Arianny Celeste on UFC champ Ronda Rousey's criticism: 'I see her as a big bully'

Arianny Celeste

Arianny Celeste wants MMA fans – and fighters – to understand how hard the job of Octagon Girl truly is.

The lack of understanding and constant flow of criticism is something that can wear on Celeste and others in her line of work, and actually forces her away from the sport except when working an event.

“When I’m not working, I’m not that into the MMA world,” Celeste told MMAjunkie Radio. “I kind of separate myself. I’m not going to lie: The people in the MMA world can be pretty harsh. I used to care about things like that, but now I don’t. I don’t let myself look at blogs or anything like that because I don’t want to see anything that’s going to hurt my feelings or piss me off – because sometimes I tend to talk back. I’m not a pushover and I’m not a hardass, but I definitely will defend myself if I need to.”

When not attending weigh-ins, working fight nights or making public appearances (such as a meet and greet calendar signing at 9 on Vine in Los Angeles this Friday following the UFC 184 weigh-ins) in her capacity as Octagon Girl, Celeste works as a model and co-hosts “Overhaulin'” on Discovery Channel.

It’s a busy schedule that Celeste believes vindicates her defensive nature when people lob criticism at her or other Octagon Girls.

“I think people don’t realize how much work it is to be a model, be a host, be an Octagon Girl,” Celeste said. “Not only are you walking around in a bathing suit where people are critiquing you for that, but try having a camera in your face and showing your personality and being a host of a TV show. Trying being like a live mannequin and having clients put you in a million different outfits, and you’re wanting to go home, but you’re not able to because you have 50 different more outfits. It’s not as easy as it looks or seems to be in my shoes. And not a lot of people would know that unless they were in my shoes.

“I’m tired of the bullying, and I’m not going to let it happen to me or any of the other Octagon Girls.”

Celeste has a history of public sniping with UFC women’s bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey (10-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC), dating back to a 2012 interview in which Rousey talked about the two being ranked on Maxim magazine’s Hot 100 list.

“It would have been really funny if I’d beaten Arianny Celeste, because that would be like a triathlete coming along and beating the runners in a marathon,” Rousey said at the time. “Like, ‘Ha-ha, it’s your job to show your t—–s – I do that better than you!’ Maybe next year. She’s only getting older, and I’m reaching my prime.”

Last year the two exchanged barbs when Celeste mentioned having been talked about by Rousey and questioned her abilities to be a role model. Rousey fired back and the world moved on.

Things flared again in the past week when Rousey said women’s MMA fighters should get paid more than ring girls.

It was taken by many as a shot primarily at Celeste, a woman who has bragged that she’s turned being an Octagon Girl into a career. Celeste took it as such, but had little to say in return.

“I’m not going to talk about her because I’m not a fighter,” she said. “I’m not going to waste my time. I actually don’t talk about anyone. It blows my mind that someone who doesn’t even know me continuously picks on me. And that’s all I see her as: a big bully.”

Rousey will defend her title against Cat Zingano (9-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) on Saturday at UFC 184 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Celeste will work the event in her role as Octagon Girl.

For more on UFC 184, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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