In the realm of MMA, the name Ronda Rousey stands as a symbol of empowerment and innovation. But recent speculations about her return have been refuted by none other than Dana White, the president of the UFC.
Ronda Rousey’s impact on women’s MMA is undeniable, as she is a pioneer in the field. White gave Rousey the first women’s bantamweight championship in the promotion despite earlier saying that women would never compete in the UFC.
Dana White even went ahead and placed Rousey on his list of 5 UFC GOATs recently over the likes of Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
After making her UFC 157 debut in 2013, the judo Olympian went on to establish herself as one of the greatest names in the sport. During her tenure with the promotion, she headlined six pay-per-view events, with the last two surpassing the benchmark of one million buys.
The year 2013 marked Rousey’s entry into the UFC, and her presence was nothing short of meteoric. A judo Olympian, she graced the Octagon with a spirit that resonated with fans worldwide. Over the course of her career, she would go on to headline six pay-per-view events, each surpassing the coveted one million buy milestone.
Rousey’s journey wasn’t without its setbacks. In her last two matches, she encountered formidable opponents such as Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes. Both encounters ended in knockout defeats, prompting her to bid farewell to MMA in 2016. She then joined the WWE and ventured into professional wrestling.
But after her loss to Shayna Baszler earlier this month in WWE, she declared her time with the WWE to be over. Therefore, rumors started to circulate that Rousey may rejoin MMA and contend for the vacant 135-pound belt.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, White left no room for ambiguity. He said: “There’s no shot. She’s accomplished everything she set out to do.”
“She’s accomplished everything she set out to do,” White affirmed. Rousey’s contributions to both the UFC and WWE have been nothing short of remarkable.
According to White, the 36-year-old is financially secure and has nothing left to show in combat sports. He also said that Rousey was concentrating on her family.
He added: “Her dream was to win a UFC championship, then win a WWE championship, and she’s done it.”
“Now she’s starting a family. Ronda has made so much money, and she’s still making a lot of money in sponsorships.”
Rousey’s legacy extends beyond her accolades. She is married to former UFC star Travis Browne. In October of 2021, the couple welcomed their first child La’akea Makalapuaokalanipo Browne.