Amanda Nunes Says The UFC Is Coddling Ronda Rousey

Amanda Nunes doesn't think it's fair that Ronda Rousey doesn't have to handle the heavy media obligations of years past.

Nunes, who has been doing a lot of media in advance of the event, believes the UFC is coddling Rousey by not making her do much, if any, media ahead of her return fight.

“The UFC wants to make it easier for her,” Nunes said at a UFC 203 media luncheon. “So she doesn’t feel like she’s not the champion anymore. They want to make her feel like that, that she’s not the second [to me]. They want to make me kind of the second to make her get stronger or something. I feel like they tried … to promote her so she can be strong and see that. Like Ronda, Ronda Ronda, Ronda. But she knows she’s the challenger; I’m the champion. Nobody can change it. Nobody can make Ronda the champion. She’s not the champion anymore. I think the UFC is doing it for her. I think the UFC has been doing all the promos for her. I think she can do whatever she wants. This is a part of my job, meeting with you guys and talking. I’m here.”

Nunes is featured very little in the promotional material surrounding the fight, despite her being the champion. Nunes doesn't have as much of a problem with that. 

“The way it looks, yes,” she said. “But nothing is gonna change it. I will be a champion. UFC is gonna promote myself after this fight.”

Despite the lack of hype by the UFC, Nunes believes she needs to focus on herself and not by the perceived lack of respect from the promotion.

“Honestly, I’m OK with it,” Nunes said. “The only thing that I look for in my career is this thing right here — the belt. Be the champion. And whatever they want to do with Ronda, they can do. She promotes good. It’s gonna sell a lot of pay-per-views. This is the thing that I look for. It helps me at the same time. At the end of the day, I’m the champion. I’m gonna walk into the cage, take this fight and i’m gonna be champion for a little while.”

UFC 207 takes place on Friday, December 30 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with Amanda Nunes and Ronda Rousey headlining.