Ronda Rousey pushed back hard at UFC bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison’s criticism of her upcoming showdown with Gina Carano, responding during a Thursday press conference ahead of MVP MMA 1 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.
Rousey is set to face Carano in the main event of MVP MMA 1, which streams on Netflix, in her return to competition. In the lead-up, she has taken aim at the UFC and several of its key fighters while promoting the bout.
Harrison had publicly downplayed the matchup, saying, "This fight is not the greatest fight of all-time," and adding, "It's between someone who hasn't fought in 10 years and is coming off two knockout losses and another legend, another pioneer who hasn't fought in 17 years and is in her 40s. So don't call it the greatest fight of all time. I'm chasing greatness. You're chasing money. We're different."
Rousey answered directly when asked about Harrison’s remarks. "I would say that this is professional fighting," Rousey said. "There's no such thing as discount greatness in professional fighting. The biggest money fight is the biggest fight, period. We obviously have very different definitions of greatness. Mine is making history, having a cultural impact, and influencing the future of the sport. I've already won a record eight consecutive title fights. There's nothing left for me to do there. So now, me and Gina are smashing the record for the most women have ever been paid in combat sports."
Rousey continued, "And who says we can't parlay the success of this to me and her making a genre shattering martial arts film for Netflix after this? Who says the success of this fight can't create the rival that UFC needs and give fighters the bargaining power that they've never had? Hell, if we knock this out of the park, I could become the face of MVP and MMA and the most powerful figure in this sport since Dana (White). I'm not chasing greatness? Motherf*cker, I am greatness. These b*tches are chasing me!"
Rousey enters MVP MMA 1 as a former UFC bantamweight champion with a 12-2 record, while Carano brings a 7-1 record into the matchup. Harrison, meanwhile, is expected to make her first title defense against Amanda Nunes after recovering from neck surgery.
