Retired MMA super star Ronda Rousey denied the idea of a UFC comeback.
Rousey (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) has not competed since UFC 207 in December 2017, when she suffered a quick TKO loss to Amanda Nunes.
Rousey spoke about her plans during a recent conversation with celebrity personality Steve-O:
“There’s not a day that goes by that people aren’t telling me to fight,” Rousey said. “I have to try and think of it as: “Would I rather be the greatest of all time, or have everybody think I’m the greatest of all time?” It used to be so important to me to have both. But now it’s got to the point where I don’t want to sacrifice myself and my family to prove that anymore to a bunch of people that don’t give a (expletive) about me.”
“I know, and the people who love me know (what I’ve accomplished). It’s no longer a priority in my life. All the people that tell you, ‘Come on, fight again! Do this again.’ They would never do that for me.”
OK does Tegan Nox look like Ronda Rousey? pic.twitter.com/Mg7DBJ8dEx
— Alastair McKenzie🏴 (@Mckenzieas93) January 24, 2020
Rousey has achieved a lot outside of MMA, much of her fame has stemmed from her legendary run inside the octagon. It’s still what many people associate her with.
“It’s hard when everyone around you, the value they have for you is how you fight, and how they see you is how you fight, and the only thing they think you have to offer is how you fight,” Rousey said. “It was actually my husband that taught me I’m so much more than just a fighter. I don’t have to fight myself into the ground to prove that I’m the greatest of all time when I already know that I am.”
“That’s something I really had to deal with stepping away from the UFC, was finding my identity without it, because I got so lost in it,” Rousey said. “It’s tough, because you’re with these people and you’re like, ‘Oh my God, I got to live this journey with you. This is amazing.’ Then you see some of these Bellator fights and you’re like, ‘Oh my God, this person’s still going?’ I can’t watch it. It makes me sad.”
