Ronda Rousey could be the most hated athlete in combat sports.

Ronda Rousey may be the most despised figure in combat sports right now, and after speaking publicly throughout the year, she appears to continue to face criticism. Rousey was the first major women’s champion in the UFC, reigning as a bantamweight champion for three years with victories over Miesha Tate, Cat Zingano, and Bethe Correia. However, she lost by knockout to Holly Holm at UFC 193 in 2015, followed by another loss to Amanda Nunes the next year.

The UFC inducted her into its Hall of Fame in 2018, and though Rousey has not fought in the UFC since, she continues to generate headlines — lately, because of things prominent people in the sport have said about her, ranging from anecdotes about animosity toward her from those behind the scenes, and how she’s never been able to accept responsibility for her back-to-back losses. On the Unlocking The Cage podcast, Jimmy Smith, a former UFC analyst, stated that many people “couldn’t stand” Rousey. More recently, MMA veteran Matt Smith told MMA Fighting that fans would start to appreciate Rousey if she showed “some humility.”

People ‘Can’t Stand Ronda Rousey and Jimmy Smith During an interview on The Chris Cuomo Project on April 23, Rousey expressed disappointment at how many people turned on her, including UFC commentator and podcaster Joe Rogan. She said, “The MMA media despises me. No one has called me or anything like that.” On the Unlocking The Cage podcast, Smith expressed her displeasure with Ronda Rousey’s words, stating, “Everybody behind the scenes that had to put a mic on Ronda Rousey couldn’t stand her.”