Ronda Rousey appreciates that each every so often when UFC begins constructing an enormous card, her identify nonetheless comes up for a possible comeback.
The newest occasion was UFC 300. Because the promotion promised the largest occasion in historical past, there have been seemingly thousands and thousands of rumors swirling about what sort of a rabbit Dana White may pull out of his hat. Rousey’s identify one way or the other ended up being talked about as a candidate, however White admitted very brazenly that she was by no means even in consideration as a result of the previous bantamweight champion was completely satisfied elevating her household in retirement.
Regardless of her final UFC look occurring nearly eight years in the past, Rousey enjoys that her identify nonetheless comes up now and again, however she guarantees there’s no probability she’s ever combating once more.
“Each couple years … the identical rumor comes out,” Rousey informed the Perception podcast. “It’s good to really feel missed, I suppose. However it’s not occurring. I’m not neurologically match to compete anymore on the highest degree. I simply can’t.
“You simply get to a degree the place the neurological accidents you’re taking accumulate over time. They don’t get higher.”
As she was lately selling her autobiography, Rousey mentioned repeated concussions that started when she was nonetheless a toddler performed the largest consider her MMA profession coming to an finish. Rousey mentioned she by no means addressed the state of affairs publicly as a result of she was nonetheless actively competing, and even after she left UFC, she didn’t need to probably danger her future in WWE after transitioning into skilled wrestling.
However, she mentioned, ultimately the signs she suffered because of so many concussions compelled Rousey to stroll away from full-time competitors.
“Once I acquired into MMA, I had already had dozens of concussions that I skilled by way of,” Rousey mentioned. “Like, not even stopped for. In order that was a few decade of getting concussion signs as a rule. So after I acquired into MMA, I used to be taking part in a sport of zero errors. Then it acquired to the purpose the place I used to be combating extra typically than anyone. I had extra outdoors of combating duties than anyone, and it simply acquired to be lighter and lighter hits have been hurting me an increasing number of and extra.
“I acquired to some extent the place I couldn’t take a jab with out getting dazed, with out getting concussion signs. It simply acquired to some extent the place it wasn’t secure for me to combat anymore. I simply couldn’t proceed to combat at that increased degree.”
Rousey endured her first skilled loss again in 2015 when she suffered a brutal head kick knockout courtesy of Holly Holm. That combat price her the UFC bantamweight title and Rousey ended up sitting out for the following yr as she recovered from the loss.
When she ultimately got here again 13 months later, Rousey lasted simply 48 seconds towards Amanda Nunes earlier than she walked out of the octagon and by no means returned to the UFC.
Reality be informed, Rousey admits now that she most likely ought to have walked away for good after the loss to Holm, however she simply couldn’t let her profession finish like that.
“It was actually powerful and I feel that’s why I took that first loss so laborious, as a result of I knew it was over,” Rousey mentioned. “I knew I’d reached that restrict. I used to be in denial about it and I attempted to return again once more with a whole lot of relaxation and a greater weight reduce, not doing the additional stuff, the additional press, and simply coming in and combating.
“If I may simply reduce to that second after they say go and I combat, I f*cking love that a lot. Nothing makes extra sense on this planet. There’s not a single factor that occurs that I don’t perceive or that I don’t know what to do.”
Rousey mentioned her issues with concussions adopted her into WWE, however she ultimately needed to say sufficient was sufficient. With a rising household alongside husband Travis Browne, Rousey realized she needed to put her athletic profession behind her or danger everlasting harm that she wouldn’t stroll away from.
So as to add to that, Rousey appreciated that she turned a job mannequin for younger fighters developing within the sport and she or he most popular serving for instance to women following in her footsteps moderately than changing into a cautionary story.
“The boys have been round longer so they simply have extra historical past of boxing and stuff like that, they simply attain their restrict of what number of hits that they will take after which they begin getting knocked out,” Rousey defined. “They begin getting knocked out simpler and simpler, an increasing number of typically. Then you definately see them down the highway they usually’re having every kind of neurological points.
“I simply felt it was my accountability to age gracefully as a result of I’m a consultant of my sport. Individuals take a look at me and consider ladies’s MMA. If I’m rolling round in a wheelchair, folks aren’t going to let their little ladies go and do it. You by no means know if you take one hit too many till many years later. You see these guys who’re like punch drunk.”
As a lot as Rousey cherished the assist she acquired from followers, the now 37-year-old UFC Corridor of Famer is aware of consideration like that’s fleeting and she or he needed to start pondering long-term so far as her life was involved.
That’s why she’s so resolved to place combating behind her for good, irrespective of what number of instances she hears requires a comeback.
“Everybody likes to see you combat if you’re within the cage, however none of these individuals are going to be there for you down the road,” Rousey mentioned. “You’ve acquired to deal with your self and your loved ones and put that first. Since you’re only a passing leisure to everyone else. You see that in professional wrestling, folks get hooked on that applause they usually can’t cease, they will’t stroll away even when it turns into to their detriment.
“I simply needed to put my foot down and be like, ‘This has gotten to some extent the place my mind can not take anymore and it has nothing to do with how powerful I’m or something like that.’ It’s simply the best way that it’s.”
