Ronda Rousey Asserts Dana White Dissatisfied with UFC's White House Event
Ronda Rousey, the former UFC champion making a dramatic return to mixed martial arts after a decade-long hiatus, has publicly criticised the quality of the UFC's upcoming White House fight card. In a striking statement, Rousey declared she can "guarantee" that UFC president Dana White is "not happy" with the promotion's product for the historic event scheduled for 14 June on the South Lawn.
Disappointment Surrounds Highly Anticipated UFC Card
The UFC announced its White House card on Saturday following six months of intense promotion that promised fans "the greatest card in UFC history." However, the actual lineup revealed has sparked widespread disappointment among the MMA community, failing to meet the elevated expectations set by the organisation's prolonged hype campaign.
This development comes just days after the shocking revelation that women's MMA pioneers Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano will end their respective retirements to face each other on 16 May. Their highly anticipated clash will be broadcast live on Netflix through an event organised by Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions company.
Rousey's Comeback and Critique of UFC Practices
Rousey, who hasn't competed since her December 2016 knockout loss to Amanda Nunes, addressed the White House card during a recent press conference. "Oh, he knows the White House card sucks," Rousey stated bluntly. "He knows that they were pushing this for over a year and it fell extremely short of expectations. I guarantee you he's not happy with it either, and he's the one that taught me – through example – to speak my mind."
The 39-year-old American fighter elaborated on her perspective regarding UFC's current standing in combat sports. "It used to be that UFC was the best place that you could come in combat sports to make a living and be paid fairly," Rousey explained, "and now it's one of the worst places to go. It's why so many of their top athletes are leaving to go and find pay elsewhere."
Financial Concerns and Talent Drain
Rousey highlighted significant financial issues within the UFC organisation, noting that many fighters struggle to support their families despite full-time dedication to the sport. She pointed to the UFC's recent $7.7 billion Paramount+ broadcast deal as evidence that the promotion can afford to pay athletes better.
"There's no reason that they can't afford to pay their athletes at least a living wage," Rousey emphasised. "Why would they expect to get the best athletes, and the best aspiring kids that want to be something, into MMA? Why not go into football? Why not go into boxing?"
The former champion accused UFC leadership of prioritising short-term financial gains over the sport's long-term health. "They're bleeding talent because of their short-term greed," she asserted. "They're thinking about the next quarter. They're thinking about the shareholders. They're not thinking about their responsibility to be stewards of the future of the sport."
Rousey's Alternative Path with Netflix Event
Rousey revealed that she initially offered the Carano fight to the UFC out of respect for Dana White, but ultimately chose to pursue the bout independently through Netflix. "I knew that we could promote this on our own and probably be the most lucrative way to go about it for us," she explained.
The fighter described how the timing worked against a UFC arrangement, as Carano requested additional preparation time that pushed the fight beyond the UFC's pay-per-view model transition to streaming. "I think that was fate, it was meant to be," Rousey reflected. "It was meant to push us onto the other side, and once they moved into the streaming model, it's just not about putting on the best fights possible anymore."
Additional Star Power for Netflix Event
Adding further significance to Rousey's Netflix event, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has joined the undercard, where he will face Philipe Lins. Ngannou's participation comes just days after his departure from the Professional Fighters League, marking another high-profile fighter moving away from traditional MMA promotions.
Rousey's comments represent a significant critique from one of MMA's most influential figures, highlighting growing concerns about fighter compensation, promotion priorities, and the evolving landscape of combat sports broadcasting as streaming platforms increasingly compete with established organisations.
