Ronda Rousey hits back at Khamzat Chimaev over criticism of fighter pay

Ronda Rousey has hit back at Khamzat Chimaev , after the former UFC champion criticised her take on fighter pay. On Saturday, Rousey will emerge from retirement to fight fellow icon Gina Carano , one week after Chimaev lost the UFC middleweight title to Sean Strickland . Chimaev’s decision loss to his bitter rival and former training partner was a major surprise, as the Russian was beaten for the first time.

The result followed numerous vulgar insults between Chimaev and Strickland , but also a pre-fight comment that saw Chimaev play down Rousey’s criticism of UFC fighter pay. Ronda Rousey with promoter Nakisa Bidarian (right) (Getty) “There never would have been Ronda Rousey without the UFC,” Chimaev said on his YouTube channel in April. “I hate this.

If they pay good or they don’t pay good, who cares? When she was Olympic champ, what did she make then? ” Chimaev, 32, was referring to Rousey’s silver-medal result at the 2008 Olympics, a moment that gave way to an MMA career in which she became UFC bantamweight champion.

Now 39, Rousey hasn’t competed since 2016, while Strikeforce legend Carano, 44, last fought in 2009 . The American pair will square off in California on Saturday , headlining a Netflix show organised by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions , with undercard support from Francis Ngannou and Nate Diaz. And at the final pre-fight press conference for the event, Rousey responded to Chimaev, saying: “I would want to make something abundantly clear, and that is: I owe Dana and the Fertittas immensely.