Ronda Rousey Shuts Down MMA Comeback, Citing Neurological Decline
In a candid and eye-opening revelation, Ronda Rousey has decisively put an end to any speculation regarding her return to mixed martial arts (MMA). In doing so, she has laid bare the stark realities of the neurological toll her illustrious career has taken, a toll that renders her unable to compete at the highest level.
"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, giving voice to a truth that many athletes are reluctant to confront.
Rousey’s decision to step away from the sport in 2016, following back-to-back knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes, was a move many fans struggled to understand. Now, with her revelations about the irreversible damage she's suffered, the decision is heartbreakingly clear. "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," she explained.
The issue of concussions in contact sports is well-documented, but hearing it from Rousey, a former Olympic bronze medalist and a trailblazer in women's MMA, underscores the gravity of the situation. Her journey through sports began at a tender age, and unfortunately, so did her encounters with concussions. "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.
Rousey's rapid rise from the regional scene to becoming a household name in Strikeforce and, subsequently, the UFC, masked an underlying vulnerability that many fighters experience. By the time she transitioned into MMA, she had endured 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," Rousey recounted.
Her story sheds light on 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," Rousey said, addressing the taboo that still pervades the sport.
Beyond her personal battles, Rousey's influence on the sport is indisputable. She played a crucial role in convincing UFC President Dana White to rethink his stance on women's participation in the UFC, significantly raising the profile of women's fighting in MMA. Her decision to speak out about her neurological issues brings forth critical discussions about athlete health and safety, especially in sports where concussions are common.
Rousey's revelations and her decision to hang up her gloves for good emphasize the need for better concussion management and support systems in contact sports. "I believe there is a culture of silence around neurological decline in contact sports," she said, urging the sports community to acknowledge and adequately address the risks involved.
As she steps away from the octagon, Rousey's legacy is not just in her victories and titles but also in her courage to confront and disclose the invisible battles many athletes face. Her candidness opens crucial discourse on the subject, compelling everyone involved in these high-risk sports to prioritize the health and long-term well-being of the athletes over the spectacle of competition.