Ronda Rousey Speaks Out on UFC Rejection and Media Criticism
At one point, no athlete in MMA was more recognizable than Ronda Rousey. The former Olympic judoka didn't just dominate the women's bantamweight division—she transformed it. With a string of first-round armbars, Rousey helped usher in an entirely new era for the UFC, becoming the organization's first female champion and a mainstream crossover icon. But a recent interview sheds new light on the disconnect between her legacy and how she feels perceived today.
In a vulnerable conversation with High Performance, Rousey opened up about her relationship with the UFC fanbase and media. 'Pretty sure if I walked into the arena, I'd be booed,' she said. 'I gave them everything I had and it wasn't enough.' She also addressed the media's role in reshaping her image, saying, 'I feel like I'm really vilified by MMA media at this point… I'm not really, you know, well welcomed back which is why I haven't gone to a UFC fight since.'
Rousey also revealed a major factor in her UFC departure—long-term concussion symptoms possibly linked to CTE. In her memoir Our Fight, she wrote candidly about suffering concussions as far back as childhood and how the accumulation of head trauma continued throughout her judo and MMA careers. She described symptoms such as blackouts, vision issues, and numbness, noting that even light impacts could trigger episodes. The potential long-term effects, including CTE, weighed heavily on her decision to walk away. Over time, the toll on her health became too great to ignore.
Ronda RouseyGetty Images
Since stepping away from the UFC, Rousey has exited WWE and turned her focus to life outside the ring. She authored her memoir Our Fight, released in 2024, and has shifted attention to her family, raising her two daughters and embracing a quieter life away from the spotlight that once followed her every move. Recently, brief clips of Rousey training surfaced online, sparking speculation about a potential return to either WWE or the UFC. However, as of now, no official announcement or confirmation has been made regarding a comeback.
Related: UFC Rising Star Sends Sparring Offer to Charles Oliveira 'I Can Imitate Topuria Perfectly'
Related: Jake Paul Confirms Undisputed Heavyweight Champ Wants MMA Fight: 'They Reached Out'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jonathan Toews joins hometown Winnipeg Jets in return to NHL
Jonathan Toews is coming home. The Former Chicago Blackhawks captain and three-time Stanley Cup champion has agreed to sign with the Winnipeg Jets but can't put ink to paper until July 1. "We are excited to add a proven winner like Jonathan Toews to the Winnipeg Jets," general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said in a news release posted on the Jets website. "It will be a unique opportunity for Jonathan to play for his hometown team. His talent, drive and experience will be a great complement to our club. We will withhold further comment until July 1." Free agents aren't allowed to put ink to paper until July 1, so the official signing has to wait just over a week. The Jets posted several messages on X on Friday morning, including one that said, "Can't believe this is a real post from @nhljets tbh." Toews, who was born in Winnipeg and played youth hockey in the city, has a sportsplex named in his honour in the St. Vital neighbourhood where he grew up. On Friday, a message on the electronic sign for the facility said "He's home." In a statement included in the Jets release on Friday, Toews said he is grateful to be making his return to the NHL with the club. "It's very special to come home and play in front of my family and friends in Manitoba. The Jets have been on the rise over the last few seasons, and I'm eager to join the group and help however I can." Toews, 37, was drafted third overall by the Blackhawks in 2006 and spent his entire career there, winning three Stanley Cups (2010, 2013 and 2015), before stepping away from the game in February 2023, saying he was suffering from symptoms of long COVID and chronic inflammatory response syndrome. "It has reached the point where I had no choice but to step back and concentrate on getting healthy," he said at the time. He returned to the Blackhawks' lineup on April 1, and about two weeks later, the team announced it would not re-sign Toews after his contract expired at the end of the season. In August 2023, Toews said he intended to sit out the 2023-24 season to focus on his health, but that he was not retiring from the NHL. In March 2025, he announced in an interview with The Athletic that he intended to return for the 2025-26 season, prompting speculation among hockey writers and fans about where he might land. Winnipeg was always considered a front-runner. Toews is a two-time Olympic gold medallist for Canada in hockey (2010 and 2014), won the 2010 Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the 2013 Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league's best defensive forward, and the 2015 Mark Messier Leadership Award. He's been a Selke finalist three other times and been in four NHL all-star games. Towes also won the gold medal at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, back-to-back gold medals at the 2006 and 2007 World Junior Championships and gold and silver medals at the 2007 and 2008 World Championships, respectively.
San Francisco Chronicle
8 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Jonathan Toews is signing with the Winnipeg Jets as he embarks on an NHL comeback
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Jonathan Toews is going home to sign with the Winnipeg Jets as he attempts to make an NHL comeback after a two-year absence. The team announced Friday that the Winnipeg native has agreed to terms on a contract. It is expected to be a one-year deal, though the contract cannot be registered until July 1. 'I'm grateful to be making my return to the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets,' Toews said. 'It's very special to come home and play in front of my family and friends in Manitoba. The Jets have been on the rise over the last few seasons, and I'm eager to join the group and help however I can.' Toews, now 37, spent his first 15 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, captained them to the Stanley Cup three times and also helped Canada win two Olympic gold medals. Toews joining the Jets fills a void while captain Adam Lowry misses the start of next season recovering from hip surgery. 'We are excited to add a proven winner like Jonathan Toews to the Winnipeg Jets,' general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said. 'It will be a unique opportunity for Jonathan to play for his hometown team. His talent, drive, and experience will be a great complement to our club." ___
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
NBA star Durant takes minority PSG stake
Kevin Durant, who won gold in the Paris 2024 basketball, has taken a stake in the city's best-known football club Paris Saint-Germain (Aris MESSINIS) Basketball star Kevin Durant has taken a minority stake in Paris Saint-Germain, the European champions announced Friday, without saying how many shares the power forward had acquired. The club said in a statement that owners Qatar Sports Investment (QSI) had "signed an investment and strategic partnership agreement with Kevin Durant, one of the most decorated US basketball players of all time and a leading investor in sports and entertainment properties." Advertisement It said Durant would acquire the stake "via his media and investment arm Boardroom". The club said QSI would cooperate with Boardroom "on a wide-series of commercial, investment, and content initiatives" including merchandise, media content US and international strategy and "potential Basketball/Multi-Sport expansion." "With Kevin, we look forward to developing ambitious initiatives that will drive the continued global growth of Paris Saint-Germain and QSI," said Nasser Al-Khelaifi, Chairman of QSI. Durant, 36, is a power forward with the Phoenix Suns. He won two NBA titles with the Golden State Warriors and has four Olympic gold medals, the last from the 2024 Paris Games. Advertisement He said in the PSG statement that PSG and Paris were "a Club and a city that is so close to my heart. This club has big plans ahead, and I can't wait to be a part of the next phase of growth." eba/pb/pi
