Ronda Rousey Opens Up About Neurological Challenges, Confirms MMA Exit
Ronda Rousey, one of the most iconic figures in mixed martial arts (MMA) history, has officially put to rest any speculations about her potential return to the octagon. In a candid revelation, Rousey detailed the severe and irreversible neurological damage she has sustained, which ultimately led to her early departure from the sport in 2016.
"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 plainly.
Rousey's swift rise from the regional scene to the upper echelons of MMA, first with Strikeforce and then the UFC, made her a household name. As a mainstream star, she inspired the UFC President Dana White to reconsider his stance on women's participation in the UFC, ultimately paving the way for a new era of women's fighting. But behind the scenes of her public success was a story of accumulating concussions and neurological decline, repeatedly ignored and unchecked.
During her career, Rousey's aggressive fighting style and frequent bouts undoubtedly exacerbated existing issues. Reflecting on her experiences, she shared, "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."
The harsh reality of Rousey's journey with concussions traces back to her earliest years. "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.
Before stepping into MMA, Rousey had already endured years of unaddressed concussions, even training through them without a break. "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 explained.
Rousey's early exit from MMA followed consecutive knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes, which left her facing not only physical but also neurological repercussions. Her experiences have led her to critique the pervasive culture of silence surrounding neurological decline 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," Rousey stated.
Her decision to speak openly about her neurological issues underscores a critical discourse on athlete health and safety, especially in sports where concussions are a common risk. As a former Olympic bronze medalist and a trailblazer in women's MMA, her voice resonates with the necessity for better concussion management and support systems within the sporting community.
Rousey's transparency about her struggles pulls back the curtain on the invisible battles many athletes endure. Her story is a stark reminder of the long-term consequences of repeated head trauma and the urgent need for changes in how these issues are handled in sports.
Ultimately, Ronda Rousey's declaration that she will not return to MMA confirms that her fighting days are definitively behind her. It may be a disappointing revelation for her fans, but it underscores a crucial, often overlooked aspect of professional athletes' lives—their health and well-being. Her journey compels ongoing discussions about creating safer environments for future generations of athletes.
In sharing her experiences, Rousey adds a significant chapter to the narrative of athlete safety, ensuring her legacy is not just one of fighting prowess but also of advocating for the health of those who follow in her footsteps.