Ronda Rousey did not have a nasty phrase to say about Gina Carano forward of Saturday’s battle, however that is actually not the case with different fighters who’ve lately dropped her title.
As Rousey prepares for her first battle in 10 years, she has confronted criticism from a number of high-profile fighters, together with former UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev. Chimaev, who was making ready for his latest battle in opposition to Sean Strickland at UFC 328, took exception to Rousey’s disdain for the UFC and the way the group treats its fighters as a part of the publicity main as much as the Carano battle.
Chimaev mentioned on his YouTube channel, “With out the UFC, there could be no Ronda Rousey. I hate this. Who cares in the event that they receives a commission effectively or poorly? When she was an Olympic champion, what did she earn then?”
Rousey promised to answer Chimaev in her pre-fight press convention, and when Chimaev’s feedback have been relayed to her on Thursday, she wasted no time criticizing the Chechen native.
“I need to make one thing abundantly clear, and that’s that I owe an enormous debt to Dana (White) and the Fertitta household,” Rousey mentioned. “I might be lifeless earlier than you hear me say something dangerous about them. However my loyalty is to them, not the corporate they offered. I do not owe the UFC for TKO.”
“Lincoln, the cleft lip bastard, hates it as a result of individuals are asking about me and my matches at match press conferences, and nobody cares about his ineffective wrestlefuck fest. Actually, individuals cannot cease speaking about this match as a result of it carries a lot weight they usually’re truly excited to see my match as a result of, not like Kumquat, my match is a 100% end.”
Except for Chimaev’s criticism, Rousey additionally took time to hit again at former teammate and present UFC girls’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison, with whom she has an ongoing confrontation.
The altercation between the 2 has already garnered consideration when Rousey appeared at one other press convention in New York, and Harrison responded throughout a latest UFC broadcast.
“This isn’t the best battle of all time,” Harrison mentioned of Rousey vs. Carano. “It is between somebody who hasn’t fought in 10 years and has two knockouts, and one other legend, a pioneer, who hasn’t fought in 17 years and is a lady in her 40s.
“Do not say it is the best battle of all time. I am chasing greatness. You are chasing cash. We’re not.”
Harrison, who’s recovering from neck surgical procedure, is predicted to face Amanda Nunes in a UFC title battle later this yr. Nunes, after all, is broadly thought-about the best feminine fighter of all time, and she or he compelled Rousey into retirement after a brutal first-round knockout of their 2016 encounter.
Relating to chasing cash over greatness, Rousey mocked Harrison’s feedback, reminding her of all she’s already achieved as a UFC Corridor of Famer and the brand new objectives she’s setting in opposition to Carano.
Rousey believes that if all goes effectively on Saturday, this single occasion may change the sport endlessly, particularly if Netflix stays all in favour of selling the game because the world’s largest streaming platform with greater than 325 million subscribers worldwide. The identical goes for MVP, with co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidalian each saying that if this primary occasion pans out as anticipated, there could also be long-term plans to remain concerned in MMA.
“I feel it is a skilled battle,” Rousey replied to Harrison. “There isn’t a such factor as discounting greatness in skilled martial arts. The battle with the largest prize cash is the largest battle, after all. Our definition of greatness is clearly totally different. My fights are making historical past, having a cultural affect, and influencing the way forward for the game. I’ve already achieved a file eight straight title battle wins. There’s nothing left for me to do. So now, me and Gina are setting the file for essentially the most paid girls ever in martial arts. Who can say we won’t take credit score for this success?”
“Who says the success of this battle cannot create the rivalry the UFC wants and provides fighters unprecedented bargaining energy? If I knock this out of the park, I may very well be the face of MVP MMA and essentially the most highly effective particular person within the sport since Dana. I am not chasing greatness? Rattling it, I am greatness. These bitches are chasing me!”
