From the perspective of a non-UFC fan, Ronda Rousey was a refreshing take of both the world of UFC and the power of women in the sport. Her undefeated record proved she was dominant, and her attitude under the lights made you pay attention. I assumed she was going to be someone to brag about watching to our grandchildren in 60 years.
She was special because she was untouched. She had never been beaten. However, her reign came to a surprise end with a second-round knockout by Holly Holm in November 2015.
The surprising loss shocked the sporting world, and lost the attention of people like me. Ronda saw the situation through. She told ESPN:
“That loss saved me from becoming what I hate,” she says. “One of those people who live their lives to impress everyone else. Who put up a front for the world to admire. Who make sure every charitable act is posted and shared for their own image gain. Who posture and pose for people they care nothing about except for the opinion they have of them.”
But it was just that which made her so lovable, at least for someone who has never loved UFC before. She’s a celebrity, and you know how Americans swoon for attention from celebrities, even in the form of a tweet or a post, they’ll take whatever they can get like baby birds. Oh yeah, maybe that’s why they call it Twitter.
But all of that came to an end November 14, 2016 after losing to Holly.
ESPN draws out how she reacted to the loss which involved moving to the boonies and talking to nobody:
This is a small mountain community. Her neighbors know who she is and what she is doing, but they don’t bother her here.
On this crisp November morning, Rousey wears a hoodie and Ugg boots for the short walk from the cabin to the detached garage her longtime trainer Edmond Tarverdyan has turned into a dojo. Six days a week, twice a day, Rousey makes this trip to train for her comeback fight against Amanda Nunes on Dec. 30.
Sometimes, as she walks over, she’ll stop at a small chicken coop.
“The chickens don’t need me to entertain them,” she says.
No more Jimmy Fallon appearances, no more commercials. It was Ronda vs. the game and her legacy was up in the air. Again, respect that and everything she’s working for.
Photo/ESPN
Buuuut, how’d all that work pay off?
All 48 seconds of it made it seem like she watched Netflix while in that cabin.
Literally. What show was she watching? Westworld? I bet it was Westworld. I swear to god the great Ronda Rousey was out there in the octagon looking the same way I would if I were to somehow end up in that position, just with way less screaming.
It took Nunes 48 seconds in the first round to retain her women’s bantamweight championship in the main event of UFC 207 at T-Mobile Arena.
Nunes said after dominating her opponent. “Forget about fucking Ronda Rousey—I’m the real champion!”
Is that where Nunes ended it? Of course not. She took the beating somewhere that can hurt worse than a punch to the nose…Twitter.
And yes this is real. Oh mannnnnnnn.
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) December 31, 2016
Whether we want to or not, it may be time to forget about Ronda ğŸ™