Rousey blasts fight superstars for their obsession with money
Ronda Rousey has slammed fellow UFC megastar Conor McGregor and boxing legend Floyd Mayweather for their fixation on money.
Speaking out to ESPN The Magazine ahead of her looming UFC comeback, Rousey took aim at McGregor and Mayweather for their transparent attention- seeking ploys, saying she didn’t agree with how they perpetuated greed.
“If money is the motivation, then f *** you,” Rousey said. “All these Money people. Money [ Floyd] Mayweather, Money [ Conor] McGregor. I see they’re trying to do an angle or whatever.
“People buy it. The worship of money in our society is so deep. But just because that’s the easiest way to keep people’s attention or entertain them, doesn’t mean that’s the right way.”
However, Rousey said she was otherwise grateful for the McGregor phenomenon, which coincided with her own fall. Rousey revealed she had refused to take her comeback fight at UFC 205 due to injury, with McGregor instead taking the main event to give the historic New York card the superstar power that it demanded.
“Conor gave me the chance to rest, he took the weight off my shoulders, and I’m grateful,” Rousey said.
“I will never put my body at risk for money and views ever again. What makes me happy is winning and being the best in the world and that’s it.
“F*** all the promotion and energy spent on anything that’s not me winning. And anyone who tries to tell me I owe them energy on frivolous shit during camp out of ‘ loyalty’ or ‘ friendship’ deserves no loyalty from me and is no friend of mine.”
Rousey offered a remarkable new take on her defeat to Holly Holm, saying it saved her from falling into a life she would have despised.
The shock loss was the first of Rousey’s career and ended her threeyear reign as UFC bantamweight champion.
“That loss saved me from becoming what I hate,” she said.
“One of those people who live their lives to impress everyone else. Who put up a front for the world to admire. Who make sure every charitable act is posted and shared for their own image gain. Who posture and pose for people they care nothing about except for the opinion they have of them.”
Rousey will fight reigning champion Amanda Nunes for her old bantamweight title at UFC 207 on New Year’s Eve.
Ronda Rousey