Ronda Rousey Shuts Down MMA Return, Cites Neurological Damage
In a candid revelation that has rocked the world of mixed martial arts, Ronda Rousey has officially dismissed any speculation about making her return to the octagon. The former UFC champion and Olympic bronze medalist disclosed serious neurological issues as the reason behind her permanent departure from the sport that made her a household name.
"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 said, addressing the growing concerns of her fans and the MMA community.
Rousey’s rapid rise from the regional scene to becoming a mainstream star in Strikeforce and then the UFC is well-documented. She laid the groundwork for women's participation in the UFC, compelling even the reluctant UFC President Dana White to reconsider his stance on the matter. Her influence significantly raised the profile of women's fighting in MMA, but her journey came with a heavy price.
Despite her incredible achievements, Rousey's career took a downturn after back-to-back knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes. She revealed that her early departure from MMA in 2016 was not merely a result of these losses but also due to accumulating neurological damage. "I got to a point where I couldn't take a jab without getting dazed, without getting concussion symptoms. It just got to a point where it wasn't safe for me to fight anymore. I just couldn't continue to fight at that higher level," she admitted.
Rousey's battle with concussions began long before her MMA career. Remarkably, she started dealing with concussion symptoms as early as six years old. "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 recounted.
This culture of silence followed her into her MMA career, where the relentless pursuit of excellence often overshadowed personal health concerns. "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," Rousey explained.
Rousey's decision to disclose these personal health struggles sheds light on the unseen battles many athletes face, particularly in contact sports where head injuries and concussions are prevalent. "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," she pointed out, highlighting the need for a shift in how these issues are addressed within the sporting community.
The impact of Rousey's revelations extends beyond her career, compelling critical discussions about athlete health and safety. Her experiences underscore the necessity for better concussion management and support systems. As one of the most influential figures in women's MMA, her voice may very well lead to substantive changes in how the sport handles neurological health.
Ultimately, Ronda Rousey’s decision to step away from the octagon is irreversible. Her story is a sobering reminder of the physical and neurological toll that professional sports can exact on its participants. Yet, by speaking openly about her struggles, Rousey has paved the way for a more transparent and supportive approach to dealing with similar issues in the future.