Rousey has described the event as a potential landscape-shifting moment in MMA with potential to challenge the UFC’s dominance if regular events occur under the banner.
In an interview with BBC Sport before the fight, Rousey said she “would not be here if the UFC paid their fighters better”.
Rousey had been critical of the UFC’s fighter pay, suggesting she wanted the MVP-Netflix partnership to provide an alternative for fighters.
During the broadcast, former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones, who was working as a pundit, also shone a light on the restrictions of UFC contracts by saying a bout with Francis Ngannou is unlikely because he is tied to the organisation, despite retiring last year.
The UFC has been a regular topic during fight week, and the organisation appeared to take notice by announcing Conor McGregor’s bout against Max Holloway during the broadcast.
McGregor is one of the biggest MMA stars of all time, so announcing his return after five years away from the sport means the story will compete with Rousey’s headlines in the media.
It also points to the UFC taking notice.
“That just shows how pressed there are. Little insecure boys trying to piggy back off our event and try to put some news over top on us – not going to work,” Paul said.
“Dana White, all of you – be prepared, because this is the takeover.”
In the UFC, under 20% of revenue goes to fighter pay while in boxing, fighters can expect to receive as much as 60% of event revenue.
Disclosed fight purses show every fighter on the card got a minimum £28,800 ($40,000) while Rousey collected £1.7m and Ngannou £1.1m.
In comparison, the UFC pays about £8,960 ($12,000) to £14,900, plus performance-based bonuses, to its entry-level fighters.
