Ronda Rousey has retorted to Khamzat Chimaev’s accusations of her being ungrateful towards the UFC. During a fight week press conference, Rousey clarified her stance, distinguishing between the UFC leaders who supported her career and the current TKO-owned company, to which she claims no debt. Chimaev’s criticism emerged weeks after Rousey voiced concerns about UFC compensation and structure, and shortly after his split-decision loss to Sean Strickland for the UFC middleweight title at UFC 328.
Ronda Rousey Addresses Khamzat Chimaev
Rousey, preparing for her return fight against Gina Carano on Netflix, stated that while she holds deep gratitude for Dana White and former UFC owners Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, she owes nothing to the current TKO ownership. She emphasized, “I would want to make something abundantly clear,” asserting her immense debt to Dana and the Fertittas, with whom she would never speak ill. However, she explicitly stated, “I do not owe TKO’s UFC a damn thing.”
Continuing her critique, Rousey mockingly suggested that Chimaev’s displeasure stemmed from his press conference being overshadowed by her comeback fight. She concluded her remarks by highlighting her “100% finish rate.” Various media reports and video coverage of the press conference echoed her sentiments, including her dismissive nicknames for Chimaev and her critique of his recent performances.
“I would want to make something abundantly clear and that’s that I owe Dana and the Fertittas immensely. And I would be caught dead before you ever heard me say a bad thing about any of them, but my loyalty is to them and not the company they sold. And I do not owe TKO’s UFC a damn thing. Left lip Lincoln is just hating because at his press conference, people were asking about me and at might fight no one gives a sh*t. Unlike kamquat I’ve a 100% finish rate.”
Chimaev is currently experiencing his first professional MMA defeat after Sean Strickland won by split decision at UFC 328 on May 9th. Strickland’s victory secured him his second reign as UFC middleweight champion, and Chimaev’s team has since expressed interest in an immediate rematch.
Rousey is scheduled to face Gina Carano on Saturday, May 16th, with the event airing live on Netflix. The official fight week announcement from Netflix confirms the bout time at 9 p.m. ET, positioning it as the main event. The press conference also placed Rousey and Carano at the forefront of promotional efforts, explaining why the exchange between Rousey and Chimaev quickly became a significant news item.
Rousey’s comments this week were not directed at the individuals who helped build her career. Instead, they targeted the current state of the company, and Chimaev’s response provided her with another public platform to articulate her position ahead of a highly anticipated comeback fight.
