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UFC Champion Ronda Rousey Backs Bernie Sanders for President

‘He doesn’t take any corporate money’

Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey / AP
November 10, 2015

Hillary Clinton will lose out on the support of MMA fighter Ronda Rousey, who recently backed Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), Clinton’s rival for the Democratic nomination for president.

Rousey, the undefeated champion of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, told Maxim in an interview that she’s backing Sanders over Clinton because he doesn’t take money from corporations.

"I’m voting for Bernie Sanders because he doesn’t take any corporate money," Rousey stated. "I don’t think politicians should be allowed to take money for their campaigns from outside interests."

Rousey will refuse to support Clinton in the general if she beats Sanders, choosing instead to vote for a third party candidate.

"If he doesn’t win against Hillary, then I’ll probably vote for a third party again," Rousey said. "To be honest, in 2012 I was against both candidates and so I just picked any third party because I thought if more people voted for third parties then they’d have to take third parties seriously."

The famed MMA fighter voted for comedian Roseanne Barr, who ran as a third party candidate in 2012, over President Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney.

"I voted for Roseanne last time. Mostly I went in to vote for all the state and local things. I was so unimpressed with the whole presidential campaign that I picked whatever third party I saw, and I saw Roseanne and thought, ‘That’s awesome.’ But I’m really pulling for Sanders this time. I hope it works out," Rousey said.

Rousey, who lives in Venice Beach, California, is one of a few Hollywood elites who have backed Sanders in the 2016 contest. Clinton has received plenty of support from individuals in the Los Angeles area, hosting multiple fundraisers there that have netted her millions.