Ronda Rousey is ready to go head-to-head against the UFC as she promotes her comeback fight.
The former UFC bantamweight queen will compete for the first time since 2016 when she faces Gina Carano under the Most Valuable Promotions banner in a featherweight bout televised on Netflix on May 16. The fight has generated plenty of attention since it was announced last week, and a lot of that has to do with Rousey, who remains the biggest star in women’s MMA history.
For Rousey, however, at least part of the narrative centers around her showdown with Carano providing some competition for the UFC.
“It’s a dream fight and a superfight and everything, but I feel like the story and everything behind it is not just this fight,” Rousey said in a video released by MVP on Monday.. “A lot of it is MVP vs. UFC. That’s where I’m gonna f—-ing go real hard in the trenches.
“We’re helping [the UFC] because they’re suffering from a lack of competition. They can’t just make a class-action lawsuit every couple years the cost of doing business. I’m really trying to help Dana out. If anyone has been groomed to be his apprentice, it’s been me. I think I’d be the most favorite adversary he’s ever had.”
‘I’m Happy for Both of Them’
Rousey recently revealed that she initially reached out to White regarding the Carano fight, but the booking ultimately didn’t come to fruition under the UFC banner. At Saturday’s UFC Houston press conference, White confirmed that those discussions did indeed take place.
“Her and I have been talking about this since last year,” White said. “It just didn’t work out. But I’m happy for her.
“Listen, me and Gina are in a really good place, we weren’t at one point. I’m happy for both of them.”
