Former UFC and WWE commentator Jimmy Smith has launched an explicit tirade against Ronda Rousey, revealing the behind-the-scenes animosity towards the former UFC women's bantamweight champion.
In a recent interview with NewsNation, Rousey expressed her frustration with the way she was treated by people around the UFC, including prominent figure Joe Rogan, after her dominant championship reign came to an embarrassing end.
However, Smith's comments on his MMA-focused show 'Unlocking the Cage' on SiriusXM shed a different light on Rousey's standing among staff members behind the scenes.
Smith did not mince his words, describing Rousey as someone who was despised by those working behind the scenes due to her rude and entitled behavior.
According to Smith, staff members, including camera and audio personnel, harbored a strong dislike for Rousey, citing her alleged habit of pushing people around and displaying a condescending attitude towards them.
"The people you can push around and bully and talk down to — can't stand your f****ng ass," Smith said in his explicit rant.
He went on to recount a specific incident where Rousey's behavior was particularly egregious. "She was a b***h to us from the moment she sat down to the moment she got up," Smith revealed.
"Like, it's our fault she has to do this interview to hype her next fight, and she's just miserable and she's mean to us and we can't stand her."
Smith also accused Rousey of seeking "all of the credit and none of the blame" for her successes and failures in the Octagon, implying that she was unwilling to take responsibility for her shortcomings.
Rousey's rise to prominence in the UFC was nothing short of spectacular. She was crowned the inaugural UFC women's bantamweight champion in 2013 following the organization's acquisition of Strikeforce's roster.
Her dominance was evident as she successfully defended her title six times, solidifying her status as one of the most dominant forces in women's MMA.
However, Rousey's aura of invincibility was shattered in 2015 when she suffered her first career loss at the hands (or rather, feet) of Holly Holm, who delivered a devastating head-kick knockout.
The following year brought further disappointment for Rousey as she was swiftly dispatched by Amanda Nunes in just 48 seconds, failing to mount any significant offense.
Rather than attempting to reclaim her status in the UFC, Rousey made a surprising career pivot towards professional wrestling, joining WWE from 2017 until last year.
This transition marked a significant departure from her MMA roots and garnered mixed reactions from fans and pundits alike.
Smith's revelations about the behind-the-scenes sentiment towards Rousey shed light on a side of her public persona that was not widely known. "They were cheering when she got out.
That's what I was told," Smith disclosed, indicating that the staff members were relieved when Rousey's interactions with them came to an end. "Because those are the people you can be mean and rude to, and they can't fight back. Those people couldn't stand Ronda Rousey."
The explicit nature of Smith's comments underscores the depth of animosity that reportedly existed towards Rousey among certain quarters within the UFC and WWE.
While Rousey's accomplishments in both MMA and professional wrestling cannot be discounted, these revelations offer a stark contrast to the public image she has cultivated over the years.
As the dust settles on these revelations, it remains to be seen how Rousey and those associated with her will respond to these damning allegations.
The impact of Smith's comments on Rousey's legacy and public perception is yet to be fully realized, but one thing is certain – this explicit tirade has brought an unexpected dimension to the narrative surrounding one of the most polarizing figures in combat sports.
