Julianna Peña has great respect for Ronda Rousey's contributions to mixed martial arts. But why does Rousey's retirement bother her? Peña recently shared her honest thoughts. She commented on Rousey's new autobiography, which many have criticized. Did Rousey not handle her losses well? Peña thinks so.
She thinks Rousey should take more responsibility for the loss. Why didn't Rousey return after the loss? Peña feels Rousey's abrupt exit shows a weakness of spirit. What else could Rousey have done? Peña has strong opinions about it.
Has Ronda Rousey retired from mixed martial arts?
Julianna Peña spoke candidly about Ronda Rousey's retirement from MMA. On The MMA Hour, Peña acknowledged the immense pressure Rousey was under in her prime, but criticized her response to defeat. “That's a given,” Peña said. “It sounds like an excuse. That's what an excuse is.”
She stressed the importance of accountability, saying, “She can't say, 'It's an excuse, but I didn't grow up.' That's more like blaming others without taking accountability.”
Rousey's career took a turning point after she suffered a knockout loss to Holly Holm at UFC 193 in November 2015. The loss ended her three-year run as champion. Instead of coming back stronger, Rousey retreated from the spotlight. She finally returned 13 months later, only to be defeated by Amanda Nunes in just 48 seconds at UFC 207. This marked the end of Rousey's MMA career. She then moved to WWE, where she had a successful run until 2023.
Read also: Ronda Rousey says she'll only return to UFC if these conditions are met
Peña feels Rousey should have used her negativity as motivation to come back. “Negativity is a tool, it can either motivate you or sabotage you,” Peña said. She credits Rousey for opening the door for female fighters, but thinks her departure is unfortunate. “Especially when you lose, everybody loses, you get back on the horse and you ride again,” Peña said.
Peña's experience with Rousey on The Ultimate Fighter has shaped her views and added a personal dimension to her critique: Despite their differences, Peña respects Rousey's accomplishments but believes it would have ultimately been someone else who led the charge for women in UFC.
Has Ronda forgotten about her fans?
Ronda Rousey's career took a nosedive following knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes. The 2018 UFC Hall of Famer recently slammed Joe Rogan and the MMA media, calling them “fucking bitches” for abandoning her after her losses.
Rousey's former rival, Miesha Tate, shared her thoughts on SiriusXM's “MMA Today.”“I've worked through those things, recognized my shortcomings and worked to become a better person, and I hope I can say I've seen the same growth in Ronda,” Tate said, adding that she believes Rousey's focus on negativity and resentment stunted her own growth.
Tate also emphasized that “people get beaten down a little bit. That comes with fame. Nobody in life is unscathed.” What do you think about Ronda Rousey's career and her impact on women's mixed martial arts? Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation!
Read also: Ronda Rousey once had the perfect response to Shaquille O'Neal's claim that he could last 45 seconds on “Rowdy.”
