One of the biggest stories heading into UFC 207 is Ronda Rousey's lack of interest in talking to the media and UFC President Dana White has addressed that matter.
Talking to the media in Las Vegas days before the year-end pay-per-view, White said Rousey requested not having to talk to the media in the build-up to the show and White obliged, saying she deserved to have her wishes granted after contributing so much to the company.
“Listen, Ronda has given more than anybody,” White said. “If you look at the amount of press that’s been done by any fighter in the UFC in UFC history, Ronda smokes everybody by a long shot. And this is the way she wanted it. The only thing she cares about right now is focusing on winning. So, she’s done a lot of things for this company. I say it all the time, about Conor (McGregor) too — Ronda’s done a lot of things for us. This is what she wanted, so I gave it to her.”
Even though White gave Rousey what she wanted, the UFC President added that it is not ideal to promote a pay-per-view when one of its headliners does not wish to interact much with the media.
“It’s definitely not ideal,” White said. “It’s what she asked for, and like I said, back in the day, Ronda would literally do anything we asked her to do. Anything. And if the guys wouldn’t do something, she would pick up the ball and do it herself. So for her to ask for something like this, how can I say no to that? She’s done a lot. There are a lot of things that suck about this, yeah. We’re in a pretty crazy position, but she’s one of the greatest ever to do it. She’s done a lot for this company. She’s done a lot for the sport. She’s done a lot for women in this sport, and this is what she asked for. She’s never asked for much. She asked for this and we said yes.”
Rousey is not doing any interviews, press conferences or open workouts. Rousey is challenging Amanda Nunes for her UFC Women's Bantamweight title in the main event of UFC 207 on December 30 in Rousey's first UFC fight since losing her title to Holly Holm back in 2015 at UFC 193. Fightful will have complete coverage of UFC 207, including a live viewing party and podcast after the pay-per-view is done.
