Nearly a decade after stepping away from MMA, Ronda Rousey is back in the spotlight and she is not holding anything back.
Days before her return fight against Gina Carano on the inaugural MVP MMA event in Inglewood, California, Rousey took aim at UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell during an explosive interview with Yahoo Sports.
The former UFC champion revealed she initially tried to bring the bout to the UFC before negotiations fell apart. According to Rousey, much of the tension centered around Campbell’s attitude during discussions.
“It wasn’t personal. Well, with Hunter it was personal, because he was just a f*cking asshole about it,” Rousey said.
“He was just being such a chauvinist prick, and he was being so dismissive. Just trying to get me and Gina to value ourselves less from the get-go, and acting like this isn’t the greatest thing that’s fallen into his lap since he’s been there.”
Rousey blasts Campbell over comments about women’s divisions
Rousey said she became increasingly frustrated by Campbell’s skepticism surrounding the commercial appeal of a fight between two veteran stars.
“He was like, ‘Oh, you guys are just so much older, and I just don’t know how it’s going to do.’ Like, who the f*ck is this guy?”
She also claimed UFC CEO Dana White floated the idea of having the matchup contested for the vacant women’s featherweight championship. According to Rousey, Campbell’s reaction immediately rubbed her the wrong way.
“And then Hunter was like, ‘Yeah, then we can get rid of that division.’”
Rousey took particular issue with what she viewed as disrespect toward female fighters competing above 135 pounds.
“Motherf*cker, my husband is 6’7. My girls are not going to be 135. This is what you think? Women that are heavier than 135 pounds can’t offer you anything? That they’re worthless? That they’re worth scoffing at?”
She continued by questioning Campbell’s influence within the company she helped elevate during her championship run.
“Like, this f*cking guy is the person that’s going to be shepherding the company that I helped build? It really rubbed me the wrong way.”
Power Slap comments added fuel to the fire
The bad blood between Rousey and Campbell reportedly stretches beyond the failed negotiations.
Rousey referenced conversations involving her mother, who previously served on the California Athletic Commission during discussions surrounding the legalization of Power Slap in the state.
According to Rousey, her mother relayed remarks Campbell allegedly made while defending the promotion.
“‘This is a really big opportunity for these people. A lot of these guys would just be doing meth in a trailer park if it wasn’t for this,’ Rousey said her mother told her.”
That story only intensified Rousey’s anger toward the longtime UFC executive.
“That’s what you think of the fighters?! We are glorified bum fights to this guy.”
Rousey also questioned Campbell’s rise within the UFC hierarchy while pointing to his early days around the company.
“This guy does not have a job because he’s good at it. He has a job because he’s Dana and Lorenzo’s lawyer’s son. He was a f*cking intern when I was there before.”
‘I’m f*cking coming for your job’
Rousey saved her harshest comments for the end of the interview, making it clear she believes her upcoming fight with Carano will outshine anything Campbell has overseen during his UFC tenure.
“And now he’s coming up to me saying, ‘I don’t know how you and Gina are going to do.’ Motherfcker, I’m gonna put on a bigger fight with Gina than you have your entire fcking career.”
“Keep trying to fail upwards, motherfcker. Keep trying to suck the right dicks in the right order. I’m fcking coming for your job. You f*cking pissed off the wrong bitch.”
The highly anticipated showdown between Rousey and Carano is expected to draw massive attention as two of the biggest names in women’s MMA finally collide after years of speculation.