Ariel Helwani has slammed Ronda Rousey for her recent comments about the UFC, claiming she 'can't say' what she truly feels towards the promotion.
Rousey was a key figure for women in mixed martial arts, becoming the inaugural bantamweight champion in 2012, before going on to defend her title six times.
She retired from MMA in 2016 and was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame two years later.
That same year, she transitioned into professional wrestling, going on to enjoy major success in WWE and becoming the first woman to win both UFC and WWE championships.
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However, in a recent interview, Rousey criticised some of the UFC's most recognisable figures, including colour commentator and podcaster Joe Rogan.
Speaking on Bert Kreischer’s podcast ‘Bertcast’, she described Rogan as "a fan with an audience" who has "never fought" in MMA.
Although Rogan never competed in MMA, he had more than 100 taekwando bouts while he was young.
Rousey also hit out at MMA fans, saying: “MMA fans and media are the most what have you done lately for us crowd of any sport.
“You look at WWE and they have such a reverence for their legends. In MMA, it’s like the second that you’re not on top, you’re not s**t and you never were s**t.”
The 38-year-old went on to argue that martial arts fans are quick to turn on their heroes.
She named Chuck Liddell, Rampage’ Jackson, Anderson Silva, and Fedor Emelianenko as examples of fighters who lost support after defeats.
But prominent MMA and wrestling journalist Helwani pushed back against her comments about fans, suggesting her frustration should be directed at the UFC, rather than supporters.
He said: "Ask the top dogs, the legends, those names she talked about, how they feel about the UFC, whether they feel welcome, whether they feel love, whether they feel like they've been treated well post-fighting.
"She's talking about the organisation, but she can't say it for whatever reason, so she'll blame it on the fans.
"The fans did nothing to you Ronda Rousey, other than idolise, other than adore you, other than treat you like a mega superstar that you deserve to be treated like.
Rousey has not fought in MMA for nearly a decade, since her defeat to Amanda Nunes in 2016.
She told BBC Sport in 2024, that she felt her brain was not 'working properly' and expressed fears about concussion.
After leaving MMA, Rousey joined WWE in 2018, but departed the company after five years in 2023.
Although recent reports have linked her with a potential UFC comeback, she has since played down that speculation.
However, with legendary heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson recently returning to ring, Rousey has refused to rule out a return to combat sports.
Topics: Ronda Rousey, Ariel Helwani, UFC, MMA, Joe Rogan, WWE
James Taylor