Ronda Rousey Confirms She Will Not Return to MMA, Citing Neurological Damage
In a candid revelation, Ronda Rousey has put to rest any speculation regarding her potential return to mixed martial arts (MMA), citing irreversible neurological damage as the primary reason. The former UFC star, who became a household name and influenced the landscape of women's combat sports, has opened up about the severe health toll fighting took on her body and mind.
Rousey’s meteoric rise from the regional scene to the heights of organizations like Strikeforce and the UFC is the stuff of legend. Her dominance and charisma brought women's MMA into the mainstream, influencing UFC President Dana White to reconsider his stance on women’s participation in the sport. However, her journey was not without peril.
"It's nice to feel missed, I guess," Rousey commented, "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."
These neurological injuries have plagued Rousey from a young age. She began dealing with concussions at just six years old while swimming, often colliding with peers or the pool wall during backstroke. Rousey continued to sustain concussions throughout her childhood and into her teenage years as she took up judo and pushed through the symptoms without being allowed to speak up.
"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," Rousey explained. "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."
Entering MMA, Rousey brought with her a history of untreated concussions. She admitted to having dozens of concussions by the time she made her debut, enduring the symptoms throughout her career. The rate and severity of hits took a noticeable toll on her ability to compete safely.
"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," she recounted.
Her rapid ascent came to an abrupt halt with back-to-back knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes. These defeats signaled not just a shift in her career trajectory but also highlighted the physical dangers she faced.
"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 commented.
Beyond the personal struggles, Rousey's revelations shed light on a broader issue within contact sports—a culture of silence around neurological damage and its long-term consequences. Athletes often push through injuries, fearing accusations of weakness 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," she said.
Rousey’s decision to step away from the octagon and openly discuss her neurological health underscores the invisible battles many athletes face. It also calls attention to the need for better concussion management and support systems within contact sports. Her journey from Olympic bronze medalist in judo to UFC champion has undeniably raised the profile of women's fighting in MMA, but it has come at a significant personal cost.
Ronda Rousey's candid sharing of her struggles and decision not to return to MMA provides a critical discourse on athlete health and safety, particularly concerning concussions. Her story is a powerful reminder that behind the glory and fame, athletes grapple with significant, often unseen, health challenges.