Ahead of her Women’s Bantamweight Championship bout against Amanda Nunes at UFC 207, ‘Rowdy’ Ronda Rousey has been exempt from all media obligations — an unprecedented move in company history. No other headliner in the UFC’s 23-year history has been afforded the luxury of missing press conferences — not even Brock Lesnar.
The UFC even cracked the whip on Conor McGregor this Summer when he wouldn’t attend a press conference ahead of his scheduled UFC 200 rematch with Nate Diaz. The end result was McGregor’s removal from the card and it seemed at the time that no fighter, big money draw or not, had the power to skip media obligations.
The tides have turned ahead of Rousey’s Dec. 30 return to the octagon as her longtime business partners, WME-IMG (UFC Owners), have allowed Ronda special treatment after her 13-month layoff. The William Morris Endeavor investment group has actually represented Rousey as a talent for years and they claim that since they never negotiated the female bantamweight’s fights — there is no conflict of interests.
MMA reporter Ariel Helwani recently took to Twitter to address the situation.
This is unprecedented for UFC. Never seen a headliner completely exempt from doing anything. Even media grump Lesnar had to show up.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 24, 2016
For the record, it doesn't bother me. Her MMA media ban dates back to pre-193 so this isn't a huge shock, but it's quite interesting. …
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 24, 2016
But she's earned the right. That doesn't mean we can't wonder why this is being allowed to happen when other fighters have tried to cancel.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 24, 2016
3 main thoughts after seeing this were:
1: Why is she so against?
2: The diff. between how Conor handled his loss and her is remarkable.— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 24, 2016
But here's the biggest Q: this, IMO, highlights the massive conflict of interest in the UFC. WME reps Rousey. That's a big deal.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 24, 2016
It's a very dangerous game. Remember, White severed ties with Liddell/Ortiz after becoming UFC owner in '01. Right call then, why not now?
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 24, 2016
In a weird way, it makes me more interested in next wk. Different is fun. I hope they do realize how big of a can of worms they opened tho.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 24, 2016
Will also be interesting to see how she acts if she wins. If she then talks again, what kinda message is that to ur fans/youth? Fascinating.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 24, 2016
UFC 207 will take place Friday, December 30 in Nevada.
