Ronda Rousey, one of the most dominant figures in UFC history, has spoken candidly about the treatment of fighters once their careers take a downturn. The former champion, who helped establish women’s MMA in the UFC, argues that fans and media often abandon athletes the moment they experience defeat.
“MMA fans and media are the most what have you done lately for us crowd of any sport,” Rousey said on Bert Kreischer’s podcast. “You look at WWE and they have such a reverence for their legends. In MMA, it’s like the second that you’re not on top, you’re not shit and you never were shit.”
Comparisons to WWE legends
Rousey highlighted the stark difference between MMA and professional wrestling, noting how WWE maintains respect for figures like Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and The Undertaker even after they retire. In contrast, she says MMA legends quickly fall from grace in public perception once they lose a fight.
“Chuck Liddell, when he’s on top, ‘He’s the best, he’s the best.’ The second that he loses, ‘Oh Chuck Liddell ain’t shit, he never was shit,’” Rousey explained. “’Rampage’ Jackson, oh my god he’s the next Mike Tyson, he’s so great!’ The second he loses, ‘Rampage’ ain’t shit, he never was shit. [Georges St-Pierre], ‘Oh he loses, he’s not shit, he never was shit.’ Anderson Silva, oh my God he was almost like a mythical creature for a while. He was like this ninja, and he would hypnotize everyone in front of him. The second he loses, ‘Anderson ain’t shit, he never was shit.’ Fedor Emelianenko, one of the greatest ever. The second he loses, ‘Fedor ain’t shit, he never was shit.’”
Why some fighters maintain respect
Rousey cited Khabib Nurmagomedov as an example of a fighter who retained reverence after leaving the sport, attributing it to his undefeated retirement while still holding a UFC title. She believes most MMA athletes are vulnerable to public criticism once they reach their limits.
“I think the only reason why MMA fans have their lips so firmly planted at the base of Khabib’s c*ck is because he retired before he reached his limit,” Rousey said. “If he kept fighting until he reached his limit, everybody would be ‘Khabib ain’t shit, he never was shit’… They’re like that with everybody.”
Rousey’s personal motivation
Rousey also reflected on her own decision to retire undefeated, explaining her desire to preserve her legacy. She feared that any loss would diminish her accomplishments and the way she was remembered.
“I wanted to retire undefeated because I was so afraid of everything that I accomplished is going to be nothing if I ever lose,” Rousey said. “So I have to retire undefeated. It wasn’t until I got into the WWE and saw that wait, you have to retire on a loss… Everybody in WWE has to retire on a loss because you have to pass that torch on, and I think everyone in MMA, they’re going to try to take the torch with them because of how the fans respond to it.”
The physical toll of MMA
Rousey emphasized that the harsh reactions of fans overlook the physical and mental challenges fighters endure. She stressed that many people commenting on MMA have never competed themselves and lack insight into the short career span and brutal demands of the sport.
“The fans, a lot of them have never fought,” she said. “It’s not like football where a lot of people who watch have done football. They don’t understand how short your shelf life is and how every fight changes you. Even if the fight you came out unscathed, you didn’t come out of the training camp unscathed… As soon as anybody reaches that limit, you ain’t shit, you never were shit.” VIa MMAFighting
Rousey has also dealt with her share of head trauma, including multiple concussions throughout her MMA career. She has openly discussed how these injuries influenced her decision to step away from fighting. The physical risks of repeated brain trauma contribute to her view that fighters deserve respect even after losses, as each fight carries lasting consequences.
Published on October 30, 2025 at 11:55 am
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