Marina Shafir was visibly emotional during a Netflix press conference last week, reacting to her friend Ronda Rousey’s critical remarks about the UFC’s fighter pay.
Rousey, known for her straightforwardness, expressed her disappointment with UFC’s management at a press event for her upcoming fight on May 16 against Gina Carano. She lamented that the UFC, once a supportive environment for fighters, has transformed into “one of the worst places to be.”
Shafir, who shines in AEW and is part of a group known as MMA’s Four Horsewomen alongside Rousey, Shayna Baszler, and Jessamyn Duke, commended the new competitor in the MMA landscape for spearheading Netflix’s first MMA event involving MVP promotions.
In 2025, the UFC resolved a significant $375 million antitrust lawsuit, but now faces another one, alleging it has unfairly suppressed fighter wages and monopolized the industry. While major stars do get paid millions per fight, it skews the overall income of UFC fighters.
“For Ronda to step in like she’s taking charge, she’s really leading the way,” Shafir said in a Zoom chat. “I think this is a wake-up call for many in MMA. Some may have become complacent or too greedy. It’s possible they’ve been taking advantage of fighters, but they genuinely care about this sport and know their worth.”
During a recent Zuffa Boxing event, Dana White aimed to reassure UFC fighters about their earnings.
“It’s great for athletes to earn more,” he remarked. “Since 2001, combatants have seen ongoing paycheck benefits. We’ve secured a solid TV rights deal that should help maintain fighters’ paychecks for the upcoming seven years.”
The anticipated Rousey vs. Carano bout was initially pitched to UFC while it was still being broadcast on ESPN pay-per-view.
Rousey shared with Jim Roma that CEO Dana White was receptive to the idea and offered what could have been her most lucrative contract yet, given the expected pay-per-view sales.
However, complications arose when Carano needed additional preparation time, making the deal less feasible after UFC partnered with Paramount, allowing fans to access the event through a single subscription.
Rousey doesn’t attribute this situation to White, but she believes the UFC should at least provide its fighters with a livable wage.
She thinks that this wage issue has led some top athletes to shy away from MMA, resulting in the departure of major talents like Francis Ngannou, who is set to fight Philip Lince on Rousey’s Netflix undercard.
“This company just received $7.7 billion from Paramount. There’s no excuse for not paying athletes a livable wage,” Rousey declared.
Shafir, who is preparing to face “Timeless” Toni Storm on March 13 in AEW, is still actively training in MMA. She noted having spoken with several fighters struggling financially.
“It’s challenging right now,” Shafir shared. “Many are trying to get by, but the system feels like it’s rigged against them.”
She praised Rousey for bravely addressing these issues while many affected may be too embarrassed to voice their concerns, calling it a shame.
“That’s classic Ronda,” Shafir remarked. “I was howling at her truth bomb. She’s absolutely right. People hesitate to speak out about their experiences.”
When asked if Rousey would return to the wrestling arena, Shafir was uncertain, especially as Rousey is focused on expanding MVP’s MMA brand. Rousey’s last two bouts were against Shafir in late 2023.
“I hope she continues her journey. I selfishly want her to return, but we’ll have to wait and see,” Shafir admitted. “Honestly, I’m a bit in the dark.”
