It’s not a good thing that Ronda Rousey doesn’t give a damn about her bad reputation, according to Arianny Celeste.
The UFC Octagon Girl hurled several verbal jabs in Rousey’s direction on Friday during an appearance on MMAjunkie Radio. Celeste admittedly isn’t a fan of Rousey’s behavior, specifically the way she parades around as a potential role model to young girls.
“I don’t really like the way she carries herself,” Celeste said. “I don’t think she’s a good role model for women. I think that women should empower each other and give each other a little pat on the back.”
Celeste also said, “I’ve personally been talked about by her, and I don’t even know her. I’ve met her twice. She said a couple things in her Maxim interview. A lot of people pointed it out to me, but I didn’t really acknowledge it.”
Maxim featured both Celeste and Rousey in its “Hot 100” back in 2012. How many times has a female athlete, let alone one involved in combat sports, been hailed as one of the world’s most beautiful women?
Many believed Rousey crossed the line by randomly calling out Celeste when Maxim asked if she felt someone undeserving ranked ahead of her on the list.
“It would have been really funny if I’d beaten Arianny Celeste, because that would be like a triathlete coming along and beating the runners in a marathon,” Rousey said. “Like, ‘Ha-ha, it’s your job to show your t******—I do that better than you!’ Maybe next year. She’s only getting older, and I’m reaching my prime.”
It was only a year ago that Rousey was one of the most beloved fighters in the world. Things quickly changed for fans after Season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter aired. Rousey starred on the reality TV series as a coach, which offered fans a more in-depth look into her personality as she prepared to fight rival Miesha Tate at UFC 168.
Needless to say, her on-screen behavior didn’t sit well with the general public, and the good-guy illusions were sniffed out rather quickly. Judging by fan reaction, you would have thought we were reliving Hulk Hogan’s heel turn back in the glory days of World Championship Wrestling.
Perhaps the most overlooked truth of the matter is that Rousey never asked to be loved. It isn’t like she won the UFC title and magically transformed into a completely different person overnight. She is a competitor through and through, and she couldn’t care less what the rest of the world thinks of her.
But for Celeste, it’s all about common courtesy.
Rousey is in a spot to sway the minds of young girls praying and hoping for an opportunity to one day be in her position. Celeste may not be an athlete, but she feels that she is also in a position to serve as a role model to young girls.
“She’s paving the way for women’s MMA, and I’ve made being a UFC Octagon Girl into a career,” Celeste said. “She should definitely recognize that and be nice.”
Being nice isn’t always easy when you’re constantly referred to as the baddest woman on the planet. Despite the negative reaction from fans and peers, Rousey has yet to shy away from who she is.
Don’t expect her to start now.
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