Ronda Rousey is just days away from her highly anticipated fight with Gina Carano. However, she believes the true conflict lies in who will shape the future of mixed martial arts. In a recent interview with Complex, the former UFC champion expressed concerns about a promotion that seems to prioritize branding over individual stars.
Ronda Rousey Critiques UFC Ahead of Carano Fight
“I think they don’t want that star power anymore. They want the brand to be the star. That’s why they stopped naming the fight cards and started giving them numbers. They’ve put everyone in uniforms, trying to erase individuality.”
Rousey attributes this shift in the UFC’s approach to the adoption of numbered events, the introduction of standardized outfits, and a corporate focus favoring the “UFC” brand over individual fighters. She pointed out that the treatment of well-known athletes like Nate Diaz and Francis Ngannou illustrates a significant power imbalance.
“They want people to show up to watch the brand. That’s why when big stars like Nate Diaz and Francis Ngannou demand their worth, they’re told to leave instead of being compensated.”
Rousey cited the groundbreaking streaming event featuring Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul as a pivotal moment that changed the landscape of combat sports. This event, promoted by MVP and streamed on Netflix, garnered 108 million live views, illustrating the potential for character-driven matchups that attract audiences beyond traditional pay-per-view formats.
“People tune in for the fighters, not for a title or a brand. The Tyson vs. Paul fight proved that with its record-breaking viewership. It was about two characters that resonate with fans.”
Rousey’s fight against Carano is part of MVP’s strategic move into MMA, in collaboration with Netflix. Co-founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, MVP initially gained notoriety in boxing and is expanding into women’s boxing and now MMA. Their inaugural MMA event featuring Rousey and Carano will take place on May 16.
Rousey believes this opportunity arose because the UFC opted not to move forward with the fight. Reports indicate that MVP’s MMA debut emerged after the UFC declined to arrange the Rousey-Carano matchup, which MVP had the infrastructure to promote effectively. Rousey also noted a cultural shift at UFC as it transitioned to a streaming model, alleging that executive Hunter Campbell worked against her match with Carano.
“He actively tried to sabotage this fight, misrepresenting Gina and undermining our marketability.”
Rousey expressed concern over the attitudes of UFC leadership towards women’s divisions and noted troubling remarks made about slap-fighters. She feels disillusioned with the current direction of the promotion, recognizing a need to forge her own path, which led her to the partnership with MVP and Netflix. This upcoming fight is not just a legacy battle; it’s a test of Rousey’s assertion that personality-driven events on streaming platforms can rival traditional UFC storytelling.
