Ronda Rousey slams UFC over fighter pay controversy at comeback event. [Image Source: MMAFIGHTING]
On March 10 in Los Angeles, Ronda Rousey publicly condemned the UFC’s treatment of its fighters regarding compensation, using the platform of her announced May 16 comeback fight against Gina Carano on Netflix. Addressing the ongoing UFC fighter pay controversy, Rousey accused the organization of failing to provide adequate financial support to its athletes despite its growing revenues.
Rousey Expresses Disappointment Over UFC’s Current State
The 39-year-old former Olympic judo medalist highlighted her disappointment with the UFC’s current approach to fighter pay.
“It used to be that UFC was the best place you could come in combat sports to make a living and be paid fairly,”
Rousey said at the press event.
“And now it’s one of the worst places to go.”
She noted many fighters struggle financially despite dedicating themselves full time to the sport.
Rousey specifically pointed out the disconnect between fighters’ hardships and the company’s profits, referencing Paramount’s recent $7.7 billion deal securing exclusive U.S. broadcasting rights for UFC events.
“A lot of them (fighters), at the ground level, can’t even support their families. They’re living at poverty level fighting full time. And this company just got 7.7 billion dollars. They’re thinking about the next quarter. They’re thinking about the shareholders,”
Rousey stated, underscoring the tension between corporate interests and athlete welfare.
Support for Rousey’s Critique from Other Fighters and Promoters
Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, returning from nearly two years away, agreed with Rousey’s grievances, emphasizing fighters’ lack of employee status.
“We are not an employee. We are independent contractor(s), and we should be able to get what we deserve,”
Ngannou said before adding,
“I’m happy I’m out of that.”
At the same event, Jake Paul, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), also criticized the UFC’s direction and positioned MVP as a fighter-focused alternative.
“I believe the UFC is dying, and MVP is here to take over,”
Paul declared.
“I believe we have a massive opportunity here to disrupt the whole space and to put fighters first, get them the pay that they deserve.”
Heated Exchange Between Promoter Jake Paul and Francis Ngannou
The press conference featured a confrontational moment between Paul and Ngannou, who recently signed with MVP and expressed interest in facing the YouTube-turned-boxer in the ring. Ngannou said,
Image of: UFC
“I really didn’t want to fight you, but now I want to beat you,”
to which Paul responded,
“I’m down. I’ve always been down.”
This exchange emphasized the rising tension and competition within the combat sports world.
The upcoming bout between Rousey and Carano will headline Netflix’s first-ever live MMA broadcast, marking a milestone as the first women’s fight to serve as the main event on a global streaming platform. The 43-year-old Carano, making her first fight since a 2009 loss to Cris Cyborg, described her return as a deeply meaningful experience.
“It’s healing, it’s exciting. It’s everything I could have hoped for. I didn’t know I needed this so bad,”
she shared.
Rousey’s Return Motivated by Motherhood and Mutual Recovery
After a decade away from competition, Rousey revealed that she never anticipated fighting again but found renewed motivation through motherhood and seeing Carano’s struggles. She has two daughters born in 2021 and 2024 with her husband, former MMA fighter Travis Browne.
“I never thought I would come back. It didn’t cross my mind at all,”
Rousey said.
“Once I found that love again, and I saw Gina not doing well, I was like we both need to reclaim our bodily identity together and rewrite our own endings together.”
MVP’s Entry into MMA Highlighted by Netflix Partnership
The upcoming fight is part of MVP’s debut in mixed martial arts, following its record-breaking collaboration with Netflix on the 2024 Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing event. This partnership signals a shift in combat sports broadcasting and fighter promotion, reflecting a broader effort to reshape athlete compensation and industry dynamics.
Implications of Rousey’s Criticism on UFC’s Future
Rousey’s outspoken comments amid other fighter grievances spotlight growing unrest in MMA over financial fairness, independence, and recognition. As UFC faces intensified scrutiny from high-profile athletes and rival promotions like MVP, the organization may confront mounting pressure to reevaluate its approach to compensating fighters amid lucrative broadcasting deals. The Netflix fight and involvement of fighters like Ngannou and promotional figures such as Jake Paul suggest an evolving landscape, potentially reshaping how fighters are valued and compensated in the years ahead.
