White says Rousey likely ‘done’ with UFC
The most important voice in UFC has sent another signal that Ronda Rousey has tapped out, for good.
UFC president Dana White, after a recent conversation with the face of women’s MMA, said he believes Rousey “is probably done” with fighting.
“In the conversation I had with her, if I had to say right here right now — and again, I don’t like saying right here right now because it’s up to her — but I wouldn’t say she fights again,” White told the “UFC Unfiltered” podcast.
“I think she’s probably done. She’s going to ride off into the sunset and start living life outside of fighting.”
Rousey’s career has tanked in the past 13 months. She lost twice in devastating fashion, first to Holly Holm in November 2015 via a now-legendary high kick and recently to Amanda Nunes in a 48-second beatdown at UFC 207 on Dec. 30. Before those losses, Rousey had been a 12-0 beast inside the Octagon and the photogenic icon of the sport in crossover publications like the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.
White is not officially announcing Rousey’s retirement, though he has acted as her unofficial mouthpiece in the past. White, for example, revealed Rousey had arthroscopic knee surgery plus a “bunch of minor surgeries” over the summer. He also defended his superstar by saying she actually wanted to fight Cristiane Justino as “Cyborg” repeatedly called out the former champion.
White also was the one who announced Rousey’s official comeback.
White isn’t the only source of information on Rousey’s future: Rousey, who turns 30 on Wednesday, said her fight with Nunes was likely to be one of her final fights.
According to White, Rousey is content at the moment and he described her as being in good spirits during their most recent conversation. White went into further detail about her mental state when the “UFC Unfiltered” hosts asked him about the loss of her “invincible” mindset.
“It’s not even that I think it’s an invincible thing, it’s just that she’s so competitive that her career and record meant everything to her,” White said. “And then once she lost, she started to say to herself, ‘What the f--k am I doing? This is my whole life — this is it? I want to experience and start doing other things.’ And I think that’s what she started to do.”