Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today Sports
Ronda Rousey can now add a new title to her legacy.
Hall of Famer.
Champion. Pioneer. Legend.@RondaRousey enters the Modern Wing of the #UFCHoF July 5! pic.twitter.com/ExQslOwW84
— UFC (@ufc) June 10, 2018
The former Olympian and UFC bantamweight champion will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame on July 5, as part of International Fight Week.
“This is an immense honor, to not only take part in bringing women to the forefront of this sport, but now the UFC Hall of Fame,” Rousey said in a prepared statement in the LA Times. “May I be the first of many.”
Rousey, who last fought in the UFC in December of 2016 in a loss to Amanda Nunes, helped to pave the way for women to fight in the UFC. After dominating Strikeforce, Rousey convinced Dana White to let her fight in the Octagon. And when she arrived, a storm of success followed.
From 2012 to 2015, Rousey was the undefeated bantamweight champion and looked unstoppable, knocking out and submitting her opponents in seconds. In one stretch that spanned from February 2014 to August 2015, her total time in the Octagon was just two minutes and 10 seconds.
During her time at the top, it seemed like no one could topple Rousey. From blockbuster movies to appearances in pro-wrestling, there seemed to be nothing Rousey couldn’t do. Due to her marketability, everyone wanted a piece of the champ. Some wanted to bring her down.
But then came the loss to Holly Holm in November 2015 and Rousey never seemed to bounce back. After her tough loss to Nunez, which was in some respects supposed to be her comeback fight, she went media silent. She finally spoke out, giving thanks to her fans and asking for respect as she contemplated her future. It was then that the world started to see the beginning of the true end to her MMA career.
But with one ending, there is a new beginning into the WWE. A great fit for an athletic talent and charismatic person such as Rousey. Although she’s never “officially” retired from the UFC, her time there is done and she’ll focus full-time on the WWE.
Rousey will be inducted into the modern wing of the UFC Hall of Fame. She’ll be enshrined with fellow legends Forrest Griffin, B.J. Penn and Uriah Faber.
