Ronda Rousey has hit back at critics who have questioned her age before her first MMA bout in 10 years against Gina Carano, saying: “It’s not like my ovaries are fighting.”
The 39-year-old, the first woman to be signed by the UFC in 2012 and one of the biggest MMA stars of all time, will fight fellow American Carano at the Intuit Dome in California on 16 May.
Carano, 44, is competing for the first time in 17 years, and critics have questioned how competitive the bout will be.
Rousey Highlights Double Standards
Rousey pointed to 38-year-old former UFC champion Jon Jones, who last fought 17 months ago, as an example where the same principles are not applied.
“I never hear Jon Jones’ age being brought up as a disqualifying factor. Why are we even talking about this?” Rousey told CBS Mornings.
Jones retired in 2025 but UFC president Dana White has shut down repeated questions from journalists in recent months about his potential return.
Rousey defended the UFC bantamweight title six times during a historic reign but retired in 2016 following defeats by Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes.
Rousey has won 12 of her 14 professional MMA fights.
Fighter Pay Debate
Rousey has acknowledged that she was forced to retire because of repeated concussions, and she and Carano will have extra neurological tests before their bout, which will take place under Jake Paul’s promotional outfit MVP and be broadcast live on Netflix.
During a news conference last month to promote the fight, Rousey said she wanted to “rewrite her ending” in the sport, criticised the modern UFC and hit back at claims that her encounter with Carano is a “charity” fight.
At a news conference in New York on Wednesday, a typically outspoken and charismatic Rousey expanded on those themes.
She said each fighter on the card would earn a minimum of $40,000 (£29,500) whether they win or lose.
“I hope that everyone sitting here today is getting the biggest pay day of their career, and I hope after this event we can raise that ceiling higher and higher until it is on par with the highest-level boxers, because that is where the holy grail for us is,” said Rousey.
Fighter pay has been questioned by athletes and the media recently after boxer Conor Benn secured a reported £11m one-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing.
Zuffa Boxing is owned by UFC president Dana White, and critics have asked why he does not pay similar amounts to his MMA fighters under contract.
The UFC gives about 20% of revenue to fighter pay, compared with boxers’ 60%.
Diaz and Ngannou Stand
Nate Diaz, who fights fellow American Mike Perry on the Rousey card, described the athletes at the news conference, which included Francis Ngannou, as “free fighters”.
American Diaz and Cameroon’s Ngannou, who is set to face Brazil’s Philipe Lins, left the UFC after criticising fighter pay.
“Everybody on this stage is a leader because they took a stand and said ‘no’ and they’re worth more,” said Rousey.
During a news conference last month to promote the fight, Rousey said she wanted to “rewrite her ending” in the sport.