Ronda Rousey Reveals Inner Struggles Before UFC 193 Knockout

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Ronda Rousey opened up about her mental health challenges in the lead-up to her infamous knockout loss to Holly Holm at UFC 193, reflecting on how self-destructive thoughts plagued her before the fight.

In an excerpt from her memoir, ‘Our Fight,’ Rousey shares that leading up to the November 2015 bout, she battled internal struggles despite her success in the Octagon. Rousey, then undefeated and regarded as one of the most dominant champions in mixed martial arts, was urged to fight in under three months after a quick victory over Bethe Correia.

UFC CEO Dana White called Rousey asking her to step in after Robbie Lawler’s withdrawal from the main event due to injury. Rousey initially hesitated, feeling immense pressure leading into the fight, noting, “For the first time since my career started, I didn’t feel raring to fight. I just felt tired.”

Rousey described the struggles with intrusive thoughts, saying, “The harder I tried to push a thought out, the more I’d be consumed by it. Only it wasn’t the blue ducks, it was self-destructive thoughts.” She explained how these mental battles took a toll, stating, “Outside I exuded confidence, but inside I constantly battled these fears.”

The fight took a swift turn when Rousey recalled a series of unsettling occurrences. Among them was a comment from her hairdresser about an itchy palm being a sign of bad luck. “I’m the baddest b**** on the planet, why is an itchy palm f***ing me up so much?” she asked. Rousey attempted to maintain focus, often replaying the mantra, “Be the best on your worst day,” as she coped with external pressures and her own self-doubts.

As fight night approached, Rousey faced multiple physical and emotional hurdles, including a gum shield that hadn’t been properly molded and a misstep before the fight itself. “In fifteen previous fights, I had never stumbled,” she recalled. The situation grew tense when she refused to touch gloves with Holm during the fight, stemming from a prior incident at the weigh-ins.

The fight started with Rousey encountering resistance like never before. Holm adapted quickly, utilizing her boxing skills to maintain distance and counter effectively. The first round shocked fans as Holm demonstrated skill and strategy against Rousey’s aggressive style. Rousey later recounted a moment of injury during the match, saying, “My mouth was filled with blood. I walked to the corner, biting my lip… I couldn’t make out any of my coaches’ words.”

As the second round began, Holm executed one of the most iconic kick strikes in UFC history, knocking Rousey unconscious. Doctors later helped Rousey to her feet as Holm celebrated becoming the new UFC bantamweight champion. Rousey would not return to the Octagon until over a year later, where she faced Amanda Nunes and suffered another defeat.

Currently, speculation surrounds Rousey’s future, as she has hinted at a potential comeback. Recent training photos have elicited excitement from fans, sparking rumors of a return to fighting amid ongoing discussions about UFC 300 in April 2024.