Ronda Rousey Puts an End to MMA Return Speculation, Reveals Dangerous Neurological Damage
Ronda Rousey, once the face of women's mixed martial arts (MMA), has officially closed the door on any potential return to the octagon. Amidst swirling rumors and fans' hopeful speculations, Rousey has made it clear that her days in competitive fighting are over due to irreversible neurological damage.
"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 shared, dashing hopes of a comeback.
Rousey's rise to fame was nothing short of meteoric. She rapidly transitioned from regional circuits to Strikeforce and eventually to the UFC, where she became a mainstream star and a household name. Her influence was so profound that UFC President Dana White reconsidered his stance on women's participation in the UFC, opening doors for many female fighters.
However, Rousey's career took a sharp turn after consecutive knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes. These defeats, coupled with her history of concussions, led her to retire from the sport in 2016. Rousey's exit from MMA left many questions unanswered, which she has now chosen to address candidly.
"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," Rousey explained, shedding light on the gravity of her condition.
Rousey's battle with neurological issues dates back to her childhood. She began experiencing concussions at just six years old, a result of accidental collisions during swimming. This pattern of injuries continued into her judo training where she suffered multiple concussions annually but wasn't allowed to voice her struggles.
"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," Rousey recounted.
Her transition into MMA didn't alleviate these issues. Instead, the frequency and severity of her concussions increased. "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 revealed.
Rousey's frank discussions about her neurological health highlight a significant yet often overlooked issue in contact sports. The culture of silence around neurological decline and concussions is prevalent. Athletes frequently avoid discussing these matters for fear of being seen as weak or making excuses.
"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, pointing out the stigma associated with acknowledging such injuries.
Rousey's decision to openly address her neurological struggles not only brings attention to her personal story but also compels a larger discussion about athlete health and safety. Her experience underscores the necessity for better concussion management and support systems within sports where head injuries are a routine risk.
Rousey's legacy in women's MMA is indisputable. Beyond her achievements in the ring and her role in popularizing women's fighting, her transparency about the darker side of the sport's physical toll could lead to crucial changes in how athlete health is perceived and managed.
While Ronda Rousey won't be returning to the octagon, her impact continues to resonate, raising awareness and perhaps prompting essential reforms in sports safety protocols.