There is apparently no love lost between the UFC women’s bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey, and the organization’s premiere ring card girl, Arianny Celeste. Given that Celeste’s net worth rounds out to approximately $1 million , per Fox Sports , Rousey stated that fighters should be entitled to more money than Octagon Girls.
“I think that they should get paid more than the ring girls. “I don’t know if the ring girls get paid too much or the fighters don’t get paid enough… There’s definitely a lot more in what the fighters do than what they do. So, I think that’s one thing that’s unfair.”
However, Celeste did not respond in kind. In an interview on MMA Junkie Radio , she stated her dislike for the champion and called her a “big bully” in the process.
“I’m not going to talk about her because I’m not a fighter. I’m not going to waste my time. I actually don’t talk about anyone. It blows my mind that someone who doesn’t even know me continuously picks on me. And that’s all I see her as: a big bully.”
Rousey received word of Celeste’s “bully” comment while at the UFC 184 open workout session, and in a separate interview with MMA Junkie , she elevated tensions between the two with her “words of advice” for the ring card girl.
“For her to take that personally – you know what would have been the best thing for her to say? ‘Oh my god! You know? These fighters work so hard. And I wouldn’t have a job if it wasn’t for them and I just admire them so much. Yeah, I definitely think that they should get paid more than anybody in the arena tonight.’ There you go, a PR lesson for her.”
Celeste continued the verbal spat via Twitter. She didn’t directly address Rousey, but the tweets indicated as such.
So please, have some class like the one of the best fighters in the world should have. Focus on your fight, not me. Thank u.Much respect.??
— Arianny Celeste (@AriannyCeleste) February 26, 2015
Last I checked, I’m not a fighter and never will be. Although, I have nothing but respect for our athletes. They are the best in the world.
— Arianny Celeste (@AriannyCeleste) February 26, 2015
In addition to her Octagon Girl duties, Celeste works as a co-host of Overhaulin’, an automotive reality show on the Discovery channel.
Rousey, on the other hand, is set to defend her championship title at UFC 184, which occurs this Saturday night at the Los Angeles Staples Center. She faces off against the undefeated Cat Zingano, and will attempt to physically “bully” and finish her opponent, as she has done to every one of her past adversaries.
[Featured Image by Ethan Miller/Getty Images ]
