“I think the only reason why MMA fans have their lips so firmly planted at the base of Khabib’s c–k is because he retired before he reached his limit,” Ronda Rousey unapologetically fired off a few days ago to Bert Kreischer. The former UFC women’s bantamweight champion also called out MMA fans for still putting Khabib Nurmagomedov (29-0) on a pedestal, claiming he retired at his peak, unlike legends such as Anderson Silva, Chuck Liddell, and Fedor Emelianenko, who continued competing past their prime. While her take echoes opinions voiced by others over the years, the rawness of her comment was tough for fans to swallow.

Naturally, Team Khabib Nurmagomedov didn’t stay silent, and now ‘The Eagle’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, has stepped in, labeling Ronda Rousey’s remark as “jealousy” while still recognizing her achievements. He also noted that some of Rousey’s prime opponents weren’t particularly competitive. So, here’s what he had to say.

Ali Abdelaziz challenges Rousey’s relevance in today’s fight scene

Ali Abdelaziz addressed Ronda Rousey’s recent comments in an interview with Submission Radio. Reflecting on her most notable fights, he emphasized how her loss to Amanda Nunes exposed her limitations, saying, “She can’t compare herself to Khabib. She’s not, she’s not like a GOAT. She’s just, you know, unhappy.” Abdelaziz then called on the 38-year-old ‘Rowdy’ to return and face her former teammate, now champion Kayla Harrison, who is also under his management.

He told Submission Radio, “But listen, it’s very simple. If you think you’re better than Khabib, you should come back. And Kayla Harrison, your old friend, I’m sure would be very, very happy to open the door for you and give you an a– whooping if you want. I don’t really have a problem with Ronda, but I was very shocked to hear her talk about Khabib like that. Khabib never talks bad about anybody.”

The host, Denis Shkuratov, raised a doubt if Ronda was placing too much weight on the concept of losing, not realizing that fans love the greats, including the ones with losses on their records. The Dominance MMA manager had a rather mature response: “[Antonio] Nogueira lost, people still love him. Wanderlei [Silva] lost, people still love him. Fedor [Emelianenko], Anderson Silva lost. People still love them. Loss doesn’t define who you are if you were a great champion. And she was a champion for a long time, right? But in a way, like, you don’t have to put people down to make yourself feel better, you know?”

Addressing Ronda Rousey’s prospects in today’s evolved MMA landscape, Abdelaziz told Submission Radio, “Honestly, in this day and era, how the sport has evolved, she’s still very young. If she comes back,… I don’t think she’ll be in the top 10, in my opinion.”

Before stepping into the MMA world, Ronda Rousey and Kayla Harrison represented the United States in Olympic judo, with Harrison acting as both ‘Rowdy’s training partner and roommate. As Rousey’s junior, Harrison learned extensively under her guidance. “At one point, I really looked up to her,” Harrison once admitted.

Despite their early closeness, their relationship eventually broke down. Today, Ronda Rousey remains largely absent from competition, while Kayla Harrison dominates the UFC’s bantamweight division as champion, following the path set by her mentor.

Why Ronda Rousey believes losing is important in MMA

While Conor McGregor was just starting to make headlines and Jon Jones found his rhythm, Ronda Rousey had brought global attention to the UFC. Even today, fans remember her as the biggest superstar in women’s MMA, and consequently, she paved the way for fighters like Amanda Nunes and Holly Holm to flourish. Moreover, her larger-than-life persona made her one of the most polarizing figures in the sport. Yet UFC CEO Dana White still places her on his personal“Mount Rushmore” of fighters.

Ronda Rousey’s rise, highlighted by dominant finishes over opponents such as Miesha Tate and Julia Budd, consequently propelled her to worldwide fame. However, her subsequent losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes revealed her vulnerabilities under scrutiny. After dealing with concussions and health concerns, ‘The Arm Collector’ transitioned to WWE, stepping away from the MMA spotlight.

Recently, while speaking with Bert Kreischer, she reflected on her past, saying, “I wanted to retire undefeated because I was so afraid of everything that I accomplished is going to be nothing if I ever lose. So I have to retire undefeated. It wasn’t until I got into the WWE and saw that wait, you have to retire on a loss. Everybody in WWE has to retire on a loss because you have to pass that torch on, and I think everyone in MMA, they’re going to try to take the torch with them because of how the fans respond to it.”

After dominating the women’s MMA scene in the UFC with a 6-2 record (12-2 overall), Ronda Rousey retired following two consecutive losses. Although her career differs from someone like Khabib Nurmagomedov, what’s your take on Rousey’s journey in MMA? Do you think the criticism and hate directed at her are unfair? Share your thoughts below.