Follow usRonda Rousey confessed she concealed “concussions and neurological injuries” throughout her groundbreaking tenure in the sport, shedding light on the toll taken by her trailblazing career.
The American , now 37, made history by becoming the first woman to join the UFC in 2012. Over the course of her career, she defended her title six times before suffering a notable defeat to Holly Holm in 2015.
Reflecting on the pivotal Holm fight, Rousey expressed frustration at how her neurological condition impacted her performance, emphasizing the toll of accumulated injuries from her earlier judo career, where she clinched Olympic bronze for the USA in 2008.
“I can literally see in my eyes I’m suffering from a neurological injury decades in the making,” she disclosed, highlighting the severity of her condition during the Holm bout. Rousey’s revelations underscore the hidden struggles endured behind the scenes, as she grappled with the consequences of repeated concussions and neurological trauma.
Ronda Rousey says she was suffering from ‘a neurological injury, decades in the making’ during her 2015 fight with Holly Holm.
She revealed she had hidden similar injuries and concussions during her run as UFC bantamweight champion.#BBCMMA pic.twitter.com/pavAdEhbuF
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 5, 2024
Despite her resilience and dominance in the octagon, Rousey acknowledged the toll her injuries took on her health and performance, culminating in her decision to retire from UFC after a subsequent defeat by Amanda Nunes.
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