Chael Sonnen has a controversial opinion about Ronda Rousey’s popularity.
Rousey (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) is widely considered the reason why women’s MMA was put on the mainstream map after she managed to convince Dana White to allow female fighters into the UFC. Rousey defended her UFC bantamweight title a record six times, and her final two fights drew over 1 million pay-per-view buys. Despite that, Sonnen insists the UFC Hall of Famer was never a big star.
“It is very important to the people that tell the story that Ronda Rousey is the reason women’s fighting is here, and she’s the biggest star in the sport’s history. That’s very important to the people that tell the story, (but) there’s just nothing to support it.” Sonnen said on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “She doesn’t have a merchandise record. She doesn’t have a pay-per-view record; she’s not even in the top 10. She doesn’t have a live gate record; she’s not even in the top 10. She never did.
“It’s not like she had these records, and I came along and took them, or Conor (McGregor) came along and took them. She never had them. There is no truth to the story of Ronda the star.”
There have been recent talks of a potential Rousey comeback after videos of her training emerged. Sonnen doubts the 38-year-old will ever fight again and takes issue with her recent comments toward the MMA community, in which she accused fans and media of being unappreciative.
“You were the most likely person to get on Ellen (Degeneres’) couch. We could have really used you,” Sonnen said of Rousey. “The moment the light dimmed on you, you left us. You could have still gone to Ellen’s couch and put over the next card. I’m no longer a fighter in the UFC. I used to make millions of dollars, I used to be the biggest draw, I used to have a lot of fun.
“I am none of those things anymore, but here I am telling you about Islam (Makhachev), about Jack (Della Maddalena). I am trying, in my own way, to pitch in. You’re not paying me to be here. I love the sport. The sport did something for me, I owe. I feel at least. She never even came back and made cameos. She never even came and sat in the front row. She had nothing to do with us, and she wonders why people are going, ‘Good riddance to you.’ You said it to us.”
