In a recent appearance on the Straight Talk podcast, UFC President Dana White highlighted the promotion’s commitment to equal pay, using former champion Ronda Rousey as a prime example of how female athletes can achieve unprecedented financial success in mixed martial arts.
“The women make just as much money as the men do,” White said. “When you look at the UFC, it’s very real and very fair.”
Drawing comparisons to other major sports organizations, White emphasized how the UFC stands apart in terms of gender equality. “The WNBA in the United States right now, tennis, golf, all these other things, when Ronda Rousey was here, Ronda Rousey made more money than everybody until Conor McGregor hit the scene. She was the highest paid athlete in the company because she brought in the most money.”
Rousey’s impact on the sport extended far beyond the octagon. As an Olympic medalist who dominated the women’s division during her prime, she became a mainstream sensation, breaking into Hollywood with roles in blockbuster franchises like Fast and Furious and The Expendables. Her regular appearances on late-night talk shows, including with Conan O’Brien, further cemented her status as a crossover star.
Speaking to Mark Bouris, White also emphasized how star power drives the sport’s growth globally. “We had GSP from Canada who ignited that entire country, Brandon Moreno from Mexico, Weili Zhang, who is from China,” White said. “When you have like a Conor McGregor or a Ronda Rousey, who are globally, you know, big superstars, that’s what grows the sport, that’s what makes people jump on board. It’s very star-driven.”
While Rousey’s era in the UFC concluded several years ago, her legacy continues to influence the sport. The women’s divisions have maintained their prominence in the promotion, demonstrating that Rousey’s success wasn’t just an isolated phenomenon but rather the beginning of a lasting transformation in mixed martial arts.
