Dana White defends Ronda Rousey: “She built this house”

In the wake of former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey being knocked out by Amanda Nunes in the very first round of their UFC 207 scrap back in the end of 2016, there has been much speculation as to whether or not former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey will return to the Octagon for another attempt at reclaiming the women’s bantamweight championship.

Recently however, UFC President Dana White revealed that Rousey likely wouldn’t be returning to the Octagon for another fight, and would look to explore other career opportunities, including her film career.

“In the conversation I had with her, if I had to say right here right now – again I don’t like saying right here right now because it’s up to her – but I would’t say she fights again,” he said. “I think she’s probably done.”

“She’s going to ride off into the sunset and start living her life outside of fighting,”

Now, in an interview with Sports Illustrated, White defended Rousey from critics, saying:

“Everything she told me she would do, she did,” said White during an interview with Sports Illustrated. “She worked her ass off for this sport, for this company, for women. She worked herself to the bone. I’ve never had a fighter work [with publicity] the way she has. She’s made a lot of money. I know for her that doesn’t matter—her legacy means more to her than anything else. But you know what, sometimes we can’t have it all. But let’s be clear: she built this house. She really did,”

“I care about her as a human being more than the fighter side. You read the bulls—, ‘Oh man, UFC’s in trouble, their golden goose….’ She’s not a f—king golden goose. She’s a human being. And she’s a very good f—ing friend of mine.”

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 2/8/2017.