Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey has offered fans an inspiring glimpse into her postpartum fitness journey. She revealed how mixed martial arts training has transformed her recovery experience following the birth of her second daughter.
The 38-year-old athlete welcomed daughter Liko’ula Pā’ūomahinakaipiha Browne in January 2025. Six months later, she has now taken to Instagram to showcase her remarkable physical transformation. In a candid video filmed uploaded on her social media, Rousey demonstrated her return to form while expressing gratitude to her support team.
“Here’s a little update on how the post baby recovery is going. Thank you @dangarnernutrition for helping me reclaim my bodily identity from my 2nd pregnancy. Thank you @rickylundell @babyfacebenoit @abletowill and @aj_mma for gettin my a** back in a cage again,” Rousey shared in a post with her followers. She then added, “Please reserve your judgement for my messy room and smeared mirror, I just had a baby and am too tired to clean that sh*t up.”
The mother of two noticed significant differences in her recovery process compared to her experience after her first daughter La’akea was born in September 2021. This time around, Rousey incorporated MMA training into her routine rather than relying solely on traditional gym workouts, and the results have been remarkable.
“I’ve heard recovery for the 2nd baby is easier than the first so maybe it’s partially due to that, but being able to train MMA again made such a huge difference this time – like my joints feel tighter and I just feel healthier and more sturdy compared to just doing regular gym lifting/cardio workouts like I did to recover from my first pregnancy,” she explained.
The former bantamweight champion’s enthusiasm for returning to her martial arts roots was evident as she reflected on the emotional benefits of training. “It’s been a blast finding joy in training again, I missed it, my body missed it,” Rousey confessed.
This physical comeback represents more than just fitness gains for Rousey, who built her legendary career on a foundation of judo excellence that earned her an Olympic bronze medal in 2008. Her transition into MMA made history when she became the first female UFC competitor in 2012, subsequently capturing and defending the bantamweight title six times before stepping away from the sport in 2016.
Following her MMA career, Rousey made waves in professional wrestling with WWE, capturing multiple championships between 2018 and 2023. However, she has since stepped back from full-time competition to focus on family life with husband Travis Browne, a former UFC heavyweight.
Working alongside her coaches, Rousey has rediscovered her passion for training while maintaining her commitment to motherhood. The California native now resides on a farm with Browne and their two daughters.
Despite her impressive physical transformation and renewed love for training, Rousey has made it clear that competitive aspirations are not driving her current efforts. Her focus remains firmly planted on personal wellness and family life, though she continues to inspire countless mothers and athletes through her authentic sharing of the postpartum journey.
The response from fans has been overwhelmingly positive, with supporters praising both her physical achievements and her honest approach to discussing the challenges of recovery after childbirth.
