Ladd accuses UFC of neglecting women's MMA while signing fighters too soon

Aspen Ladd, the former UFC bantamweight who has since moved into bare-knuckle boxing, has levelled sharp criticism at the UFC over what she describes as a sustained failure to invest in its women’s divisions, pointing to a pattern of signing inexperienced fighters and watching potential stars fall flat on the biggest stage.

Ladd, who compiled a 12-5 record during her UFC tenure from 2017 to 2022, told Sherdog’s Sean Sheehan that women’s MMA inside the promotion has been “suffering from not much care,” citing a lack of opportunity and a tendency to push young fighters too quickly. She referenced Bella Mir’s recent loss on Dana White’s Contender Series as an example of a prospect brought in before she was ready.

“Back in the day, you had a bunch of promotions, like Invicta — Invicta was amazing,” Ladd said. “That’s where I did my first five fights, where you’re fighting real competition before you get to the big stage. So I think it’s really suffering from not much care; there’s been a lack of opportunity and then pushing young fighters a little too fast.”

Ladd also weighed in on the broader landscape of women’s combat sports, expressing measured optimism about the merger between the Professional Fighters League and Most Valuable Promotions. She was careful to temper expectations, noting that PFL’s 2023 acquisition of Bellator did not deliver the unified women’s weight classes many had anticipated.

“With the merger between PFL and Bellator, you thought it’d be great — they’re absorbing the weight classes — but it wasn’t. That was a disaster,” she said. “But I think the MVP-PFL merger will be a huge thing. I know obviously Scott Coker’s coming back. So I think next year is gonna be great. The last couple haven’t been.”

Ladd’s own career path reflects the fragmented state of the women’s game. After leaving the UFC, she joined the PFL before switching to Bellator for a single fight when PFL dropped its women’s featherweight division in 2024. She has since pivoted to bare-knuckle boxing, scoring a first-round knockout on her debut last November.

She is next scheduled to face Bianca Daimoni under the BKB banner on 29 August in Miami.