Ronda Rousey Attacks UFC Brass After Stunning Nate Diaz Comeback Announcement

Women's MMA pioneer Ronda Rousey celebrates the addition of Nate Diaz vs Mike Perry to MVP MMA with a heated rant aimed at the UFC.

Ronda Rousey Attacks UFC Brass After Stunning Nate Diaz Comeback Announcement

Ronda Rousey goes off on top UFC brass (via Bloody Elbow, X)

Ronda Rousey is widely regarded as one of the biggest pioneers of women’s MMA and was the first woman signed to the UFC, helping bring global attention to the division. She later moved to WWE, but her legacy in the Octagon remains firmly established. However, her relationship with the UFC appears to have soured as she prepares to return to MMA against Gina Carano under Most Valuable Promotions.

Rousey’s return bout will take place under the Unified Rules of MMA as a five-round contest in the women’s featherweight division and will be live on Netflix. The fight is scheduled for May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles as part of MVP’s first MMA event. Moreover, it marks her first MMA appearance since her knockout defeat to Amanda Nunes in 2016, adding significant stakes to her comeback.

And since the announcement, Rousey has been highly critical of the UFC during public appearances, including the press conference for her return fight, where she raised concerns about fighter compensation and treatment.

This criticism gained further attention after MVP announced another 5-round welterweight banger between Nate Diaz and BKFC champion Mike Perry. Rousey later reacted with an expletive-filled rant aimed at UFC CBO Hunter Campbell.

Welcome to the revolution @NateDiaz209 @PlatinumPerry !! It’s the FIGHTERS vs the establishment – and we’re gunna win! May 16th only on @netflix.

Ronda Rousey via X

The development also comes days after Most Valuable Promotions recently announced the return of former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou against Brazilian heavyweight Philipp Lins. Rousey had a similar reaction to that announcement as well. However, at that time, her remarks were aimed at the upcoming UFC White House event, adding to the criticism and labelling the card as underwhelming.

Rousey’s recent remarks appear to signal a broader pushback against the UFC and its leadership under Dana White. Their relationship was long viewed as one built on mutual respect during her championship run, with White often crediting her as a key force behind the promotion’s global growth. However, the tone of ‘Rowdy’s recent criticism suggests that the once-strong relationship may now be under strain.

Once considered the face of the promotion, Ronda Rousey’s recent stance appears far different from the role she held during her UFC run. Meanwhile, the upcoming MVP card is being built as one of the biggest non-UFC MMA events in recent years. The addition of veterans such as Nate Diaz and Mike Perry has further amplified interest, with the lineup seen as a statement from the rival promotion challenging the UFC’s influence.

Former rival weighs in on Ronda Rousey’s upcoming MMA return

Ronda Rousey was once an unstoppable force in the UFC, dominating the women’s bantamweight division during her championship reign. She entered UFC 193 riding a six-fight winning streak as champion and had established herself as one of the promotion’s biggest stars. However, that run ended when she suffered her first UFC loss to Holly Holm in 2015 after a head-kick knockout ended her title reign.

Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey (via X)

However, Holm lost the title in her very next fight in 2016 when she was submitted by Miesha Tate. Her career afterwards followed a rocky stretch of performances across several high-profile bouts. Holm eventually retired from MMA in 2024 after a loss to Kayla Harrison at UFC 300. Despite transitioning back to boxing, she remains an active presence in MMA discussions and recently spoke about Rousey’s return.

I think whoever sticks to their game plan is going to come out with the win. Gina hasn’t been in there in a long time, but she’s also not a stranger to the spotlight. She was one of the first females to be on cable television as a main event, and so she’s been there. She’s not a stranger to it. Same thing with Ronda. She’s been the champion. She’s been an Olympian for a reason. She’s put a lot of work in. She is very hard to beat with, you know, with what her best skill set is.

Holly Holm via Fight Hype

Holly Holm’s recent comments present a largely neutral stance on the matchup, focusing on stylistic elements rather than favoring either fighter. Drawing from her experience against Ronda Rousey, she acknowledged the unpredictability surrounding the bout and how early exchanges could determine the outcome. Her perspective reflects a measured view of a clash between two pioneers of the sport.

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