Ronda Rousey explains 'personal' animosity toward UFC executive Hunter Campbell
· Yahoo Sports
In official parlance, he’s the
UFC’s chief business officer. In more informal settings, he’s
often referred to as the UFC’s lawyer.
For Ronda Rousey, Hunter Campbell might as well be public enemy No. 1. During an appearance on "The Ariel Helwani Show” on Monday, Rousey recalled her dealings with Campbell as the UFC considered booking a fight between the former bantamweight queen and Gina Carano.
Ultimately, Rousey and Carano will lead Most Valuable Promotions first MMA foray on Saturday at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. The card, which includes a number of notable names in addition to Rousey and Carano, will air on Netflix. While Ronda Rousey maintains a good relationship with Dana White even after negotiations with the UFC fell apart, the same can’t be said for Campbell.
"It wasn't personal. Well, with Hunter it was personal because he was just a f—ing asshole about it. He was just being such a chauvinist prick,” Rousey said. “He was being so dismissive and being like, just trying to get me and Gina to value ourselves less from the get-go, like this isn't the greatest thing that's fallen on his lap since he's f—ing been there.
"He was like, 'Oh, I don't know. You guys are just so much older, and I just don't know how it's going to do.' I'm like, 'Who the f—k is this guy?' First of all, I didn't even know who he was. They told me he's the lawyer that's going to come and show your pay-per-views, and I was like, 'Fine. I don't care. I'm going to knock this out of the park.' I love having my pay be performance-based. F—k you, I'll go show you.”
It wasn’t just that Campbell was dismissive toward the Rousey-Carano fight, however. According to Rousey, the UFC executive wanted the bout to serve as a farewell to the women’s featherweight division. The Olympic judoka also found that to be extremely disrespectful, not only for her — but for the big picture in women’s MMA.
"Then Dana [White] started mentioning, because he wanted me and Gina to fight for the 145-pound title because it was vacant, and it's a way to retire the belt, and then Hunter is like, 'Yeah, and then we can get rid of that division,'" Rousey said. "Just the way he spoke of it, how dismissive he was, and the disdain that he had for the fighters for that weight. My husband is 6'7". My girls are not going to be 135. This is what you think of women who are heavier than 135 pounds? They can't offer you anything? That they're worthless? That they're worth scoffing at? It really rubbed me the wrong way that this f—king guy is going to be shepherding the company that I helped build.”
Rousey has already stated that her MMA comeback as a fighter is a one-time deal. However, she is very interested in continuing in a promoter’s role, particularly as a foil to the UFC. Going head-to-head with Campbell has only added fuel to the fire.
"This guy doesn't have a job because he's good at it. He has a job because he is Dana's and Lorenzo's lawyer's son," Rousey said. "He was a f—ing intern when I was there before, and now he's f—-ing coming up to me saying, 'I don't know how you and Gina are going to do.' Motherf—er, I'm going to put on a bigger fight with Gina than you have your entire f—ing career. Keep trying to fail upwards, motherf—er. Keep trying to suck the right d—-s in the right order. I'm f—-ing coming for your job. You pissed off the wrong bitch.”
For Ronda Rousey, Hunter Campbell might as well be public enemy No. 1. During an appearance on "The Ariel Helwani Show” on Monday, Rousey recalled her dealings with Campbell as the UFC considered booking a fight between the former bantamweight queen and Gina Carano.
Ultimately, Rousey and Carano will lead Most Valuable Promotions first MMA foray on Saturday at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. The card, which includes a number of notable names in addition to Rousey and Carano, will air on Netflix. While Ronda Rousey maintains a good relationship with Dana White even after negotiations with the UFC fell apart, the same can’t be said for Campbell.
"It wasn't personal. Well, with Hunter it was personal because he was just a f—ing asshole about it. He was just being such a chauvinist prick,” Rousey said. “He was being so dismissive and being like, just trying to get me and Gina to value ourselves less from the get-go, like this isn't the greatest thing that's fallen on his lap since he's f—ing been there.
"He was like, 'Oh, I don't know. You guys are just so much older, and I just don't know how it's going to do.' I'm like, 'Who the f—k is this guy?' First of all, I didn't even know who he was. They told me he's the lawyer that's going to come and show your pay-per-views, and I was like, 'Fine. I don't care. I'm going to knock this out of the park.' I love having my pay be performance-based. F—k you, I'll go show you.”
Dismissive and Disdainful
It wasn’t just that Campbell was dismissive toward the Rousey-Carano fight, however. According to Rousey, the UFC executive wanted the bout to serve as a farewell to the women’s featherweight division. The Olympic judoka also found that to be extremely disrespectful, not only for her — but for the big picture in women’s MMA.
"Then Dana [White] started mentioning, because he wanted me and Gina to fight for the 145-pound title because it was vacant, and it's a way to retire the belt, and then Hunter is like, 'Yeah, and then we can get rid of that division,'" Rousey said. "Just the way he spoke of it, how dismissive he was, and the disdain that he had for the fighters for that weight. My husband is 6'7". My girls are not going to be 135. This is what you think of women who are heavier than 135 pounds? They can't offer you anything? That they're worthless? That they're worth scoffing at? It really rubbed me the wrong way that this f—king guy is going to be shepherding the company that I helped build.”
Rousey has already stated that her MMA comeback as a fighter is a one-time deal. However, she is very interested in continuing in a promoter’s role, particularly as a foil to the UFC. Going head-to-head with Campbell has only added fuel to the fire.
"This guy doesn't have a job because he's good at it. He has a job because he is Dana's and Lorenzo's lawyer's son," Rousey said. "He was a f—ing intern when I was there before, and now he's f—-ing coming up to me saying, 'I don't know how you and Gina are going to do.' Motherf—er, I'm going to put on a bigger fight with Gina than you have your entire f—ing career. Keep trying to fail upwards, motherf—er. Keep trying to suck the right d—-s in the right order. I'm f—-ing coming for your job. You pissed off the wrong bitch.”
Ronda Rousey explains her real issue with Hunter Campbell:
"He was being so dismissive and just trying to get me and Gina to value ourselves less from the get-go.
He was like, 'Oh, I know, you guys are just so much older and I just don't know how it's gonna do.'
It just really… pic.twitter.com/hhi6cHMAws— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) May 11, 2026
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