Morning Report: Ronda Rousey feels unwelcome to UFC events: ‘I gave them everything I had, and it wasn’t enough’ (2024)

Ronda Rousey hasn’t been at a UFC event since her final fight against Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in December 2016.

Unfortunately for the “Rowdy” one, that was a tough 48-second night at the office.

Rousey, 37, understandably didn’t have any immediate media appearances backstage following her first career loss to Holly Holm at UFC 193 in November 2015. The unforgettable second-round head kick knockout loss left the world wondering how Rousey would react and return. All we were left with was the visual of her arriving home at the airport alongside future husband Travis Browne and a face-covering purple pillow. That was until news broke a year later that she’d challenge the new champion, Nunes.

Before and after Rousey’s second and last career loss to Nunes, she had no media requirements or obligations and kept completely quiet, a generally unprecedented luxury given to any UFC fighter (just ask Nick Diaz). Rousey felt that stretch led to poor treatment and critique from the media as she revealed in her new book, Our Fight. She expanded on the sentiment in a recent podcast conversation and explained why that’s the reason she’s steered clear of the UFC.

“Ask the MMA media [why what I gave wasn’t enough] — they’re the ones saying it,” Rousey told High Performance. “That I was a fraud and I was hype and I was exposed and I was never anything and just lucky and all of these things, that I was ungracious or I was a loser or every other thing that I just assume at this point because I don’t take the time to read it.

“Everything that could be said that was negative was said, and I feel really vilified by MMA media at this point and not really welcome back, which is why I haven’t gone to a UFC fight since [I left]. I’m pretty sure if I walked into the arena, I’d be booed. That’s how it feels.”

Love her or hate her, Rousey is undeniably one of the most important figures in MMA history. Her trailblazing efforts as a woman in combat sports led to a class of 2018 UFC Hall of Fame induction, one of the rare UFC-related settings Rousey has attended after her MMA retirement.

Rousey joined the professional wrestling world as part of WWE shortly after her MMA run. Despite having a large amount of success, particularly in her first year, Rousey left in 2023 and has indicated she likely won’t ever go back.

There were times throughout her WWE run when the crowd got to Rousey, she admitted. This wasn’t the only time she had “lived” with everyone hating her, as she says it’s the same with MMA.

“I live it,” Rousey said of fans and the community disliking her. “I guess I wish it didn’t [bother me]. I gave them everything I had, and it wasn’t enough. But that’s why a lot of people don’t give everything that they have, because they don’t want to face it if it wasn’t enough. I realize it was enough for me, but not enough for people on the outside. But it really wasn’t for them.”

Roundtable. How does Dustin Poirier’s legacy change if he upsets Islam Makhachev?

Support. Khabib Nurmagomedov respects Dustin Poirier but hopes Islam Makhachev will finish him at UFC 302

Speculation. Daniel Cormier reacts to Dustin Poirier retirement talks ahead of UFC 302: ‘I hate that’

Boxing. Paige VanZant suffers brutal knockdown but comes back for split draw with Elle Brooke

Story. Kyra Gracie recalls battling sexism for the right to train jiu-jitsu and ‘have a voice’ in the family

Prediction. Charles Oliveira picks UFC champ Islam Makhachev to beat Dustin Poirier, Arman Tsarukyan

Goal. Leon Edwards wants Conor McGregor if he wins at UFC 303: ‘That’s the fight’

Cooking with Demian Maia.

This is CineMMA.

UFC 302 Countdown.

UFC lightweight champion history.

Super RIZIN 3 trailer.

Invicta 19 subs.

Inside Islam Makhachev’s training camp.

Aspinall’s birthday.

Per-hair-a.

Wonderboy on Strickland.

Go to Twitter, use the #MorningReport hashtag, or find one of my tweets with it, and drop me a jam you’re currently really into. I’ll pick the best one alongside my daily choice and give you a shoutout! You can also share in the comments below — those are just harder to sift through sometimes!

Power couple.

Typical Din.

Got ‘em.

Enemy territory.

Ouch.

Momentum.

Well done, Cub.

Aldo’s “He’s just like me” moment.

Dumb, man. Dumb.

Almost time.

Come on, Dana.

Don’t hate it.

Night-night.

Well, damn.

Patience.

Still perfect outside the UFC.

Oshima is just too much fun.

Yeah, not great.

Team.

Big fan.

Lookout!

Shinobu Ota (6-3) vs. Francesco Nuzzi (10-1); Bellator Dublin, June 22

Ian Machado Garry (14-0) vs. Michael Page (22-2); UFC 303, June 29

Sam Patterson (11-2-1) vs. Kiefer Crosbie (10-4); UFC 304, July 27

Modestas Bukauskas (15-6) vs. Marcin Prachnio (17-7); UFC 304, July 27

Jarno Errens (14-5-1) vs. Youssef Zalal (14-5-1); UFC Vegas 95, Aug. 10

“I just assume at this point because I don’t take the time to read it.” Ronda. Come on.

Happy Monday, gang. Thanks for reading ... if you did!

Last Week’s Results:

Friday: 50% of 350 total votes answered "Yes" when asked, "Is Curtis Blaydes the worst matchup for Tom Aspinall at heavyweight?"

Thursday: 96% of 561 total votes answered "Yes" when asked, "Did Kayla Harrison make the right choice leaving PFL for UFC?"

Wednesday: 49% of 488 total votes answered "Islam Makhachev" when asked, "Which fight would Ilia Topuria be more likely to get?"

Tuesday: 57% of 407 total votes answered "No" when asked, "Will Tyron Woodley fight again?"

Monday: 71% of 289 total votes answered "No" when asked, "Will the winner of Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic fight the winner of Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes 2?"

Today’s exit poll:

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