Ronda Rousey believes UFC fighters are being paid so poorly that many are forced to seek alternative income streams, including adult content platforms. The former champion argued that the promotion’s pay structure has deteriorated to the point where some athletes are living at what she described as “poverty level” while fighting professionally.
Speaking Tuesday during a press conference promoting her upcoming bout with Gina Carano on May 16, Rousey sharply criticized the organization’s compensation system and the financial pressure she says many fighters now face. According to Complex, Rousey claimed that inadequate pay has pushed several high-level athletes to monetize content on platforms such as OnlyFans.
The criticism surfaced after Rousey was asked about heavyweight star Jon Jones and the contract dispute surrounding a proposed fight at the rumored UFC White House card. Her response quickly turned into a broader critique of the promotion’s financial priorities and how they impact athletes.
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Ronda Rousey Reveals The Unfortunate Reality Of UFC Stars
“It used to be that the UFC was the best place that you could come in combat sports to make a living and be paid fairly. Now, it’s one of the worst places to go,” Rousey said. “It’s why so many of their top athletes are going to find pay elsewhere. It’s why their champions, like Valentina, are selling pictures of their titties on OnlyFans.” Rousey also hit out at the UFC White House event.
Rousey then pointed to the organization’s financial success as a reason why she believes fighters deserve significantly higher pay. She argued that the company has the resources to provide better compensation but has chosen not to prioritize fighter earnings.
“These people, a lot of them at the ground level, they can’t even support their families and are living at poverty-level fighting full-time,” she said. “This company just got $7.7 billion. There is no reason why they can’t afford to pay their athletes at least a living wage.”
She concluded her remarks by suggesting the promotion’s leadership is prioritizing short-term profits over the long-term health of the sport. “They are bleeding talent because of their short-term greed,” Rousey said. “They are thinking about the next quarter. They are thinking about the shareholders. They are not thinking about their responsibility to be stewards of the sport.”
Rousey’s comments came one day after Jon Jones released a lengthy statement explaining why he will not appear at UFC 326, which has been widely dubbed the “UFC White House” event. Jones claimed he and the organization were engaged in legitimate negotiations but ultimately failed to reach an agreement because of what he described as a low financial offer.
Published: Mar 11, 2026 02:30 pm