Dana White claims Ronda Rousey is the ‘greatest athlete’ amid their controversies

Despite their past animosity and shared controversies, UFC Dana White has overcome them all to heap praise on his former employee, Ronda Rousey. Almost a decade ago, Rousey finished up her UFC career and began a new journey with WWE.

Soon enough, Rousey emerged as one of the most popular names on the WWE roster. However, she parted ways with WWE in 2023 and wrestled a few times in the indies before going on a hiatus. A few weeks ago, Rousey made her MMA comeback against Gina Carano at Jake Paul’s MVP [Most Valuable Promotions]. However, before the fight, at a press conference, Rousey became vocal about Dana White and UFC underpaying their fighters.

Despite her critical stance, Dana White recently heaped praise on her and called her the “greatest athlete.” Speaking to the Tomi Lahren is Fearless podcast, White praised Rousey for her MMA contribution.

“She’s the greatest athlete that I’ve ever worked with in my 25 years of doing this, thousands of fighters. I knew the minute she came to an event, and she got backstage at the weigh-ins, and said, ‘Can I get 15 minutes with you?’ And I said, ‘Yeah,’ and we went back into my green room at the arena. And in 15 minutes, she had me talking to myself in my head, going, ‘Holy (expletive), this woman is special, she’s different, and I think I’m going to do this (create a UFC women’s division),’” White said.

Dana White reveals having similar feelings about Conor McGregor

In the same podcast, White further opened up and revealed having similar feelings about Conor McGregor when he first met him. “I had that same (feeling) — I went to dinner with Conor McGregor when I didn’t know Conor — and I left the dinner, and I called (former UFC owner) Lorenzo Fertitta, and I said, ‘Lorenzo, I don’t know if this guy can fight, but if he can even throw a punch, he’s going to be the biggest star ever.’ So it’s just, you feel, when you’re with a person that’s special and has that it factor, you feel it when you’re with them, and she is definitely that person.”

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