Ronda Rousey Puts to Rest Rumors of MMA Return, Reveals Harrowing Struggle with Neurological Injuries
Ronda Rousey, the trailblazing mixed martial artist, has officially shut down any speculation concerning her potential return to the octagon. In a candid revelation, Rousey shared profound insights into her early departure from MMA in 2016, citing irreversible neurological damage as the principal reason for her decision.
“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 expressed, highlighting the harsh realities she's faced.
The Climb and the Consequences
Rousey's rise in the MMA world was nothing short of meteoric. She swiftly transitioned from regional circuits to the major leagues, landing in Strikeforce and eventually the UFC. Her remarkable prowess and dynamic personality quickly made her a household name and mainstream star. Additionally, her influence was significant enough to change UFC President Dana White’s views on women's participation in the UFC, marking a notable shift in the sport's history.
However, beneath the surface of her success, Rousey was facing a battle that many couldn't see. “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,” she disclosed, painting a grim picture of her physical state during her final fights.
Early Beginnings of a Hidden Struggle
Rousey's struggle with concussions began long before her MMA career. At just six years old, she started experiencing concussion symptoms from swimming events. “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,” she recounted. Her journey into judo brought no respite, as she continued to suffer from frequent concussions, multiple times a year.
Despite these persistent injuries, Rousey felt compelled to stay silent. “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,” she revealed, indicating a troubling culture of silence within contact sports.
The Toll of the Octagon
Upon entering the MMA, Rousey carried the weight of her past injuries. “When I got into MMA, I had already had dozens of concussions that I trained through. Like, not even stopped for,” Rousey stated. The cumulative effect of these injuries began to show significantly once she started fighting professionally. “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,” she continued. The relentless nature of the sport, coupled with her additional responsibilities outside the ring, only exacerbated her condition.
Rousey's decision to step away from the sport was precipitated by back-to-back knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes. These defeats underscored the extent of her injuries. “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.
Calling for Change
Rousey's revelations bring to light a significant issue in contact sports—the culture of silence and lack of adequate concussion management. “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,” she observed.
Her story not only underscores the need for better support systems for athletes but also serves as a crucial call to action for enhanced safety measures in sports where concussions are prevalent. Rousey's candid discussion about her neurological decline compels a broader conversation on athlete health and safety.
As Rousey firmly stands by her decision to not return to the octagon, her journey and the battles she has fought echo a deeper narrative about the unseen struggles many athletes endure. Her openness about her condition highlights the urgent need for change in how sports handle concussions and neurological injuries, advocating for a future where athletes do not have to suffer in silence.
Rousey's legacy may very well extend beyond her accolades in the ring, paving the way for profound conversations and transformations in athlete health protocols.