MMA icon Ronda Rousey recently appeared on The Breakfast Club podcast to discuss her new graphic novel and the possibility of returning to the octagon.
While promoting “Expecting the Unexpected,” Rousey opened up about her journey from dominance to darkness, and ultimately to a place of peace she never expected to find.
The former UFC champion’s relationship with combat sports has evolved dramatically since her highly publicized losses in 2015 and 2016. For years, fans assumed those defeats ended her combat sports career permanently.
However, Rousey revealed the truth was far more complex than public perception suggested. “I knew my fighting career was over really,” she explained, discussing neurological issues she had been privately battling. “I’d been dealing with a lot of neurological issues that I hadn’t been able to tell anyone about because you’re the champ. You can’t let anyone know that you have any weakness.”
Rousey disclosed that she had suffered numerous concussions since childhood, which progressively worsened throughout her career. The symptoms became debilitating, any impact would cause her to lose vision and depth perception during fights. “I basically can’t fight safely because if I get hit, I basically can go blind,” she stated.
Recently, however, Rousey received encouraging news from the Cleveland Clinic during a long-term fighter study organized by UFC CEO Dana White. Doctors suggested that many of her symptoms might be migraine-related rather than purely concussive, and that there are potential treatments available. This development has opened a door Rousey thought was permanently closed.
“The doctor there, he was like the first person to actually give me good news,” Rousey said. “He thinks that because my brain looks better than it should,” she explained, noting that doctors believe she hasn’t had as many concussions as previously feared.
“You can have a migraine without a headache,” she noted, explaining how impacts could trigger these debilitating symptoms without causing actual concussions.
This medical news provides context for Rousey’s abrupt retirement after back-to-back losses, decisions that were heavily scrutinized by fans and media. Unlike male competitors who have lost multiple bouts and maintained their legacy, Rousey faced intense criticism after just two defeats.
When asked about this double standard, she didn’t hesitate: “What do you think the difference is?” she asked the hosts, who responded, “That you’re a woman.”
Despite the improved prognosis, Rousey remains cautious about returning to competition. The doctors informed her that nutritional interventions might help manage the migraine triggers, but she questioned the wisdom of testing this theory in actual combat. “What’s the point of going out and taking head impacts to see if it works or not?” she reasoned.
The intrigue surrounding a potential return intensified when fans noticed Rousey posting training videos on Instagram, looking remarkably fit and sharp. She now has a cage in her garage and regularly trains with friends, rediscovering her love for the sport.
“I’m just having fun with it again,” Rousey said. “It got to a point where I feel like it kind of got hijacked from me and I was fighting and training for reasons other than my own.”
When pressed about a comeback, especially given the speculation about her appearing at a UFC event at the White House, Rousey remained coy but didn’t completely dismiss the possibility.
“I literally said that I wasn’t,” she laughed, before adding, “That’s exactly what you would say if you were.” She referenced Mike Tyson’s return at age 58, which became the most-watched fight of all time with 108 million views, as proof that legends are never truly done.
Rousey’s perspective on competition has shifted dramatically since becoming a mother. She’s tired of “achievement hunting” and has found fulfillment in creative pursuits like her graphic novel, which explores motherhood and vulnerability through an action-packed narrative.
“If I would, it wouldn’t be in a place to like where I’m trying to patch up my happiness,” Rousey explained about a potential return. “I think that’s what it was before of like, oh, if I get this fight, if I win this, then I’ll be happy. I think if it would come from an entirely different space if it ever came at all.”
