MMA legend Rousey returns to cage in Netflix bout amid public feud with UFC executive
Rousey describes negotiations as deeply offensive, alleging the UFC Chief Business Officer attempted to undervalue the 145-pound weight class and dismiss the fighters' contributions.
Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey is set to make her first return to the mixed martial arts cage since 2017, headlining a bout against Gina Carano on a Netflix card. The event, which marks a significant comeback for the 39-year-old legend, is being promoted by Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions. However, the announcement has been overshadowed by a public dispute between Rousey and UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell.
Speaking on "The Ariel Helwani Show", Rousey characterised her interactions with Campbell as deeply personal and offensive. She described him as a "chauvinist prick" who adopted a dismissive attitude during negotiations, allegedly attempting to undervalue both herself and Carano. Rousey stated that Campbell acted as if the fight was not a significant opportunity for the organisation, despite the fighters' established reputations.
The conflict reportedly centres on the future of the 145-pound weight class. Rousey recounted that while UFC CEO Dana White initially proposed a featherweight title fight to retire the vacant division, Campbell intervened with a different suggestion. She alleges that Campbell proposed eliminating the 145-pound division entirely, a stance she found deeply disrespectful to the competitors within that weight class.
Rousey revealed that her mother, AnnMaria De Mars, a California State Athletic Commissioner, had previously met Campbell during discussions regarding the approval of the "Power Slap" event for Dana White's league. According to Rousey, Campbell argued that without such alternative competitions, competitors would be engaging in illicit activities, a comment that further reinforced her negative perception of his attitude toward fighters.
The upcoming bout against Carano, who has been absent from competition for 17 years, is scheduled to take place at 145 pounds. Rousey, who began her career in that weight class before moving down to bantamweight, stated she intends to make as much money as possible from the fight. She explicitly told Dana White that she is targeting Campbell's job, asserting that the executive has "pissed her off" and that she is now compelled to "change the world" to prove him wrong.
