promotion would not adjust its revenue model, leading her to sign with Bellator.
Rousey's remarks came in the context of separate disputes between the UFC and heavyweight Jon Jones, who recently requested release from his contract after claiming he was offered a lowball deal for the UFC's upcoming White House card.
Despite her public criticism, Rousey said she maintains a personal relationship with Dana White, describing him as "loyal."