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Ronda Rousey is more than a UFC legend.
She's the first woman to sign with the promotion, the inaugural Women's Bantamweight Champion and a trailblazer who put her sport on the map by dominating her first 12 fights. It's a wholly unique and spectacular career.
It ended shorter than most expected, however. Rousey retired from the UFC at age 29 a decade ago. The decision came after back-to-back knockout losses by the hands of Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes.
Rousey stepped away from the limelight shortly after that period, but in the years following, she opened up about how a lengthy concussion history led to her choice.
"I'd like people to understand my reasons and motivations behind things," Rousey said in a 2024 Instagram Live, per ESPN. "I was forced to leave fighting when I was faster, stronger, more skilled and had a better understanding of the art than ever before. It was a really hard decision to understand, one that my body made for me."
After leaving the UFC, Rousey enjoyed massive success in the WWE and appeared as an actor in movies such as Furious 7. She also runs a ranch with her husband, ex-UFC fighter Travis Browne, in Oregon. Rousey was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018.
Now, Rousey is returning to MMA to face Gina Carano, who last fought 17 years ago. Their much-anticipated bout will take place tonight on Netflix.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why did Ronda Rousey retire from UFC?
Continue reading...
She's the first woman to sign with the promotion, the inaugural Women's Bantamweight Champion and a trailblazer who put her sport on the map by dominating her first 12 fights. It's a wholly unique and spectacular career.
It ended shorter than most expected, however. Rousey retired from the UFC at age 29 a decade ago. The decision came after back-to-back knockout losses by the hands of Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes.
Rousey stepped away from the limelight shortly after that period, but in the years following, she opened up about how a lengthy concussion history led to her choice.
"I'd like people to understand my reasons and motivations behind things," Rousey said in a 2024 Instagram Live, per ESPN. "I was forced to leave fighting when I was faster, stronger, more skilled and had a better understanding of the art than ever before. It was a really hard decision to understand, one that my body made for me."
After leaving the UFC, Rousey enjoyed massive success in the WWE and appeared as an actor in movies such as Furious 7. She also runs a ranch with her husband, ex-UFC fighter Travis Browne, in Oregon. Rousey was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018.
Now, Rousey is returning to MMA to face Gina Carano, who last fought 17 years ago. Their much-anticipated bout will take place tonight on Netflix.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why did Ronda Rousey retire from UFC?
Continue reading...
