Ronda Rousey may have been out of action since November 2015, but she remains to be the UFC’s biggest top draw for many people. Company president Dana White himself says so, claiming “Rowdy” is the “biggest star they’ve ever had.”
The former bantamweight champion did help turn the UFC into a household name, making any fight with her an instant audience grabber. It is a fact that Nunes is aware of, which makes her upcoming maiden title defense against Rousey of great importance, and more rewarding if she does come out victorious.
“I’m very happy. This fight is a gift – it will change my life,” Nunes told MMA Junkie. “She can be the favorite, there’s no problem. Our encounter is going to be on Dec. 30, and then it will be something else – it will be just me and her in there. I’m certainly going to win and, faith in God, leave that night as a champion.”
“But that’s part of it, right? Hopefully I’ll make a lot of people a lot of money. I know some people will bet on me, and I hope to give a lot of people a lot of money in that bet.”
The UFC’s decision to make the Nunes-Rousey fight was not a popular one for a couple of female fighters. Number five-ranked contender Julianna Peña voiced out her sentiments, bearing the threat of leaving the company for the “bullsh-t” move.
But for Nunes, Peña’s status as a fighter is just not on that championship level yet.
“There are many girls climbing up the rankings. There’s Julianna Pena, who needs to stop talking and fight – because people want to see big fights. That’s why they scheduled this fight with me and Ronda, because it’s a great fight.
“Julianna needs to make her name, to lift up her name in order for people to start asking for that fight. There’s (Valentina) Shevchenko, whom I’ve beat, coming off a win over Holly Holm, who’s also been evolving in the division.”
Nunes headlines UFC 207 with Rousey on December 30th in Las Vegas.