5 Moments That Made Ronda Rousey A UFC Legend (And 5 She Wishes We’d Forget)
Even Ronda Rousey isn't perfect.
Though it may not have ended on high note, Ronda Rousey's career in mixed martial arts is one for the ages.
In her prime, the former Olympic judoka out of Riverside, California was one of the most dominant athletes the UFC has ever seen. Moreover, with her marketable persona and knack for quick finishes — Rousey became one of the sport's biggest draws. In fact, she is one of only a handful of fighters who have gone on to become a mainstream celebrity.
Her success prompted UFC to sign more female fighters and create new divisions for them to compete in. Simply put, women's MMA would not be where it is today without Ronda Rousey's contributions.
However, though it's easy to forget at times, Rousey is only human. While the years she spent with the UFC had many highlights, there were also quite a few low points sprinkled in there as well.
In an effort to fully appreciate Rousey's UFC run, it's time to look at some of her most memorable accomplishments — both inside and outside the Octagon.
To balance things out a bit, let's highlight a few low points as well.
10. Forget: The Nunes Fight
Most MMA careers, even legendary ones, don't end on a high note. After all, most fighters aren't going to walk away while they're still on top.
Unless she returns, the result of Rousey's final fight in UFC will be a 48 second TKO loss to Amanda Nunes. On the plus side, following her recent victories over Valentina Shevchenko and Cris Cyborg — Nunes has established herself as the greatest female fighter of all-time —so Rousey's loss has aged well.
Still, regardless of the opponent, getting knocked out in less than a minute is a tough pill for any fighter to swallow. As is often the case, Rousey's final performance in the Octagon was also her worst.
As fate would have it, Rousey, a fighter who made a name for herself by polishing off opponents quickly, will likely end her career on the receiving end of a quick finish.