Ronda Rousey dominated the MVP MMA press conference on Thursday in Los Angeles, firing shots at the modern UFC and middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev.
During the final press conference, Rousey spoke openly about fighter pay, legacy, and her complicated relationship with the UFC following its sale to TKO Group Holdings.
See our predictions for MVP Rousey vs Carano here.
Rousey distances herself from current UFC leadership
One of the biggest moments came when Rousey addressed criticism from current fighters who accused her of speaking negatively about the UFC after building her career there. In a previous interview, she took shots at Hunter Campbell, and now it seems she has beef with TKO.
Rousey immediately drew a line between the UFC’s former ownership and the current company structure.
“I owe Dana and the Fertittas immensely,” Rousey said. “I would be caught dead before you ever heard me say a bad thing about any of them. But my loyalty is to them and not the company they sold. And I do not owe TKO’s UFC a damn thing.”
She later praised MVP founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian for prioritizing fighters financially and allowing athletes to benefit more directly from the event’s success.
“I actually get to see some of those numbers now,” Rousey said. “It’s incredible how giving they’ve been and how they really want to showcase the fighters first before anything else.”
“I AM greatness”
Rousey also rejected the idea that her comeback is motivated purely by money.
When asked whether she was chasing financial opportunities instead of legacy, the former UFC champion pushed back hard.
“The biggest money fight is the biggest fight, period,” she said. “We obviously have very different definitions of greatness.”
Rousey then argued that her current goal is bigger than title defenses or rankings.
“Mine is making history, having a cultural impact, and influencing the future of the sport,” she explained.
The former champion pointed to the massive salaries attached to the Netflix event and suggested the card could create long-term change for fighters across MMA.
“Who says the success of this fight can’t create the rival that UFC needs and give fighters the bargaining power that they’ve never had?”
Moments later, she delivered the loudest line of the entire press conference.
“I’m not chasing greatness,” Rousey shouted. “I AM GREATNESS. These people are chasing me.”
Watch the full press conference here
Rousey takes aim at Khamzat Chimaev
Rousey also found herself responding to comments made by Khamzat Chimaev, who had criticized her recent comments about the UFC.
“People are asking about me and my fight because no one gives a [expletive] about his ineffectual wrestlefests,” Rousey said.
She then mocked Chimaev’s fighting style while comparing it to her own career accomplishments.
““F**king cleft lip Lincoln is just hating. Unlike Kumquat, I have 100% finish rate.”
The comment drew one of the loudest reactions from the crowd inside the Intuit Dome.
Respect remains between Rousey and Gina Carano
Rousey’s interaction with Carano remained emotional and respectful. There was one moment of bravado, however. When asked if she would hesitate to break Carano’s arm if she locked in an armbar, Rousey was brutally honest.
“I definitely wouldn’t hesitate to break it,” she said. “But I would definitely help put it back.”
Later in the press conference, Rousey admitted she would still feel proud even if Carano defeated her on Saturday because of the role Carano played in inspiring her MMA career years ago.
“Everything I have in my life is because she inspired me while sitting on the couch one day to say, ‘I’m not going to another Olympics. I’m going to go do MMA instead.’”
Rousey added that this fight now feels bigger than just the two women involved.
“It’s become about all of us,” she said. “I’m proud of us and what we’ve done.”