UFC women’s bantamweight title challenger revealed that Dana White’s harsh criticism had an impact on her
While promoting her title bout against Ronda Rousey, Zingano opened up about a phone call she supposedly received from Dana White in 2014.
The UFC president apparently rang her up and told her that she had essentially become irrelevant in MMA, after her extended time away from the cage while she was recovering from a serious injury.
Zingano had been booked to be a coach alongside Rousey in The Ultimate Fighter 18 but was forced to withdraw from the show after sustaining a double-knee injury which required surgery. She was subsequently replaced by Miesha Tate who took the champ to the final stanza in their bout at UFC 168, but was submitted by Rousey’s patented armbar.
It was kind of a slap in the face.
He said after my Miesha fight I just disappeared. Well, granted a ton in my life happened. Forgive me for not being on social media when I had a lot in my face.
Zingano underwent knee surgery to both knees and spent over a year out of the cage while recuperating. Her husband and father of her son also died by suicide on January 13, 2014.
She acknowledged that the UFC needed to continue in her absence but admitted feeling slightly aggrieved by White’s comments.
I understand that the show must go on. I understand that they have to continue fights rolling and people going through so I get it. It is just unfortunate and it kind of sucks to be “irrelevant”.
