- Ronda Rousey accuses UFC fans of being hypocritical “bandwagon” jumpers who quickly turn on their heroes after a single loss.
- She claims former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is only still revered because he retired undefeated, avoiding the backlash faced by other legends.
- Rousey contrasts MMA fans with WWE fans, whom she believes show more lasting respect for their icons.
- Her comments reopen old wounds from her own complicated relationship with fans following her career-ending knockout losses.
UFC Hall of Famer and women’s MMA pioneer Ronda Rousey has once again taken aim at the UFC fanbase, delivering a scathing critique of what she calls their “what have you done for me lately” attitude. In a recent podcast appearance, the former bantamweight champion didn’t hold back, accusing fans of discarding legends the moment they show vulnerability.
A Scathing Critique of Fandom
Speaking on Bert Kreischer’s podcast, Rousey called out the MMA community for its treatment of past champions. She argued that iconic figures are celebrated when they’re on top but are immediately dismissed as if they “never were sh*t” after losing.
“Chuck Liddell, when he’s on top, ‘He’s the best, he’s the best.’ The second that he loses, ‘Oh Chuck Liddell ain’t sht, he never was sht,’” Rousey stated. “Anderson Silva, oh my God he was almost like a mythical creature… The second he loses, ‘Anderson ain’t sht, he never was sht.’ Fedor Emelianenko, one of the greatest ever. The second he loses, ‘Fedor ain’t sht, he never was sht.’”
The Khabib Exception
Rousey then turned her attention to one of the few fighters who has escaped this fate: the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov. However, she claims his revered status isn’t due to loyalty from the fans, but rather a strategic exit.
“I think the only reason why MMA fans have their lips so firmly planted at the base of Khabib’s cck is because he retired before he reached his limit,” Rousey said bluntly. “If he kept fighting until he reached his limit, everybody would be ‘Khabib ain’t sht, he never was sh*t’.”
She believes this culture encourages fighters to retire at their peak, taking their star power with them rather than passing the torch to the next generation.
A History of Animosity
Rousey’s pointed comments are deeply rooted in her own experience. Once the most dominant and popular fighter in the sport, she faced a massive wave of public criticism and mockery after suffering back-to-back knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes. Her subsequent retreat from the sport and refusal to engage with media only intensified the fan backlash.
She contrasted the MMA world with professional wrestling, noting that “WWE and they have such a reverence for their legends.” For Rousey, the bitterness lingers, stemming from a fanbase she feels abandoned her at the first sign of adversity. While she has been loosely linked to a potential UFC comeback, these latest comments prove that the emotional scars from her dramatic exit from the sport are far from healed.
Image Referance: https://sports.yahoo.com/article/bitter-ronda-rousey-mocks-ufc-170115752.html