When I first shared a room with Ronda Rousey, I had been covering Conor McGregor's rise for over five years. Until then, I hadn't met anyone with the same presence as the Irishman. At the UFC 187 post-fight press conference, Rousey entered, and every eye followed her. She was the reigning bantamweight champion, an untouchable force, and a cultural icon rivaling McGregor's star power.
Fresh off her fifth UFC win, Dana White called her the female equivalent of prime Mike Tyson. Within two years, she had landed roles in major Hollywood franchises like The Expendables and Fast & Furious. Beyoncé featured Rousey's speech at a festival, and her autobiography made the New York Times Best Seller List.
I never thought we'd see Rousey win only once more in the Octagon, but Holly Holm knocked her out in Melbourne. Rousey returned a year later, only to lose again to Amanda Nunes. Her inability to face the media left a bad taste, and though she succeeded in pro wrestling, her MMA relationship seemed broken.
Now, backed by MVP and Netflix, Rousey is making a comeback against Gina Carano. She's targeting the UFC for disrespect during past negotiations. She sees herself as a challenger to industry power, aiming for better conditions for fighters. As she said, "I love to be the designated b."
Things are trending well, but her renaissance is incomplete. MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian hinted at more events if the first goes well. Rousey focuses on family after Carano, but opponents like Holm exist. For now, we'll see if she can still deliver when she walks out for the first time in 10 years.