Ronda Rousey has made quite a name for herself in the world of combat sports, with her entertaining presence in WWE and UFC. Entering the Hall of Fame in both promotions, ‘Rowdy’ became the inspiration that attracted many young girls to the world of martial arts. Her fighting skills ensured she became the undisputed women’s bantamweight champion. Needless to say, she was one of the few fighters on whom Dana White could rely on. 

But do you know who motivated Rousey to look good in the UFC head honcho’s books? Yes! It is indeed her rival, Cris Cyborg. 

Ronda Rousey reveals Cris Cyborg’s role in helping her stay reliable in Dana White’s view

On the 21st of August 2024, Rousey made an appearance on ‘INSIGHT’ with Chris Van Vliet. During the conversation, Van Vliet recalled the time when Strike Force was the only organization where women were able to fight. That was a time when the UFC CEO claimed that women would never fight in the UFC. It was indeed a response that directed White’s words at Gina Carano, who was allowed to compete through her connection to the Nevada State Athletic Committee. 

But for Rousey, it was an opportunity to shine in front of White. She said, “When [Gina Carano] was gone, Cris Cyborg’s pumped to the f***in gills with st*roids. No one wants to watch that cheating a** b**ch. Everything just tanked. The division was dying…”

‘Rowdy’ knew that she had to do something in order to make sure that she had that she had a promotion to compete at, and it also involved her decision to stay away from PEDs. She continued, “It was just a matter of time before they closed the whole thing and there would be nowhere that would showcase women’s MMA, so I had that much time to make sure that Dana [White] couldn’t go a single day without seeing my name somewhere. The rest is history.”

With Rousey’s words going viral on the internet, Cyborg couldn’t keep her calm. Taking to the comments section on an Instagram post, the Brazilian mixed martial artist wrote, “After years of defaming me, in the end she ended up so bitter and didn’t know how to deal with the difficulties and defeats in life. I feel sorry for her, but maybe she’ll find inner peace.” Cyborg bashed Rousey and pointed out that she was already a champion at Strikeforce when ‘Rowdy’ began fighting in 2011. When Rousey finally decided to hang her gloves up, Cyborg became a champion in the UFC’s featherweight division.

However, did you know that Rousey once told White that she would always fight for him? Keep reading to find out about the story!

‘Rowdy’s promise to the UFC head honcho

Back in April 2024, Rousey was featured in ‘The Chris Cuomo Project’, where she reflected back on the time when she faced troubles due to concussions. The former UFC bantamweight champ revealed how she injured her knee just a few weeks before her slated rematch against Holly Holm. But then, she revealed the promise she had made to the UFC bossman. It was the time when she had fought Holm for the first time at UFC 293.

The event was initially set to feature Robbie Lawler and Carlos Condit. However, the bout was canceled as Lawler pulled out of the fight due to an injury to his thumb. Soon, Rousey swooped in to save the event and fight Holm. And that was when she promised White, “I’ll always be your girl, I will always fight, you know when these guys won’t, I will.”

Rousey went on to win the hearts of the fight fans with her skills, although she lost the bout against Holm. With her infamous armbar, she made sure that she kept her promise to White before retiring in 2018. What are your thoughts on Rousey trying her best to stay a good fighter in Dana White’s view? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.