Rousey Retirement Talk For Real
UFC’s president, her next opponent and even Ronda Rousey herself have all said Friday’s UFC 207 could be one of the last times the former women’s bantamweight champion climbs into the octagon.
During the buildup to one of mixed-martial arts most anticipated comebacks, the 29-year-old California native and previously undefeated juggernaut hasn’t just hinted at retirement, she started the speculation, which in turn led to UFC president Dana White to concede recently Rousey might not have much left in the tank as she explores other endeavors, and current champion Amanda Nunes to say Tuesday she plans to end the submission expert’s career.
The retirement talk all began with Rousey, who’s patented armbar submission catapulted her to stardom and generated one of the most dominant runs in MMA or any other sport’s history, during her appearance on Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show last month.
“This is definitely one of my last fights,” Rousey said. “Everybody better watch because the show isn’t going to last forever.”
That last phrase could be construed as Rousey’s way of promoting the fight, but she expanded on the comment.
“I think it’s more the buildup that’s more tiring than anything else,” Rousey said. “It’s the weeks and weeks of buildup beforehand. You know you’re going to fight this one person, and it’s like your showdown, and the most important thing in your whole life, and then millions of people are watching. … If it just happened right now, I wouldn’t be nervous at all.”
Giving credence to those who question her mental game, Rousey’s admission to nervousness is far unlike the character with whom fight fans have become accustomed. Starting 2011, Rousey began her career with 12 consecutive victories and only one went past the first round and all but three came via that armbar. She was a pulverizing bully who terrorized all opponents until American Holly Holm avoided Rousey’s ground game and knocked her out in Melbourne, Australia, 13 months ago.
Regaining that confidence and dominant form would be easier for Rousey if she wasn’t in such high demand outside the octagon, something White addressed directly with TMZ last month.
"Listen, I don’t want to take the wind out of her sail, let her say her own stuff, obviously I know what’s going on with her, but yeah it’s winding down for Ronda," White said. "Ronda Rousey’s made a lot of money. She made a lot of money, she accomplished what she set out to do. You get to a point, especially in this business, when you have to start looking at things and she loves acting.
"She loves acting, she’s good at it and if she dedicates herself to it, she’ll be even better at it."
The Brazilian Nunes, who has somewhat taken up Rousey’s mantle as the women’s division’s enforcer, clearly sees blood in the water and piled on the retirement talk.
"I don’t fear Ronda’s ground game, Ronda’s judo, nor her striking,” Nunes told MMAFighting. "I will be ready in all areas. Whatever happens in the fight, I will have an answer for it. That’s what gives me the advantage in this fight.
"And yes, I believe I will [retire Ronda Rousey]."
Combining all three central characters' comments may not definitively answer questions surrounding Rousey’s career after the showdown in Las Vegas, but each does provide a glimpse into the near future.
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