At a press event held Tuesday at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, Ronda Rousey fiercely criticized the UFC over its pay structure for fighters just months before her superfight against Gina Carano. Highlighting the ongoing UFC athlete pay controversy, Rousey described the promotion as failing to provide fair wages, despite its recent massive valuation.
Rousey Highlights Financial Disparity Amid UFC’s Billions
The former UFC star stressed that the company, which recently secured $7.7 billion in investment, should have no trouble offering athletes a livable income. She voiced this sentiment clearly, stating,
“This company just got $7.7 billion. There’s no reason they can’t afford to pay their athletes at least a living wage.”
This pointed accusation drew significant attention, underscoring growing frustration with fighter compensation in the sport.
Comments on Valentina Shevchenko and Fighters Seeking Alternative Income
Rousey alluded to current UFC champions like Valentina Shevchenko while explaining why many fighters are increasingly looking beyond UFC contracts. She shocked the audience by accusing top fighters of resorting to selling explicit content on platforms such as OnlyFans to support themselves financially. Rousey emphasized that many inside the organization live at poverty levels even while competing professionally.
“It used to be that the UFC was the best place you could come in combat sports to make a living and be paid fairly,”
she said.
“And now it’s no longer — it’s one of the worst places to go. It’s why so many of their top athletes are leaving to go and find pay elsewhere.”
Rousey Explains Shift Away from UFC Towards Netflix and Promotions
The fighter shared that she initially wanted to hold her upcoming fight within the UFC but declined due to unsatisfactory financial offers. When negotiations failed to meet her expectations, she chose to partner with Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions. She clarified that her frustration lies with the company’s ownership structure rather than UFC president Dana White personally.
Rousey Attributes Current Issues to UFC’s Management Changes
Rousey revealed that her issues with UFC are rooted in the fact Dana White no longer owns the company or controls its operations. She said,
“Most of my criticisms of the UFC now is because Dana isn’t the owner and he isn’t calling the shots and he isn’t running things the way that he wants, because he’s an employee of the company now. He’s not an owner. I think it was a big mistake of theirs to not let him just run things the way that he always has.”
Further Criticism of UFC’s Recent Event and Dana White’s Position
Earlier in the week, on Monday, Rousey condemned the UFC for the event they planned at the White House in June, which she indicated was subpar. She elaborated Tuesday, stating that Dana White himself recognizes the event’s shortcomings and is displeased with the outcome.
“He knows that they were pushing this for over a year and it fell extremely short of expectations … I can guarantee you he’s not happy with it either,”
she said.
Rousey Credits Dana White for Encouraging Open Expression
Despite her criticism, Rousey credited White with inspiring her to speak out on these issues. She noted,
“He taught me through example to speak my mind,”
suggesting that she will continue voicing her concerns publicly as her May 16 fight approaches.
Broader Implications of Rousey’s Comments on UFC and the Industry
Rousey’s outspoken remarks emphasize the rising dissatisfaction among top mixed martial arts fighters regarding their compensation and treatment within the UFC. As the promotion thrives financially, mounting scrutiny over its pay practices could put pressure on its leadership to reassess contracts and athlete welfare. With prominent figures like Rousey and Shevchenko publicly addressing these challenges, the UFC athlete pay controversy is poised to remain a key topic in the sport’s future discussions.
Ronda Rousey on the UFC: “This company just got $7.7 billion. There’s no reason they can’t afford to pay their athletes at least a living wage.” #RouseyCarano
Saturday, May 16
LIVE on Netflix pic.twitter.com/hlykuIixQU— Netflix Sports (@netflixsports) March 10, 2026
#NgannouVsLins joins #RouseyVsCarano on @Netflix May 16th!
How’s THAT for a bamf laden double headliner?
That’s what happens when you put fighters and fans ahead of shareholders @MostVpromotions
P.S. @ufc’s White House card sucks 🖕🏼😎🖕🏼— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) March 9, 2026
