Nunes: Rousey media blackout is good for me

When former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey lost her belt, she went from being the most interviewed figure in mixed martial arts to one of the least. In the last year so she did a handful of television interviews, and one written. Friday she fights new champion Amanda Nunes, and made a cameo in the latest Embedded episode. However, in the lead up to the fight, Rousey has in a contracted media blackout.

In a recent interview with local Las Vegas media, Nunes said she’s fine with that.

I don’t know what is wrong with this girl, I’m gonna be honest with you, said Nunes, as transcribed by Jed Meshew for MMA Fighting. But if she wants to play this game, she’s playing with the wrong person. I’m very focused and I know how I’m gonna stop her…

It’s good for me. I don’t like to do a lot of interviews. I like to train and then step in the cage and do my job. This is the thing that I like to do. I’m okay. It’s good for me Ronda Rousey’s not doing anything. I can rest and focus on my training and losing weight and that’s it.

Nunes noted that the blackout is something that would likely not be afforded her if she asked.

I think they would make me [do media], for sure,” said Nunes. “I think the UFC would make me do it if [I said], ‘I don’t want to do anything.’ They love Ronda Rousey, what are you gonna do? Kick her ass. I will do it.

As the champion, Nunes gets points on the pay per view, and the buy rate has likely not been helped by the blackout, but the champion is taking it in stride.

I think people respect that she comes back,” she said. “I think it’s still gonna be a huge pay-per-view sell because this is the question: you guys don’t want to see? You guys want to see, right? Even she’s not here to talk to you guys but you guys still want to see her. And me too.

I want to fight somebody that makes my title defenses big. I want to be the main event, this is the thing I want to do. My next title defense is huge, had to be against Ronda Rousey because Ronda Rousey is the big name in this division and only her is gonna make this possible. Whatever they want to do with this promotion they can do but at the end of the day I’m the best, I’m the champ, I have the belt, I will keep the belt.

Amanda Nunes fights Ronda Rousey in the main event of UFC 207 on Friday, live on pay per view.