Dana White’s controversial favor for Ronda Rousey resurfaces and UFC world calls it unfair to Conor McGregor (Image via Getty)

Ronda Rousey once got a pass from UFC president Dana White that no other fighter, not even Conor McGregor, ever received. After losing her first-ever fight in 2015, Ronda took a long break. When she finally planned her return, White allowed her to skip all media work, a rule he had forced on everyone else. It shocked many fans because McGregor was once pulled from a fight for doing the same thing.

In November 2015, Ronda Rousey was knocked out cold by Holly Holm at UFC 193 in Melbourne. It was her first professional loss and one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. After that, she disappeared from the spotlight for months, avoiding all interviews and public events.In December 2016, Rousey planned her return at UFC 207 against bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes. But this time, Dana White made a surprising call, he gave Ronda a “media exemption.” That meant she didn’t have to attend any press events, interviews, or promotional duties before her fight.This decision caused controversy because earlier that same year, Conor McGregor had been removed from UFC 200 for refusing to do media work. McGregor wanted to focus only on training, but White said no exceptions could be made. He even said, “You have to show up and do the PR, you have to do it, and Conor didn’t do it.”But a few months later, White gave Ronda Rousey exactly that, a full media exemption. When asked why, he said, “Ronda has done a lot of things for us. This is what she wanted, so I gave it to her.”Also Read: Serena Williams Vs Maria Sharapova Net Worth In 2025: Who Is Richer, Tennis Career, Endorsements And More

Even though Ronda Rousey stayed quiet and focused only on training, it didn’t help her inside the Octagon. On December 30, 2016, at UFC 207, she faced Amanda Nunes in Las Vegas. The fight lasted just 48 seconds. Nunes landed heavy punches, and the referee stopped the fight early as Rousey took too much damage.That night marked Ronda Rousey’s final fight in the UFC. She never returned to MMA after that loss. Dana White later confirmed that Ronda retired quietly and chose not to talk about her emotions after the defeat.Still, rumors have recently surfaced that Ronda might make a comeback in 2026 at a special UFC event reportedly planned for the White House. However, neither Rousey nor White has confirmed anything yet. For now, Ronda Rousey’s story remains one of the most debated in UFC history, how Dana White broke his own rule for her, something even Conor McGregor couldn’t get.