Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion and current WWE Raw women’s champion Ronda Rousey has some thoughts on the melee that ensued at UFC 229 between lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor.
Speaking to TMZ, Rousey gave her thoughts on the actions of McGregor’s dolly assault in Brooklyn, and Nurmagomedov’s team attacking McGregor and his team after their main event at UFC 229.
While she decried the actions of both men, she has garnered attention for commenting on preferential treatment for the UFC’s marketable stars.
“I just feel like there has to be equal treatment all the way across the board. I don’t think that anyone should get special treatment because they’re a bigger draw” said Rousey.
Of course, many on social media have been quick to point out that Rousey herself received special treatment during her UFC career.
In the leadup to UFC 207 in Dec. 2016, (Rousey’s final UFC fight) Rousey and her opponent Amanda Nunes were excused from all required media obligations, before and after the fight.
For her part, Rousey seems is specifically referring to criminal actions and performance enhancing violations. Rousey noted, ““I think that’s the same when it comes to performance-enhancing drugs, when it comes to felonies, when it comes to hit and runs or anything like that. I think there’s too much preferential treatment given to high-profile fighters. I think there needs to be equal discipline across the board because people are going to start think that once they get to a certain level then the rules don’t apply for them.”
Although not mentioned by name, Rousey’s comments would seem to be directed at the returning Jon Jones. Jones had a hit and run arrest in 2015, and USADA violations in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Jones was will soon be reinstated after receiving a 30-month suspension reduction in exchange for cooperation with USADA .
Rousey also voiced her concerns with audience safety for those who attend UFC events.
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