Rousey Criticizes UFC Pay Ahead of MMA Return

Ronda Rousey, the former UFC women's bantamweight champion, has intensified her criticism of the promotion's fighter pay structure ahead of her return to mixed martial arts competition on May 16 in Los Angeles. The bout, pitting Rousey against fellow MMA veteran Gina Carano under Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions banner, headlines a Netflix-streamed event that also features matchups involving Francis Ngannou and Nate Diaz.

Rousey's comments, delivered during a recent press conference for the event, highlight what she sees as inadequate compensation for UFC fighters despite the organization's growing revenue. She pointed to the promotion's recent $7.7 billion valuation and a new contract with Paramount as evidence that athletes deserve a larger share. "It used to be that UFC was the best place that you could come in combat sports to make a living and be paid fairly, and now it's one of the worst places to go," Rousey said. "It's why so many of their top athletes are leaving to go and find pay elsewhere." She also cited UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko as an example, noting that fighters sometimes turn to platforms like OnlyFans to supplement their income.