Ronda Rousey signs new long-term contract with the UFC
If you were slightly surprised at UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey's disclosed salary following her last fight at UFC 184, don't be shocked when there's a much bigger number next to her name when she fights again in August.
According to figures disclosed to the California State Athletic Commission, Rousey made $130,000 ($65,000 to fight, $65,000 to win) for her 14-second victory over Cat Zingano. Considering how quickly she ended the fight it's not a bad day's work, but Rousey likely will make a lot more money for her Aug. 1 bout against Bethe Correia at UFC 190 in Brazil.
Rousey revealed when speaking to ESPN First Take on Wednesday that she just recently renegotiated her contract with the UFC and signed on for several more fights.
"I'm a UFC fighter. I just renegotiated. I have a lot of fights that I have in the UFC before I would be able to go do anything else," Rousey said.
UFC officials confirmed to FOX Sports on Thursday that Rousey had indeed signed a new contract with a multi-fight deal in place.
The reason the subject came up in the first place was because Rousey was asked about potentially facing former boxing champion Laila Ali in the ring as opposed to the Octagon. Rousey says in her spare time between fights she never grapples anymore and instead focuses all her time on boxing.
The women's bantamweight champion would love to challenge herself to boxing a world champion like Ali, but chances are if anyone is going to fight Rousey, it's going to be in the UFC with MMA rules.
"I would love to try it, but I have a lot going on," Rousey said about boxing. "I have fights. I have two movies coming out. I have a book coming out. My schedule is a little full."
As far as her lightning quick finishes go, don't expect Rousey to change anything for anybody who might feel slighted about buying a pay-per-view to watch her obliterate an opponent in just 14 seconds like she did in her last fight.
Rousey would love to do the same thing to Correia in August and she's even incorporating her fast finishes into a new marketing campaign at Reebok.
"That's why we're making Reebok shirts that say 'don't blink'," Rousey said.
Rousey's media blitz continues this week as she promotes UFC 190 while also taking some time to speak to lawmakers in New York about legalizing MMA. With a new UFC contract that will likely make her one of the highest paid athletes in the sport, chances are she'll be smiling along the way at every appearance.
