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Ronda Rousey explains ‘personal’ animosity toward UFC executive Hunter Campbell

Ronda Rousey explains ‘personal’ animosity toward UFC executive Hunter Campbell
In official parlance, he’s the
UFC’s chief business officer. In more informal settings, he’s
often referred to as the UFC’s lawyer.

For Ronda
Rousey, Hunter Campbell might as well be public enemy No. 1.
During an appearance on “The
Ariel Helwani Show”
on Monday, Rousey recalled her dealings
with Campbell as the UFC considered booking a fight between the
former bantamweight queen and Gina
Carano.

Ultimately, Rousey and Carano will lead
Most Valuable Promotions first MMA foray on Saturday at the
Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. The card, which includes a number of
notable names in addition to Rousey and Carano, will air on
Netflix. While Ronda
Rousey maintains a good relationship with Dana White even after
negotiations with the UFC fell apart, the same can’t be said for
Campbell.

“It wasn’t personal. Well, with Hunter it was personal because he
was just a f—ing asshole about it. He was just being such a
chauvinist prick,” Rousey said. “He was being so dismissive and
being like, just trying to get me and Gina to value ourselves less
from the get-go, like this isn’t the greatest thing that’s fallen
on his lap since he’s f—ing been there.

“He was like, ‘Oh, I don’t know. You guys are just so much older,
and I just don’t know how it’s going to do.’ I’m like, ‘Who the f—k
is this guy?’ First of all, I didn’t even know who he was. They
told me he’s the lawyer that’s going to come and show your
pay-per-views, and I was like, ‘Fine. I don’t care. I’m going to
knock this out of the park.’ I love having my pay be
performance-based. F—k you, I’ll go show you.”

Dismissive and Disdainful

It wasn’t just that Campbell was dismissive toward the
Rousey-Carano fight, however. According to Rousey, the UFC
executive wanted the bout to serve as a farewell to the women’s
featherweight division. The Olympic judoka also found that to be
extremely disrespectful, not only for her — but for the big picture
in women’s MMA.

“Then Dana [White] started mentioning, because he wanted me and
Gina to fight for the 145-pound title because it was vacant, and
it’s a way to retire the belt, and then Hunter is like, ‘Yeah, and
then we can get rid of that division,'” Rousey said. “Just the way
he spoke of it, how dismissive he was, and the disdain that he had
for the fighters for that weight. My husband is 6’7”. My girls are
not going to be 135. This is what you think of women who are
heavier than 135 pounds? They can’t offer you anything? That
they’re worthless? That they’re worth scoffing at? It really rubbed
me the wrong way that this f—king guy is going to be shepherding
the company that I helped build.”

Rousey has already stated that her MMA comeback as a fighter is a
one-time deal. However, she is very interested in continuing in a
promoter’s role, particularly as a foil to the UFC. Going
head-to-head with Campbell has only added fuel to the fire.

“This guy doesn’t have a job because he’s good at it. He has a job
because he is Dana’s and Lorenzo’s lawyer’s son,” Rousey said. “He
was a f—ing intern when I was there before, and now he’s f—-ing
coming up to me saying, ‘I don’t know how you and Gina are going to
do.’ Motherf—er, I’m going to put on a bigger fight with Gina than
you have your entire f—ing career. Keep trying to fail upwards,
motherf—er. Keep trying to suck the right d—-s in the right order.
I’m f—-ing coming for your job. You pissed off the wrong
bitch.”

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