Fertitta calls UFC an industry leader in treatment of female athletes — VIDEO
Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Lorenzo Fertitta says the organization is a leader in the sports world for female competitors.
In an interview with CNN Money, Fertitta told Rachel Crane the Las Vegas-based mixed martial arts organization began treating female fighters as equals to the men as soon as it decided to implement a women's division.
The result has been beneficial to both the UFC and the fighters as former women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey made a whole lot of money for both herself and the organization.
"Certainly we've embraced women in MMA, women in sport, like no other organization ever has," he said. "If you would have asked me five years ago would our most popular athlete on the roster be a woman, I would have probably said no. But as we sit here today and you think about who Ronda is, what she represents, her competitive spirit, her personality, you can look back at that and say, 'It's really not that surprising.'"
Fertitta also disputed Crane's claim Holm only made $300,000 for the fight, adding she just signed a new deal that will include a share of pay-per-view revenue in her future fights.
Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamilllvrj
