Ronda Rousey has not officially retired from mixed martial arts, yet her former boss is already closing the door on the chances for a potential comeback.
UFC president Dana White was asked about his former star and the possibility of Rousey returning to fighting.
“I don’t know if I’d want her to. The way she came in, the way everything went — it was perfect,” White told ESPN.
“I’ve never been one of those promoters that looks at, ‘Oh, imagine how much money I can make if Ronda Rousey comes back’ or the Chuck Liddells, all those guys. I’m actually the guy who, when somebody even hints at retiring, says, ‘I think you should retire.’
“No matter how big of a star you are, once you’ve retired, you should probably stay retired and move on, build that next chapter of your life.”
While Rousey’s future inside the cage is a mystery, she’s been busy building a life away from MMA. She recently got engaged to her longtime boyfriend and fellow UFC fighter Travis Browne. She also was cast as a coach on ABC’s “Battle of the Network Stars.”
Rousey has been virtually silent about her plans, which has led many, including White, to speculate about the future.
“I think people realize she’s probably going to retire,” White told ESPN.
“Ronda Rousey is super competitive and doesn’t like to lose. I know she’s been criticized for that by a lot of people, but that’s just who she is and the way she is.
“And the way she is, is what made everybody get behind her. It’s what blew up the women’s divisions. Now she’s going to move on to the next chapter of her life, get married and have kids, do that thing. It’s not sad, it’s the way she wanted it.”
The way White talks about the end of Rousey’s career does not match the reality of what actually happened, however. There was no “perfect” ending, and there is no way Rousey “wanted” her career to end the way it did, losing her last two fights in humiliating fashion.
The first loss came in November 2015 via a legendary Holly Holm head kick. Rousey took more than a year off and then got destroyed in 48 seconds by UFC bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes.
Before her fall, Rousey was one of the UFC’s biggest stars. Utilizing her unique Olympic-level judo skills, Rousey won her first 12 professional fights, which often ended in spectacular, highlight-worthy arm bar tap-outs.