Ronda Rousey Opens Up About Neurological Damage, Confirms No MMA Return
Ronda Rousey has officially quashed any speculation regarding a potential return to mixed martial arts, citing irreversible neurological damage sustained over the years as the critical reason for her decision. This revelation brings to light some stark truths about the toll that combat sports can take on athletes.
The Reality Behind the Exit
Rousey's departure from MMA in 2016 left many fans questioning the abrupt end to an illustrious career that saw her rise rapidly from the regional scene to dominate in Strikeforce and then the UFC. Despite becoming a household name and a mainstream star, her early exit sparked widespread conjecture about a possible comeback. However, the former UFC champion has now made it crystal clear that such a return is not in the cards.
"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.
For Rousey, the severity of her injuries became apparent in her last few bouts. Following back-to-back knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes, the fighter began to experience debilitating symptoms that were impossible to ignore. "I got to a point where I couldn't take a jab without getting dazed, without getting concussion symptoms," she explained. "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."
Early Signs and Accumulated Injuries
Rousey disclosed that her struggles with concussions began long before her career in MMA. She started dealing with these symptoms as early as six years old, notably from an unexpected source: swimming. "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," Rousey recounted.
Her journey in contact sports began with judo, where she continued to experience frequent head injuries. "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. The pattern continued into her MMA career, where she trained through dozens of concussions without hesitation. "When I got into MMA, I had already had dozens of concussions that I trained through. So that was about a decade of having concussion symptoms more often than not," she said.
The Culture of Silence
One of the most telling aspects of Rousey's revelations is the culture of silence surrounding 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," Rousey observed.
This culture, she believes, exacerbates the problem, making it harder for athletes to come forward and seek the help they need. Rousey’s candidness is a call to action for better concussion management and robust support systems in sports where head injuries are a common risk.
A Broader Impact
Rousey's influence on MMA, particularly women's participation in the sport, is undeniable. She was instrumental in convincing UFC President Dana White to include women in the UFC, thereby significantly raising the profile of women's fighting. Her decisions now compel further discussions on athlete health and safety, highlighting the invisible battles many of them face.
Her revelations stress the importance of initiating critical discourse on athlete health and safety, not just in MMA, but across all contact sports. "When I got into MMA, I was playing a game of zero errors," she mentioned. "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."
Rousey’s story is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices athletes make and the unseen challenges they endure. Her openness about her neurological issues serves as a critical talking point for improving the welfare of those in high-risk sports, pressing for necessary changes that can protect future generations of athletes.