Ronda Rousey’s long-awaited return to mixed martial arts has become one of the most discussed topics in combat sports, but fresh criticism from former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has added another layer to the conversation. Jackson, who held the UFC light heavyweight title in 2007 and remains a prominent figure in the sport, openly admitted he was never a fan of Rousey. He accused the former UFC women’s bantamweight champion of treating staff poorly behind the scenes during her rise in the company.
Rampage Jackson Says Rousey Crossed the Line from Confidence into Arrogance
Rousey and Carano are set to headline MVP MMA on Saturday night as Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions officially enters the MMA business with a major Netflix event featuring several returning stars. The card also includes Nate Diaz fighting Mike Perry and former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou taking on Philipe Lins. However, much of the attention has centered around Rousey’s comeback after nearly a decade away from the cage. The former Olympic judoka has not fought since December 2016, when she suffered a knockout defeat against Amanda Nunes. Carano, meanwhile, has not competed since August 2009, when she lost the only fight of her professional career before transitioning into acting.
Ahead of the event, Jackson made it clear during a livestream on his Kick channel at the MVP MMA press conference in Los Angeles that he would personally be backing Carano. “I’ve never been a fan of Ronda Rousey,” Jackson said. “She’s too arrogant. There’s nothing wrong in believing in yourself, but there’s a fine line. I hate to say this on live. But she’s never been nice to staff and stuff like that, people behind the scenes. There’s a fine line between believing in yourself and being overly cocky.”
Other Former Figures in Combat Sports Have Made Similar Claims
Jackson is not the first former figure in MMA or wrestling to publicly criticize Rousey’s behavior behind the scenes. In 2024, former WWE broadcaster Jimmy Smith claimed that production workers strongly disliked working with Rousey during her appearances. Speaking on Unlocking the Cage, Smith said: “Ronda, if you’re listening, the people behind the scenes; camera people, audio people, the people you can push around and bully and talk down to, can’t stand your f—— a–. Everybody behind the scenes that had to put a mic on Ronda Rousey couldn’t stand her. I said, ‘Why?’ They said, ‘She was a b—- to us from the moment she sat down to the moment she got up.’ Like it’s our fault that she has to do this interview to hype something or her next fight. She’s miserable, she’s mean to us, and we can’t stand her.”
Then in 2025, former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate also alleged that Rousey treated production staff poorly during Season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter. Those accusations continue to follow Rousey even as she prepares for one of the most high-profile comeback fights in recent MMA memory.
Rousey and Carano Return After Years Away from MMA
Despite the criticism surrounding her personality and behavior behind the scenes, Rousey remains one of the most influential fighters in MMA history. She became the face of women’s MMA during her rise in the UFC, helped bring mainstream attention to the sport, and dominated the women’s bantamweight division before losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes ended her reign. Carano played a similarly important role during the earlier years of women’s MMA, becoming one of the sport’s first crossover stars before eventually moving into Hollywood. Both women also appeared in the Fast & Furious franchise, with Carano featuring in Fast & Furious 6 and Rousey appearing in Furious 7. Now, years after stepping away from active competition, both are returning under the MVP banner in what could also prove to be the final fight of their careers.
Jackson’s comments have only intensified attention around the bout, particularly because they tap into a reputation Rousey has struggled to shake even after leaving the UFC and later transitioning into WWE. Whether fans agree with Jackson or not, the controversy has added another emotional layer to an already heavily scrutinized comeback event as Netflix prepares to broadcast its first major MMA card.
