UFC Notes: Arianny fires back at Rousey, Melendez staying

Published on Tuesday, 2/25/14, at 1:25 p.m. Eastern.

By Brian Edwards

–Famed Octagon hottie Arianny Celeste has taken a few insults from UFC women’s bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey over the last year and change. Celeste stayed mum about those barbs — until recently, that is. In an interview with MMA Junkie Radio this past Saturday before Rousey defended her title in Las Vegas at UFC 170, Celeste fired back at Rousey.

Celeste said, “I don’t really like the way she carries herself. I don’t think she’s a good role model for women. I think that women should empower each other and give each other a little pat on the back.

“I’ve personally been talked about by her, and I don’t even know her. I’ve met her twice. She said a couple things in her Maxim interview. A lot of people pointed it out to me, but I didn’t really acknowledge it.

“She’s paving the way for women’s MMA, and I’ve made being a UFC Octagon Girl into a career. She should definitely recognize that and be nice.”

Octagon girl Arianny Celeste rocked the purple bikini in Australia before UFC 127 in Sidney.

Octagon girl Arianny Celeste rocked this purple bikini in Australia before UFC 127 in Sydney.

–After Bellator signed UFC lightweight contender and former Strikeforce champ Gilbert Melendez to an offer sheet, the promotion had a three-week window to match the offer or allow Melendez to leave the organization. On Monday, we found out that the UFC did indeed match the offer (details below) and announced Melendez as a coach opposite of Anthony ‘Showtime’ Pettis for the next season of The Ultimate Fighter. After the show, Melendez and Pettis will square off for Showtime’s 155-pound strap.

–An industry source told BE Sports that the UFC’s initial offer to Melendez was a multi-fight contract paying him $100,000 to show with a 100K win bonus. The Bellator contract was 150/150.

–For Pettis-Melendez, 5Dimes has installed Pettis as a -190 ‘chalk’ with Melendez listed as the +150 underdog (risk $100 to win $150).

–As always, Chael Sonnen is “being Chael” and that’s what makes him the UFC’s most interesting and hilarious fighter.

–The initial injury that forced former 205-pound kingpin Rashad Evans out of his fight against Daniel Cormier is more serious than originally thought. Evans is out for at least the next six months.

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