UFC president Dana White has always been a big advocate of Ronda Rousey. He’s always said if it wasn’t for her, he would never have had women fight in the UFC. She did everything he asked of her. Do press tours, countless media interviews, take short notice fights and compete against anyone and everyone.
The last two fights didn’t go well for the “Rowdy” one as she was knocked out by Holly Holm at UFC 193 to lose her women’s bantamweight championship. She took 13 months off and then got knocked out again, this time to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207.
White’s stuck by the mainstream star when many have criticized her in the way she’s handled each loss and sticking with coach Edmond Tarverdyan. Many feel White unfairly defends her unlike any fighter in UFC history.
In an interview with Jon Werthiem from SI.com, the embattled president explains how he separates his personal relationship from a professional one.
“Yeah, [sigh] when you have people who fight for you, it’s human nature,” White said. “You have some you’re going to like. There are some you’re not going to like. There are some you just do business with. It’s always hard when the personal side takes over and you become close. I mean, there’s nothing worse than watching someone you care about go in and fight. Ronda came into this sport and the only reason women fight here is because of Ronda Rousey. I did that initial meeting with her and I remember calling Lorenzo [Fertitta]: ‘I just met with that Ronda Rousey girl and I think I’m gonna do this!’
He said: ‘What?! You’re gonna do women’s fighting?’
‘I’m gonna f—ing do it. If this is even a possibility and can work, she’s the one. I’m gonna give it a shot.
“Everything she told me she would do, she did. She worked her ass off for this sport, for this company, for women. She worked herself to the bone. I’ve never had a fighter work [with publicity] the way she has. She’s made a lot of money. I know for her that doesn’t matter—her legacy means more to her than anything else. But you know what, sometimes we can’t have it all. But let’s be clear: she built this house. She really did. I care about her as a human being more than the fighter side. You read the bulls—, ‘Oh man, UFC’s in trouble, their golden goose….’ She’s not a (expletive) golden goose. She’s a human being. And she’s a very good (expletive) friend of mine.”
Rousey hasn’t spoken publicly since the fight but the growing sentiment seems to be that she will retire. If White puts on the friend hat and she says that she’s done, White knows exactly what he would do.
“She won’t call and ask that,” White stated. “She’s so (expletive) strong-willed. She knows what she wants and doesn’t want. If she calls me today and says, ‘I’m done. I’m gonna wrap it and call it a career’ I’m gonna be like, ‘Awesome. That’s amazing. We’ll plan something.’ And if she calls me and says, ‘I want three more fights,’ she’s got it. She’ll make that decision on her own.”
