In a recent revelation, former UFC champion Ronda Rousey has officially laid to rest any speculation about a return to the octagon. Citing irreversible neurological damage, Rousey has opened up about the harsh realities that led to her early departure from mixed martial arts (MMA) in 2016.
"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 stated candidly.
A Career of Highs and Lows
Rousey's meteoric rise in the world of MMA began on the regional scene, quickly advancing to organizations like Strikeforce before making a significant impact in the UFC. Her influence was so profound that UFC President Dana White reevaluated his stance on women's participation in the sport, partly because of the immense talent and charisma Rousey brought to the table.
However, her career wasn't without its challenges. Stepping away from the sport after consecutive knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes, Rousey's departure raised numerous questions about athlete welfare in high-stakes sports. She disclosed that her struggles with concussions started much earlier than her MMA career.
"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. 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," Rousey shared.
The Toll of Combat Sports
Rousey’s decision to address her neurological issues brought to light a pressing concern within combat sports. Her candidness has initiated critical discussions surrounding the long-term health impacts that athletes face due to repeated head trauma.
"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," Rousey revealed.
She painted a stark picture of what it’s like to endure countless concussions: "When I got into MMA, I had already had dozens of concussions that I trained through. Like, not even stopped for. 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. Then it got to the point where I was fighting more often than anybody. 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."
A Culture of Silence
Rousey's revelations have underscored a troubling culture of silence around neurological decline in contact sports. "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 said.
Her story compels us to consider the necessity for better concussion management and support systems in sports where concussions are a common risk. As a former Olympic bronze medalist and a pioneering figure in women’s MMA, Rousey’s voice carries weight.
Ronda Rousey’s decision to speak openly about her neurological issues opens a critical dialogue on athlete health and safety. Her journey from a child dealing with swimming-related concussions to becoming a household name in MMA and then navigating the consequences of such a demanding sport is both poignant and alarming.
A Future Away from Fighting
Today, Rousey is firm in her stance that a return to the octagon is off the table. Her openness about the neurological injuries she has endured emphasizes the urgent need for change in how combat sports address athlete health. As the sporting world continues to evolve, Rousey's experience and vocal advocacy may well spur the necessary reforms to protect future generations of athletes.