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Ronda Rousey Cites Concussions as Reason for Retirement

In a revealing discussion, former UFC star Ronda Rousey shared insights into her retirement from mixed martial arts, attributing her decision largely to a series of concussions. Rousey, who hung up her gloves in 2016 at the relatively young age of 29 following losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes, used an Instagram Live session aimed at promoting her memoir, "Our Fight," to open up about her health struggles.


Despite feeling at the peak of her physical and technical abilities, Rousey recognized her body's signals that it was time to step away from the combat sport.



"My concussion history, I had to keep secret for years so I would be able to continue to compete and perform. That’s basically why I had to retire.”


Before her MMA fame, Rousey was an accomplished judoka, clinching an Olympic bronze medal. Her transition to MMA was historic, as she became the first woman signed by the UFC in 2012. Known for her dominant armbar victories, Rousey quickly became a household name, defending the UFC bantamweight championship six times.


However, her career faced a turning point with a knockout loss to Holm in 2015, leading Rousey to retreat from public view and media interactions. She highlighted the difficulty in discussing her loss and concussion history, fearing it would jeopardize her ability to compete and make her a target in the sport.


Rousey's post-MMA career saw her transition to professional wrestling, where she performed with various organizations, including WWE. Her contributions to women's MMA were formally recognized with her induction into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018. UFC president Dana White has lauded Rousey for her pivotal role in promoting women's martial arts, marking her as a key figure in changing his stance on female fighters in the UFC.


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