Potential Cris Cyborg Fight And More
Highlights
- Rousey's management negotiated for better compensation and shorter contract in her UFC deal.
- They requested a pay increase from $35,000 to $100,000 and proposed escalations up to $500,000 per win.
- Rousey wanted a separate contract specifically addressing a potential Cris Cyborg fight, although it never happened due to weight issues.
Freshly disclosed, unredacted documents emerging from the ongoing antitrust lawsuit against the UFC provide insights into the intricacies of Ronda Rousey's contract negotiations. Among the revelations are her requests for better compensation, a unique agreement tailored for a potential Cris Cyborg bout, and specific considerations for incidentals.
Ronda Rousey holds the unique distinction of being the sole woman to achieve championship status in both the UFC and WWE. Furthermore, she stands as the only female athlete to headline a pay-per-view event for both organizations. Rousey initially secured the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship and, during her seventh title defense at UFC 193 on November 15, 2015, she faced Holly Holm in the main event. Despite being heavily favored, Rousey found herself outmatched by Holm's strikes throughout the bout and suffered a knockout via a head kick in the second round, relinquishing her title and ending her undefeated streak.
After an absence from the sport lasting over a year, Rousey made a comeback to confront champion Amanda Nunes on December 30, 2016, in the main event at UFC 207. Unfortunately, Rousey experienced a TKO loss early in the first round. While she hasn't formally announced her retirement, any potential return remains speculative at best.
Ronda Rousey’s Management Demanded Better Purses And Bonuses
Despite Cozy Relationship With Dana White, Ronda Negotiated For Bigger Pay Behind The Scenes
Ronda Rousey engaged in negotiations seeking improved compensation and a shorter contract. Rousey's management pursued modifications across nearly every clause in the UFC's standard contract language, with a primary focus on monetary details. The noteworthy requests included a substantial pay increase. According to Bloody Elbow, her original Strikeforce contract featured a starting purse of $35,000 with a $35,000 win bonus, Rousey's representatives sought to commence at $100,000/$100,000.
Rather than incremental increases of $5,000 for both purse and win bonus, they proposed escalations to reach $150,000/$150,000, $250,000/$250,000, $350,000/$350,000, culminating at $500,000 for each win.
Additionally, her management sought a bonus for non-PPV fights which had a “extraordinary” viewership numbers, and they wanted her on a shorter contract.
In the original agreement, if Rousey won every bout, the potential earnings could reach $70K/$70K by the eighth fight. However, they proposed capping it at $500K/$500K after just the fifth bout, omitting the last three fights from the deal.
Ronda Rousey Wanted A Separate Deal For Cris Cyborg Fight
The Mega Fight That Never Was
The contract contained a notable provision indicating that Rousey and her team insisted on a clause explicitly addressing the possibility of a bout with Cris Cyborg. She aimed for a distinct arrangement for any pay-per-view bouts and specifically, a potential matchup against Cyborg. The Rousey vs. Cyborg super-fight had been a long-standing mega fight, yet it never came to fruition.
One frequently cited reason was Cyborg's inability to meet the 135 lbs weight limit, coupled with Rousey's reluctance to move up in weight.
