Ronda Rousey Shuts Down Speculation of MMA Return Citing Neurological Health Concerns
Ronda Rousey, once the face of women's mixed martial arts (MMA), has definitively dismissed any hopes of a return to the sport she helped revolutionize. Speaking candidly about her reasons, Rousey cited serious and irreversible neurological damage as the primary factor behind her decision.
"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 stated unequivocally.
Rousey, who transitioned from the regional scene to Strikeforce and subsequently the UFC with remarkable speed, became a household name and a mainstream star. Her influence was so significant that it prompted UFC President Dana White to reconsider his longstanding opposition to women competing in the UFC. Despite her rapid rise and immense success, Rousey's career in MMA was cut short by a series of severe injuries.
After back-to-back knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes, Rousey stepped away from the sport, leaving fans and analysts speculating about a potential return. However, her recent revelations lay bare the harsh realities that led to her early departure from the octagon.
"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 neurological struggles that overshadowed her later bouts.
Rousey's issues with concussions began long before her MMA career. She recalled dealing with concussion symptoms from the age of six due to swimming, where she often collided with other children. Her involvement in judo at a young age only compounded these issues, as she frequently suffered concussions multiple times a year.
"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 shared.
The culture of silence around neurological injuries in contact sports exacerbated her condition. "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 recounted.
Rousey, a former Olympic bronze medalist in judo, managed to raise the profile of women's fighting in MMA significantly. However, her revelations about the neurological toll of her career put a spotlight on athlete health and safety in combat sports.
"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. Her willingness to discuss these issues publicly is a critical step in opening a broader discourse on athlete health and safety.
Rousey's story underscores the invisible battles many athletes face, often in silence. Her decision to not return to the octagon is rooted in a profound understanding of her neurological health. "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 reiterated.
Rousey believes there is a dire need for better concussion management and support systems in contact sports. Her candid revelations compel an essential conversation about the long-term effects of repeated head trauma and the culture of silence that often surrounds it.
While Ronda Rousey's fighting days may be over, her influence on the sport and her advocacy for athlete health will continue to resonate. Her story is a stark reminder of the need for ongoing vigilance and support for athletes facing similar challenges.