Rousey is ready to go head-to-head against the
UFC as she promotes her comeback fight.
The former UFC bantamweight queen will compete for the first time
since 2016 when she faces Gina Carano
under the Most Valuable Promotions banner in a featherweight bout
televised on Netflix on May 16. The fight has generated plenty of
attention since it was announced last week, and a lot of that has
to do with Rousey, who remains the biggest star in women’s MMA
history.
For Rousey, however, at least part of the narrative centers around
her showdown with Carano providing some competition for the
UFC.
“It’s a dream fight and a superfight and everything, but I feel
like the story and everything behind it is not just this fight,”
Rousey said in a video released by MVP on Monday.. “A lot of it is MVP
vs. UFC. That’s where I’m gonna f—-ing go real hard in the
trenches.
“We’re helping [the UFC] because they’re suffering from a lack of
competition. They can’t just make a class-action lawsuit every
couple years the cost of doing business. I’m really trying to help
Dana out. If anyone has been groomed to be his apprentice, it’s
been me. I think I’d be the most favorite adversary he’s ever
had.”
‘I’m Happy for Both of Them’
Rousey recently revealed that she initially reached out to White
regarding the Carano fight, but the booking ultimately didn’t come
to fruition under the UFC banner. At Saturday’s UFC Houston press
conference, White confirmed that those discussions did indeed take
place.
“Her and I have been talking about this since last year,” White
said. “It just didn’t work out. But I’m happy for her.
“Listen, me and Gina are in a really good place, we weren’t at one
point. I’m happy for both of them.”