In a candid revelation, Ronda Rousey has officially dispelled any lingering hopes for her return to mixed martial arts, attributing her departure to irreversible neurological damage. The former UFC star has shed light on the harsh realities of her early exit from the sport in 2016, detailing the extent of her injuries and the long-term consequences of a career defined by fierce combat and relentless competition.
“It's nice to feel missed, I guess. But it's not happening. I'm not neurologically fit to compete anymore at the highest level. I just can't. You just get to a level where the neurological injuries you take accumulate over time. They don't get better,” Rousey confessed, providing a stark insight into her decision. This admission underscores the mounting physical toll exacted by years of high-level competition in MMA.
Rousey’s meteoric rise in mixed martial arts began with a swift ascent through the ranks of regional competitions, leading her to Strikeforce, and eventually to the UFC where she became a household name. Her influence was so profound that it prompted UFC President Dana White to reconsider the inclusion of women in the UFC, fundamentally altering the landscape of the sport.
However, her impressive career trajectory took a brutal turn following back-to-back knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes, not only signaling the end of her reign but also marking the onset of severe neurological complications. Rousey recounted experiencing concussion symptoms so severe that she "couldn't take a jab without getting dazed," a condition that made it unsafe for her to continue fighting at an elite level.
Rousey’s history with concussions predates her MMA career, tracing back to her early childhood. “I started dealing with it at six years old. I started getting concussions much earlier on in swimming. Two kids doing a backstroke in the other direction crack heads or hit the wall doing the backstroke. I started doing judo at a young age and kept getting concussions regularly and multiple times a year and not being allowed to speak up or say anything about it,” she revealed. The culture of silence around such injuries in contact sports prevented her from fully addressing these issues.
Training through "dozens of concussions" before entering MMA, Rousey’s combat career was marked by a game of "zero errors." She maintained a punishing schedule, fighting more frequently and shouldering more responsibilities outside the octagon than most of her peers. This relentless pace, combined with the cumulative impact of headshots, accelerated her neurological decline.
“When I got into MMA, I had already had dozens of concussions that I trained through. Like, not even stopped for. So that was about a decade of having concussion symptoms more often than not. So when I got into MMA, I was playing a game of zero errors. Then it got to the point where I was fighting more often than anybody. I had more outside of fighting responsibilities than anybody, and it just got to be lighter and lighter hits were hurting me more and more and more,” she explained.
The stigmatization of discussing neurological injuries in the world of contact sports further exacerbated the issue. “As a fighter, you're not supposed to show any weakness or talk about things like that or the inevitable neurological decline that comes with taking headshots. A lot of people talk about it as if it's making excuses or weakness," Rousey stated, highlighting the pervasive culture of silence.
Rousey’s illustrious career was not without its accolades. A former Olympic bronze medalist, she significantly raised the profile of women's fighting in MMA and emerged as a mainstream star. Her story compels a critical examination of athlete health and safety, particularly in sports where concussions are a common risk.
Central to Rousey’s message is the need for improved concussion management and support systems in contact sports. Her candid discussion about her neurological issues underscores the invisible battles many athletes face, fostering essential dialogue on the subject. Rousey’s declaration that she will not return to the octagon serves as a poignant reminder of the physical and mental costs of high-stakes competition.