During her prime, Ronda Rousey stood out as one of the most popular and captivating figures in the UFC, rivaling Conor McGregor in terms of fame. However, her swift downfall almost mirrored her journey to stardom.
Rousey played a pivotal role in introducing women to the UFC and clinched six consecutive championship titles. Despite her achievements, she faced a crushing defeat against Holly Holm and a swift loss to Amanda Nunes before retiring from the sport, citing a history of serious concussions as a reason.
Rousey’s legacy is multifaceted, with her anticipating a mixed response at UFC events due to conflicting fan sentiments. Kayla Harrison, who shared living quarters and trained alongside Rousey in judo, acknowledges the diverse opinions surrounding the former UFC bantamweight champion and acknowledges her significant impact on the sport.
Harrison commends Rousey for shattering barriers for women in combat sports and laying the foundation for their involvement in the UFC. Despite any personal criticisms, Harrison expresses appreciation for Rousey’s role in advancing women’s MMA.
Prior to delving into MMA herself, Harrison admired Rousey as a role model and admired her achievements in judo, where Rousey became the first American woman to secure an Olympic medal. Harrison later surpassed Rousey by earning Olympic gold.
Harrison believes that Rousey’s entry into the UFC transformed the landscape of women’s MMA, making it more financially rewarding and motivating young girls worldwide to pursue the sport. Despite Rousey’s controversial exit from the sport, Harrison still holds respect for her legacy and the trail she blazed for female fighters.
