Ronda Rousey details her hidden concussions are reason for leaving the UFC.
The UFC has brought the concept of MMA as a sport to more and more light as the years go on. The promotion has had many changes over their years of tenure to include diversity into their business. Such as different weight classes, showing UFC events in different countries, and having a vast roster of multicultural individuals. Another example would be in 2013, at UFC 157, where women made their debut in the UFC. This fight featured Liz “Girl-Rilla” Carmouche, against now UFC Hall of Famer, “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey.
Rousey was already making herself a name in the MMA world. As in Strikeforce, she had amassed a 4-0 record, bring her MMA record to 5-0. Rousey now had a chance to spotlight herself in non-arguably, MMA’s biggest promotion, the UFC. This fight showed as a great precedent for Rousey and female fighters, as Rousey had gotten the victory via an armbar submission in the first round. Showing that she can continue to dominate the MMA game as she has been since she started. This was only the beginning for Rousey, as she went on to dominate the UFC women’s bantamweight division in style. Beating her next 6 opponents with finishes from brutal submission or striking work. After having an 11-0 MMA record and 6-0 record in the UFC, it was clear Rousey was paving the way for women’s MMA and making a name for herself.
Rousey’s next fight was matched up against Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm. After a big first round for Holm, it was soon foreshadowing how the next round would go. Rousey was knocked out with a head kick from Holly Holm. Suffering her first loss in a round, and first loss in MMA.
Ronda Rousey Details Her Decision of Retirement
After her loss to Holm, Rousey came back to the women’s bantamweight decision. In this fight, she faced the current champion, Amanda “The Lioness” Nunes. Where Nunes had appeared to not be a good matchup for Rousey, as Nunes knocked her out in the first round. This would unfortunately be the last we would see of Rousey in the UFC, but she left a legendary career behind her. Rousey has since then went to the promotion of professional wrestling at WWE, where she, per usual, was running through the sport and making a name for herself.
Recently, Rousey started an Instagram Live podcast on her account to promote her new memoir “Our Fight.” In this Instagram Live, she is with her sister, who is reading questions for Rousey to answer. During her talking about her book, she revealed that her UFC retirement was linked to former fights and concussions. Detailing that she had kept her concussions a secret to continue fighting in the UFC.
“My concussion history that I had to keep secret for years, so I would be able to continue to compete and perform.” Rousey explains that inevitably, the concussions she received from fighting in MMA are what stopped her from continuing. “That’s basically why I had to retire.”
It is with no doubt that once a fighter feels like they have given it their all, they should hang up the gloves. Rousey showed dominance up to her last 2 UFC fights and put on a show for all fans to enjoy during her tenure in the UFC.
Quotes taken from Ronda Rousey’s Instagram Live
Where does Ronda Rousey rank in your top female fighters? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
