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Ronda Rousey

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Ronda Rousey is a highly accomplished American athlete and entertainer.

Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey

She has achieved championship status in both mixed martial arts (MMA) and professional wrestling. Rousey is also an actress and an author. Her career is defined by breaking barriers for women in combat sports. She was the first woman to headline pay-per-view events for both the UFC and WWE. In 2015, a fan poll by ESPN voted her the best female athlete of all time. Fox Sports described her as a defining athlete of the 21st century.

Her journey into combat sports began with judo. Judo is a martial art focused on throws and grappling. Rousey started training at age 11 under her mother, AnnMaria De Mars. Her mother was a decorated judoka and the first American to win a World Judo Championship. Rousey's training was intense and often difficult. Between 2002 and 2005, she often trained with men who were much larger than her. She once remarked that she cried every night during training because of the frustration. This rigorous training helped her develop the skills necessary for elite competition.

Rousey's judo career reached its peak at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Olympic rings
Olympic rings

Competing in the 70 kg weight class, she navigated the repechage bracket after a quarterfinal loss. She defeated Annett Boehm by Yuko to secure a bronze medal. This victory made her the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in women's judo. Her total competitive judo record included 56 wins and 19 losses. After the Olympics, she retired from judo at age 21 to pursue new challenges.

In 2011, Rousey transitioned to professional mixed martial arts (MMA). She began her career with King of the Cage and later joined Strikeforce. She quickly rose through the ranks to become the Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Champion. Rousey defeated Miesha Tate in March 2012 to win this title. She won several of her early fights using an armbar, a submission move. An armbar involves controlling an opponent's arm to create leverage. This technique allowed her to win fights very quickly, sometimes in under 30 seconds.

When the UFC acquired Strikeforce, Rousey became the first female fighter signed to the UFC.

Rousey&Angle WM34 crop
Rousey&Angle WM34 crop

She became the inaugural UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion. Rousey was also the first woman to appear in the UFC pound-for-pound rankings. She held the record for the most UFC title defenses by a female with 6 successful defenses. In 2018, she became the first female fighter inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. This honor recognizes her massive impact on the sport of MMA.

In 2018, Rousey moved into professional wrestling with the WWE.

Cannes 2014 4 (cropped)
Cannes 2014 4 (cropped)

She debuted at WrestleMania 34 and later won the Raw Women's Championship. She headlined Evolution, which was the first all-women's pay-per-view event in WWE history. Rousey eventually became an eight-time Women's Triple Crown Champion. She also won the WWE and NXT Women's Tag Team Championships alongside Shayna Baszler. This made her the only woman to hold championships in both the UFC and the WWE.

Beyond the ring, Rousey has explored many other professional fields. She has appeared in major films such as The Expendables 3, Furious 7, and Mile 22.

Cannes 2014 4 (cropped)
Cannes 2014 4 (cropped)

In 2015, she published her autobiography, titled My Fight / Your Fight. Her life has been marked by both great success and personal challenges. For example, she struggled with apraxia, a speech disorder, during her first six years of life. Despite these early obstacles, she became a global icon in sports and entertainment.

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🖼️ Images & Media (6)
File:Olympic rings.svg
Olympic rings.svg
File:Ronda Rousey.jpeg
Ronda Rousey.jpeg
File:Rock Rousey WM31.jpg
Rock Rousey WM31.jpg
File:Rousey&Angle WM34 crop.jpg
Rousey&Angle WM34 crop.jpg
File:Cannes 2014 4 (cropped).jpg
Cannes 2014 4 (cropped).jpg
File:Rousey plane.jpg
Rousey plane.jpg
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