Ronda Rousey is ready to make history—and a whole lot of money—as she steps back into the cage for the first time in a decade. The former UFC bantamweight champion says her upcoming bout with Gina Carano will shatter the record for the highest payday in women's combat sports history.
"Me and Gina are smashing the record for the most women have been paid in combat sports," Rousey declared at the final pre-fight press conference. The fight, set for Saturday at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, marks a monumental moment not just for the two athletes, but for the sport itself.
Rousey, who became the first woman signed by the UFC in 2012 and went on to dominate with a record eight consecutive title defenses, hasn't fought since her 2016 loss to Amanda Nunes. Now 39, she's using her comeback to call for change—specifically, better pay for fighters. She didn't hold back when discussing UFC bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison, either.
"The biggest money fight is the biggest fight period. And we honestly have very different definitions of greatness," Rousey said. "Mine is making history, making a cultural impact, and influencing the future of the sport. There's nothing left for me to do in the UFC."
Her last reported UFC purse was $3 million, but the landscape has shifted since then. Boxing stars Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor reportedly earned around $5 million each for their trilogy bout last year. Rousey and Carano are aiming even higher, and the fight is being promoted by Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) in partnership with Netflix—a move that could reshape how MMA events are broadcast and funded.
Rousey commanded the room as both fighter and promoter, joined at the top table by other ex-UFC stars like Francis Ngannou and Nate Diaz. While she says she has no problem with UFC president Dana White personally, she made it clear she's unhappy with how the promotion operates.
"Who can say the success of this fight won't give the competition the UFC needs?" she asked, hinting that MVP's Netflix-backed event could be the shake-up the sport has been waiting for.
All 22 fighters on the card were on stage for the press conference, but it was Rousey who stole the show—just as she always has. Whether you're a longtime fan or just tuning in, this is a fight that promises to be as impactful outside the cage as inside it.