“It’s a Take-It or Leave-It”: Ronda Rousey’s Former Rival Sara McMann Opens Up on Split With Dana White’s UFC

Former UFC title contender Sara McMann joined Bellator after spending 9 years in the MMA’s premier promotion. She had amassed a record of 13 wins and 6 losses during her UFC tenure. McMann fought the likes of Miesha Tate, Amanda Nunes, and Ronda Rousey. She has now decided to move on to another promotion.

McMann had stated that she wanted to know her worth as a fighter before joining Bellator. McMann was scheduled to fight with Aspen Ladd back in September. But the fight was canceled due to Ladd missing the suggested weight. They paid Sara McMann the show and the win money as well and then she decided to become a free agent.

McMann joined the UFC in 2013. She became the third-ever woman to win a match in the UFC. Her match with Ronda Rousey for the bantamweight title was the most memorable. Rousey knocked down McMann with a knee on her body. There was a stoppage that many felt was controversial. But she had very a cordial relationship with UFC and President Dana White and the reason for leaving the promotions was mostly about ‘money.’

Sara McMann left UFC to get her own ‘sponsors’

The primary reason behind McMann‘s departure from UFC was due to the inability to not have her own sponsors. The UFC doesn’t allow its fighters to showcase their personal sponsors on their fighting outfits during televised or any other UFC events. McMann said in an interview with MMA Junkie, “I’m not bashing the UFC. I understand why they did what they did for a business decision. But there were so many fighters who were making comparable or sometimes more from sponsorships than they were off of their fight purse.”

She also said that the UFC has a lot of control over its roster and has dominance in some markets. “I don’t think it’s a big secret that they have a lot of control over fighters. With their dominance in some of the markets it’s a take-it or leave-it kind of thing. That’s sometimes the way the business is,” said McMann.

READ MORE: Cris Cyborg Sends a Strong Message as Ronda Rousey’s Former Opponent & Fellow Olympian Sara McMann Signs a Multiple Fight Contract With Bellator

The former Olympic silver medalist has right secured her finance in Bellator as the promotion allows fighters to have their own sponsors. Sara McMann is now aiming to go for the featherweight title. But she has expressed her decision to wait for it since the fight cards were already decided before she joined the company.

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