Ronda Rousey, once hailed as the unstoppable force in women’s mixed martial arts, faced a pivotal moment in her career at UFC 193. The stage was set for a showdown with Holly Holm, and the stakes couldn’t have been higher. Little did fans know that Rousey was battling more than just her opponent that night.
The Concussion Revelation from Ronda Rousey
In a recent interview with YouTuber Valeria Lipovetsky, Rousey made a startling admission: she was concussed even before stepping into the octagon against Holm. The fight would go down in history as one of the most shocking upsets in UFC.
Rousey revealed, “I was out on my feet for the entire fight.” Her mouthguard was ill-fitting, and she had already suffered a head injury from slipping down some stairs. Add to that an arduous weight cut, which left her with less fluid in her brain for protection. Despite her cognitive struggles, she tried to hide her pain, but she wasn’t fully present mentally.
Ronda Rousey says she was concussed going into the Holly Holm fight at UFC 193.
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Before UFC 193, Rousey was a media darling, defending her women’s bantamweight championship six consecutive times in just two-and-a-half years. But after the devastating knockout by Holm, she skipped the post-fight news conference and remained silent. Her comeback fight against Amanda Nunes in 2016 ended in another loss, and Rousey’s media presence dwindled.
Ronda Rousey’s Resentment and Retirement
Rousey’s abrupt MMA retirement was driven by health concerns, but it was also fueled by fan backlash. She felt betrayed by those she had fought for. “Suddenly everything that I accomplished meant nothing,” she said. The appreciation turned into resentment, and she no longer wanted to fight for a fan base that had turned against her.
Despite her WWE career and other endeavors, Rousey’s legacy remains intertwined with that fateful night at UFC 193. Holm’s head-kick knockout changed the course of MMA history and revealed the human side of a seemingly invincible fighter.
As we reflect on Ronda Rousey’s journey, we’re reminded that even champions face vulnerability. The Holly Holm fight serves as a powerful lesson about the price of greatness and the sacrifices made by those who step into the cage.
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