These days, Ronda Rousey seems to have a new lease on life.
In the months since Holly Holm's stunning upset at UFC 193 turned the fighting world on its head, a humbled Rousey used the time to reevaluate her career, and its purpose, before announcing a comeback. Ahead of her return fight later this month, Rousey opened up about that journey to ESPN The Magazine, and in the process called out two of her male counterparts for leading lavish lifestyles.
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"If money is the motivation, then f— that," she said. "All these 'Money' people … 'Money' Mayweather, 'Money' McGregor. I see they’re trying to do an angle or whatever. People buy it.
"The worship of money in our society is so deep. But just because that’s the easiest way to keep people’s attention or entertain them doesn’t mean that’s the right way."
Mayweather and McGregor have teased a superfight boxing match between the two sure to fetch millions for both fighters.
Rousey, who admitted to contemplating suicide after losing to Holm, said that fight changed her perspective and "saved me from becoming what I hate."
Rousey said she was becoming "one of those people who live their lives to impress everyone else. Who put up a front for the world to admire. Who make sure every charitable act is posted and shared for their own image gain. Who posture and pose for people they care nothing about except for the opinion they have of them.
"I was just trying to make too many people happy. But when I try and do favors and make everybody else happy, at the end of the day, they walk away happy and I’m the one who has to deal with the depression. All the pay-per-views in the world, all the money in the world, it means f—ing nothing to me because I lost."
Rousey will fight Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in her return to the octagon Dec. 30.
