Ronda Rousey warns prospects against signing with the UFC

Ronda Rousey has offered some advice to upcoming talent seeking a UFC contract.

The UFC has managed to snatch up the vast majority of MMA stars from rival promotions whenever it pleases, which is one of the many perks of a company that has dominated a sport for over three decades. It is a rarity that a fighter considered one of the best in the world doesn't reside under the UFC banner, but is the tide beginning to turn?

Passionate about the future of martial arts, coupled with the persistence of her UFC witch hunt, Ronda Rousey has once again hit out at her former employer. This time, urging younger talent to build themselves outside of the octagon before moving to the big leagues.

"I would say that UFC is not in the business of developing fighters, and you do not go into the UFC to develop," Rousey said. "You go into the UFC when you are ready for your title run."

"I think a lot of people go in, you know, Nate [Diaz] kind of got stuck in that. He had that Ultimate Fighter contract and was stuck with that contract for a long time, that was not helping him out at all."

Throughout his 15 years in the UFC, Nate Diaz has vocalized his discontent with his contract numerous times.

Earlier in his career, Diaz likened his situation to being held hostage, having signed a multi-fight deal and not being offered fights to run down his contract and enter free agency. Ronda Rousey used that scenario to warn keen contenders to steer away from the UFC until they've first established themselves.

"I think you should come into the UFC when you already have leverage and not coming in when you're super green, because they're not going to give you the best matchups. They're looking out for the company. They're not looking out for you. So, if you stay outside the UFC, you can kind of pick and choose your matchups and what you need for your own development and everything like that for the right things at the right time because you're just, you know, you're going to be a cog on the wheel. You're getting thrown to the wolves once you jump in, and you shouldn't jump into there until you're ready to take over the whole pack."

Paddy Pimblett and Jiri Prochazka, two men who rejected approaches to join the UFC, are two key examples of how quickly you can be thrust into the spotlight if you have a heightened reputation before accepting the call-up.

With every facet of the sport evolving by the day, the UFC offers emerging talents benefits they wouldn't be afforded elsewhere. While many may not be able to resist, Rousey believes it could be the difference maker in fighters' careers.

"I think that a lot of people are getting signed and just so excited to be into the UFC and going to the PI and get all these things... don't go early for the perks. I feel like [fighters should] develop and get to the point where you're ready to take any matchup at any time and go for the title, and then you go. And then you can have the leverage and be like, 'You know what, I don't want a seven-fight contract, I would like to have fewer than that.'"

"So, come in with some leverage is what I would say."

Listen to Ronda Rousey's advice to young fighters aiming to make their way into the UFC during her appearance on Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo in the video below.