Ronda Rousey said the UFC is one of the worst places for a professional athlete to make money, and used top champions’ side jobs to prove her point
Image by zuko1312, CC BY-ND 2.0.
She is expressing her concerns, like others.
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UFC seems to be a topic of debate lately regarding fighters’ payouts. Many have criticized the organization for inadequate pay despite the huge risks involved in the fights, and have occasionally questioned the UFC’s pay structure. This time, Roda Rousey has called out the UFC directly in the media over how much money athletes are making despite the revenue they bring in.
According to Uncrowned, Ronda Rousey has reportedly taken some deep digs at the system in the organization. The UFC women’s champion questioned the pay structure for the women’s division, declaring it is not enough for the effort they put into the fights. Rousey made sharp comments, asserting that the UFC is not the place for champions to earn the money they deserve.
Her exact words were, “It used to be that the UFC was the best place that you could come in combat sports to make a living and be paid fairly. 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.” She also hinted at Valentina Shevchenko’s odd social media job to support her argument.
Despite UFC landing a $7.7 billion deal, the fighters continue to get underpaid
Ronda Rousey’s claims might look outrageous, but the finances seem to tell a different story. UFC has recently received $7.7 billion in media rights from the Paramount Group, starting this year. But even with this significant deal, fighters continue to break their silence about lower salaries, while, according to Rousey, champions like Valentina Shevchenko are taking a different path to earn more.
Following the UFC deal, male fighters are also raising concerns about the payouts. Aljamain Sterling also raised his voice on the matter after UFC officials guaranteed Conor Benn a $15 million payday for one fight on their boxing platform Zuffa. Fighters question why this fledgling platform offers such a massive sum while underpaying UFC MMA fighters who have competed for years.
Ronda also mentioned Dana White, who has planned a fight on Trump’s birthday, but didn’t call him out personally. She said he privately agrees with her statement, then blamed TKO for turning him into just an employee who can’t run things his way. With these statements, including Rousey mentioning Valentina’s case, the debate seems to be taking a new direction, as players are looking for other opportunities.
It remains to be seen whether the UFC will take the necessary action to keep these fighters satisfied rather than letting them go elsewhere.
Published: Mar 11, 2026 06:00 pm