{"id":250373,"date":"2025-10-30T15:58:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T15:58:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/250373\/"},"modified":"2025-10-30T15:58:08","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T15:58:08","slug":"ronda-rousey-condemns-media-and-mma-fans-for-disrespecting-fighters-when-their-winning-streak-ends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/250373\/","title":{"rendered":"Ronda Rousey Condemns Media and MMA Fans for Disrespecting Fighters When Their Winning Streak Ends"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u2019s MMA in the UFC, argues that fans and media often abandon athletes the moment they experience defeat.<\/p>\n

\u201cMMA fans and media are the most what have you done lately for us crowd of any sport,\u201d Rousey said on Bert Kreischer\u2019s podcast. \u201cYou look at WWE and they have such a reverence for their legends. In MMA, it\u2019s like the second that you\u2019re not on top, you\u2019re not shit and you never were shit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Comparisons to WWE legends<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cChuck Liddell, when he\u2019s on top, \u2018He\u2019s the best, he\u2019s the best.\u2019 The second that he loses, \u2018Oh Chuck Liddell ain\u2019t shit, he never was shit,\u2019\u201d Rousey explained. \u201c\u2019Rampage\u2019 Jackson, oh my god he\u2019s the next Mike Tyson, he\u2019s so great!\u2019 The second he loses, \u2018Rampage\u2019 ain\u2019t shit, he never was shit. [Georges St-Pierre], \u2018Oh he loses, he\u2019s not shit, he never was shit.\u2019 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, \u2018Anderson ain\u2019t shit, he never was shit.\u2019 Fedor Emelianenko, one of the greatest ever. The second he loses, \u2018Fedor ain\u2019t shit, he never was shit.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Why some fighters maintain respect<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the only reason why MMA fans have their lips so firmly planted at the base of Khabib\u2019s c*ck is because he retired before he reached his limit,\u201d Rousey said. \u201cIf he kept fighting until he reached his limit, everybody would be \u2018Khabib ain\u2019t shit, he never was shit\u2019\u2026 They\u2019re like that with everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rousey\u2019s personal motivation<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to retire undefeated because I was so afraid of everything that I accomplished is going to be nothing if I ever lose,\u201d Rousey said. \u201cSo I have to retire undefeated. It wasn\u2019t until I got into the WWE and saw that wait, you have to retire on a loss\u2026 Everybody in WWE has to retire on a loss because you have to pass that torch on, and I think everyone in MMA, they\u2019re going to try to take the torch with them because of how the fans respond to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The physical toll of MMA<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fans, a lot of them have never fought,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s not like football where a lot of people who watch have done football. They don\u2019t understand how short your shelf life is and how every fight changes you. Even if the fight you came out unscathed, you didn\u2019t come out of the training camp unscathed\u2026 As soon as anybody reaches that limit, you ain\u2019t shit, you never were shit.\u201d VIa MMAFighting<\/a><\/p>\n

Rousey has also dealt with her share of head trauma, including multiple concussions throughout her MMA career<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Published on October 30, 2025 at 11:55 am<\/p>\n

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