In a poignant revelation, Ronda Rousey has decisively put to rest any hopes or rumors surrounding her return to mixed martial arts (MMA). The former UFC champion cited irreversible neurological damage as the primary reason for her permanent departure from the sport, shedding light on a darker side of the glittering MMA world.
"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 admitted, underscoring the severity of her condition.
Rousey's early exit from MMA in 2016 came after a meteoric rise and a string of unforgettable victories. She quickly ascended from local circuits to Strikeforce and then captured worldwide attention in the UFC, becoming not just a fighter, but a household name and a cultural icon. Her influence even swayed UFC President Dana White, who had earlier dismissed the possibility of women fighting in the UFC.
However, it was her harrowing experience with concussions that forced her to step away from the sport. "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 explained.
Rousey’s battle with concussions began long before her MMA career. "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.
Her journey through judo, which led her to win an Olympic bronze medal, was marred by frequent head injuries. This culture of silence extended into her MMA career, where she continued to train through dozens of concussions. "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," Rousey recalled.
The relentless toll of MMA, coupled with her external commitments, compounded her neurological decline. "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 candid discussion about her neurological health issues exposes a widespread problem in contact 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," she observed.
The former champion's story does more than just highlight her own struggles; it shines a spotlight on the often-overlooked health issues athletes face. Her bravery in speaking out challenges the culture of silence and advocates for better concussion management and support systems within contact sports. Her narrative prompts critical discussions about athlete health and the pressing need for systemic changes.
Ronda Rousey leaves behind a remarkable legacy, not only as a pioneer for women in MMA but also as a trailblazer advocating for the health and safety of athletes. Her journey from a young girl battling concussions to a global sports icon is an enduring testament to her resilience and fortitude.
"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," she emphasized, marking her definitive exit from the octagon, but ensuring her impact on the sport and athlete welfare continues.