Discover why Ronda Rousey retired from MMA and how a history of concussions played a significant role. Learn about her struggles with depression and the impact she made on women’s fighting in UFC.
| Key Points |
|---|
| Ronda Rousey retired from MMA due to a history of concussions. |
| Her judo career contributed to her retirement after knockout defeats. |
| Rousey battled depression and suicidal thoughts after leaving UFC. |
| She refrained from discussing her losses due to her history of concussions. |
| Rousey’s retirement allowed her to explore other opportunities in WWE, film, and television. |
Ronda Rousey’s Retirement from MMA
Ronda Rousey, one of the biggest stars in UFC history, recently revealed that a history of concussions ultimately led to her retirement from mixed martial arts. Prior to her success in UFC, Rousey excelled in judo, even winning a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. However, her judo career took a toll on her health, and after suffering knockout defeats to Amanda Nunes and Holly Holm, she made the difficult decision to step away from the octagon.
In an Instagram Live appearance to promote her upcoming memoir, Rousey expressed her desire for people to understand the reasons behind her retirement. She explained, ‘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.’
Retiring at the age of 29, Rousey also opened up about her battle with depression and suicidal thoughts following her departure from UFC. She faced criticism for refusing to discuss her losses to Nunes and Holm, but she revealed that her silence was due to her reluctance to talk about her history of concussions.
During her Instagram appearance, Rousey shared, ‘I think there was just so much to [that loss] that I couldn’t talk about it in the form of an interview or article or anything like that, or there would be several filters between my words and people reading it. So much had to do with having so many concussions when I was in judo before I even got into MMA. I couldn’t talk about it at all when I was doing MMA because it would literally put a target on my head and I might not have been allowed to compete any farther.’
Rousey’s impact on women’s fighting in UFC cannot be overstated. She played a pivotal role in giving female fighters a solid footing in the sport. Since her retirement from MMA, Rousey has ventured into other endeavors, including WWE, film, and television work.
| Key Points |
|---|
| Ronda Rousey retired from MMA due to a history of concussions. |
| Her judo career contributed to her retirement after knockout defeats. |
| Rousey battled depression and suicidal thoughts after leaving UFC. |
| She refrained from discussing her losses due to her history of concussions. |
| Rousey’s retirement allowed her to explore other opportunities in WWE, film, and television. |
