Intro 0s
- Ronda Rousey was voted the best female athlete of all time.
- She had a tough childhood, her father committed suicide when she was eight and she was bullied in school.
- She dropped out of school at 16 to train full-time in combat sports.
- Many of her coaches were abusive, believing that abuse produced the best results.
- She suffered from concussions throughout her career, making her more susceptible to future concussions.
- After losing to Holly Holm, she took a break from combat sports.
- She transitioned to WWE but was critical of the company's environment and leadership.
Being Born With A Rare Disease 2m10s
- Ronda Rousey was born with the umbilical cord around her neck and had a low Apgar score, indicating poor health at birth.
- She suffered neurological damage as a result, which manifested as a motor speech disorder called apraxia.
- She underwent years of speech therapy to overcome the disorder, but still experiences occasional difficulties.
- The pressure of performing in professional wrestling, where every word is scrutinized, exacerbates her speech difficulties.
Ronda's Struggles as a Child 3m46s
- Ronda had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck at birth, resulting in health issues and delayed speech development.
- She underwent tests for deafness and autism but received no clear diagnosis until later.
- A fan suggested she might have a condition called apraxia, which fit her symptoms.
- Ronda found solace in sports, particularly Judo, as a way to connect with others.
Her Father’s Death When She Was A Child 5m27s
- Ronda's father passed away when she was eight years old.
- He had a sledding accident and broke his back, leading to a rare blood disorder that prevented healing.
- He kept his condition and chronic pain a secret from the family.
- Ronda's father died by suicide to avoid being remembered as a bedridden patient.
- Ronda and her family were unaware of his suffering until after his death.
Finding Out About Her Dad's Suicide 7m35s
- Ronda Rousey's father died by suicide when she was 8 years old.
- Her mother, a PhD in educational psychology, explained the situation to her in a straightforward manner.
- Ronda felt a loss of security and a constant fear of things falling apart.
- She was very close to her father and spent a lot of time with him during the week.
- At 8 years old, she struggled to understand the concept of suicide and told herself that her father was away on business.
- She later learned that her grandfather had also committed suicide.
- Her siblings and mother did not want to talk about the loss openly.
Ronda's Mother 10m38s
- Ronda's mother is a highly accomplished woman.
- She got a perfect score on the SATs at 16, graduated college at 19, and won the World Championships in Judo while working as a single mother, engineer, and pursuing a PhD in educational psychology.
- She taught Ronda her signature armbar move, which has become a family heirloom.
What's Been Ingrained in Her as a Kid 11m46s
- Losing a parent before the age of 10 can lead to greater success later in life, according to Malcolm Gladwell's book "Blink".
- Ronda Rousey's upbringing, including the loss of her father, her involvement in sports, and being the youngest of her sisters, shaped her into a determined and competitive individual.
- Her parents encouraged her to pursue her interests and instilled in her the belief that she could achieve anything she set her mind to.
Becoming a Prodigy of Judo 13m34s
- At the age of 10, Ronda Rousey moved to Santa Monica and began training in Judo.
- She found Judo to be mentally engaging and enjoyed the challenge of solving puzzles and having conversations with her opponents.
- Winning her first Judo tournament gave her a feeling of addiction to winning, which motivated her to drop out of school at 16 to train full-time.
- Her mother, a former Judo champion herself, took an outside role in her daughter's career, ensuring that she trained with the right people at the right time.
- Ronda Rousey won her first tournament with instant wins, demonstrating her exceptional talent in Judo.
Her Competitive Nature for Fighting 15m59s
- Ronda Rousey credits her Judo success to her determination to win and her ability to overcome challenges.
- She developed a deep fascination for Judo and created her own fighting style and philosophy.
- Rousey describes herself as having an obsessive focus and fixates on things for hours, which can be both beneficial and detrimental.
- Her perfectionism is not about achieving external perfection but rather about mastering and understanding something completely.
- Ronda Rousey hints at undisclosed information about her time in WWE and expresses frustration with its current state, describing it as chaotic.
Moving in With Her Coach At 16 20m30s
- Ronda Rousey moved in with her coach, Big Jim, at the age of 16 to train in Judo.
- Big Jim was one of the best Judo coaches in the country and had trained his son, Little Jimmy, who won the 1999 World Championship in Judo.
- Leaving home at 16 was tough for Ronda, she was homesick and isolated, but she was determined to succeed in Judo.
Her Struggles With Bulimia 21m55s
- At the age of 16, Ronda Rousey began struggling with bulimia due to the pressure to maintain a certain weight for Judo competitions.
- She would hoard food while cutting weight and then binge eat after weigh-ins.
- Ronda felt guilty about eating too much and would make herself throw up to avoid gaining weight.
- She struggled with bulimia for several years and it became a way for her to control her weight when she felt overwhelmed by the pressure to be a certain size.
Getting Bullied for Her Physique 24m33s
- Ronda Rousey was bullied for being muscular in school.
- She would wear a hoodie to cover up her arms.
- Muscularity was not considered attractive for women at that time.
Ronda Competing in the Beijing Olympics 25m49s
- Ronda Rousey left home at 18 to pursue judo.
- She competed in the Beijing Olympics at 21 and won a bronze medal.
- She received only $6,000 after taxes for winning the medal.
Lack of Pay 26m30s
- Ronda Rousey felt a lack of validation and respect from others.
- This drove her to succeed but eventually held her back.
- She benefited from it but it was not sustainable for her happiness.
Our Dark Side Becomes The Driver Of Our Success 27m1s
- Tim Grover, who trained athletes like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, believes that our dark side and light side are interconnected.
- The difficult aspects of our personality, which we may try to hide, contribute to our greatness.
- Ronda Rousey agrees with this idea and sees it reflected in her own journey.
Ronda's Journey to Understanding Her Dark Side 27m1s
- Ronda Rousey has been trying to understand and control her dark side.
- She realized that achieving success and collecting accomplishments did not lead to lasting happiness.
- She had to learn that making herself happy in the present moment was more important than hoarding achievements.
How Her Concussions Affected Her Career 29m32s
- Ronda Rousey concealed a concussion-based brain injury throughout her early MMA career, despite experiencing numerous concussions during her Judo career.
- The accumulated injuries made her more susceptible to concussions in MMA, and the cumulative effect of sparring and headgear contributed to her symptoms.
- A minor tap from Stephanie McMahon during a fight revealed the severity of her condition, prompting her to realize she could no longer sustain fighting.
- Despite being more skilled than ever, she lacked the neurological capacity to compete due to her neurological issues.
- Rousey chose not to disclose her condition due to the controversy surrounding CTE and concussions in pro wrestling, fearing it would jeopardize her career.
Defeating People in 60 Seconds 36m15s
- Ronda Rousey developed a fighting style to finish opponents quickly to avoid taking damage and risking concussions.
- She kept her concussion symptoms a secret from everyone, including her coaches and the UFC, to continue fighting.
Having Very Strict/Abusive Coaches 37m43s
- Ronda Rousey describes the abusive coaching methods she experienced throughout her career.
- Coaches would physically and emotionally abuse athletes, believing it was necessary for success.
- Rousey tolerated the abuse as she felt she had more freedom to express herself compared to previous coaches.
- She endured various forms of abuse, including being physically assaulted and verbally degraded.
How Did It Impact You? 39m56s
- Ronda Rousey discusses the emotional impact of being an athlete and having to suppress emotions while developing.
- She learned to diffuse tense situations with coaches to avoid making things worse.
- The system reinforces power imbalances that are often taken advantage of, with coaches having free reign and athletes lacking options.
- Coaching in general creates an unhealthy power imbalance.
- Ronda Rousey reveals a secret she has kept her entire career.
- She expresses her frustration with the current state of WWE, calling it a mess.
Coaches Crossing the Line… 42m53s
- Ronda Rousey had a complicated relationship with her coaches, who often overstepped boundaries and demanded constant availability.
- She sought validation from father figures, but none of her coaches lived up to her expectations.
- Ronda's coaches employed a harsh coaching philosophy, similar to that of Russian figure skaters and gymnasts, which involved suppressing emotions and emulating stoic athletes like B. Coroli.
- Despite her tough exterior, Ronda was actually very emotional as a fighter and would often cry during training and competitions due to frustration or setbacks.
- Dana White, the president of the UFC, has said that he has never seen her cry.
What Dana White Said About Ronda 47m34s
- Dana White initially said he wouldn't allow women in the UFC but changed his mind because of Ronda Rousey.
- Ronda Rousey became the first female UFC champion and won 15 fights back-to-back, setting several records.
- She was voted the best female athlete of all time in a 2015 ESPN fan poll and was called one of the defining athletes of the 21st century by Fox Sports.
Why Were You Fighting So Frequently? 48m55s
- Ronda Rousey fought frequently because Dana White called her often, and she promised to be available whenever needed.
- She filled in for injured or unavailable fighters and fought during unpopular times of the year to help the company.
- Ronda didn't prioritize fighting on the most popular cards but did what was best for the company.
Being The First Woman to Appear on the UFC 50m15s
- Ronda Rousey felt validated and excited to be the first woman to fight in the UFC.
- She felt like she was in on a secret that the world was just starting to discover.
The New Jackie Chang 50m33s
- Ronda Rousey's acting career arose as an opportunity, and she saw it as a chance to combine her performance and physical abilities.
- She pursued acting with the same confidence she had in her fighting career.
UFC 193 Ronda Vs Holly Holm 51m14s
- Ronda Rousey's fight against Holly Holm at UFC 193 in Melbourne, Australia, marked a significant turning point in her career.
- Rousey was widely regarded as indestructible by the UFC community and fans.
- During the fight, Rousey suffered an initial contact, possibly from Holm's elbow, which affected her depth perception.
- The fight ended with a head kick from Holm, leading to a change in Rousey's life and perception of everything.
- After the defeat, Rousey experienced extreme depression as her identity was tied to being a champion.
- She felt crushed and upset by the public's reaction, perceiving it as unjust since she had given her all.
- Many people she considered friends turned on her, which was an eye-opening experience for Rousey.
- The defeat helped her realize that outward validation was not true happiness and may have saved her from endlessly chasing approval.
- In the long run, the loss proved liberating for Rousey.
How Did You Feel After Losing? 54m40s
- Ronda Rousey was upset after losing because people judged her decisions while she was in a state of shock.
- She felt she couldn't speak up or trust anyone to communicate her perspective.
- She believes she created the most efficient fighting style ever and wanted to be recognized as the greatest.
- Ronda Rousey realized that retiring undefeated and taking her equity with her would not have been the best for women's MMA.
- She believes that taking her equity away would tarnish her legacy and prevent women after her from being taken seriously.
- Despite knowing she is better than all the other female fighters, it still stings a little that she is not recognized as the greatest ever.
- Ronda's mother didn't care if everyone knew she was the best, she only cared if she knew.
- Ronda realized that she started to care more about what other people thought than what she thought.
- Being forced back to that realization was the best thing that could have happened to her.
Suicidal Thoughts 58m14s
- Ronda Rousey reveals that she had suicidal thoughts after her loss to Holly Holm.
- Suicide is more prevalent in her family, and she didn't want to pass on her pain to others.
- She decided to live for her family and prevent them from experiencing her pain.
Ronda's Last Fight in the UFC 1h0m15s
- Ronda Rousey considers her loss to Amanda Nunes as the hardest moment in her professional career.
- After the fight, she decided to leave the UFC and join the WWE.
- During the one-year gap between her last UFC fight and the WWE announcement, she experienced sadness, played video games, and ate crepes.
- She was exhausted from years of intense training and constant media attention.
- She needed a mental and physical rest and felt she had nothing left in her.
- Her condition could be described as depression, but she didn't receive a diagnosis.
- Her husband, Travis Browne, was with her during this period.
Her Husband Support During Tough Times 1h3m13s
- Ronda Rousey's husband, Travis Browne, was very supportive during her difficult times.
- He helped her get out of her social isolation and encouraged her to interact with others.
- Despite not fully understanding her psychological struggles, Travis remained patient and supportive.
- He was always there for her, providing emotional support and comfort.
- Ronda expresses her love and appreciation for Travis, acknowledging that he might not have fully understood her struggles but was still there for her.
- She realized the value of certain people in her life during her hardest times, especially her partner.
- Going through tough times together brought Ronda and Travis closer and made them appreciate each other more.
When Did WWE Come In? 1h6m57s
- Ronda Rousey was initially hesitant about being in front of large crowds and public speaking.
- She found joy in pro wrestling because it reminded her of filming action movies and doing fight choreography.
- Pro wrestling allowed her to tell stories through combat, which fascinated her.
- Ronda trained for fun and eventually caught the attention of WWE.
- She initially planned to have a baby and do pro wrestling for a few months before starting a family, but it turned into a full-time commitment.
Social Media Pressure 1h10m44s
- Ronda used to check her comments and tag photos every morning, which was unhealthy.
- After her first loss, she quit cold turkey to avoid the need for external validation from the internet and social media.
- In pro wrestling, the crowd is like the embodiment of a comment section, which is why she enjoyed being a heel.
- She was happiest when she wasn't trying to please the crowd and instead tried to piss them off and get a rise out of them.
- She was surprised to learn that WWE rewrites the script last minute and that it's not as organized as she thought.
- This lack of organization makes it needlessly dangerous, as performers often don't have time to rehearse and injuries occur.
Did She Feel Expendable to the WWE? 1h13m9s
- Ronda felt expendable to both the UFC and the WWE.
- The companies made sure to make the performers feel this way to prevent them from getting above their station or questioning authority.
Ronda Suffering Two Miscarriages? 1h16m5s
- Ronda Rousey suffered two miscarriages during her career.
- The first miscarriage occurred after she filmed a TV show with 911 where she had a fight scene and various stunts.
- She felt it was her fault for continuing to do dangerous stunts while pregnant.
- The second miscarriage happened shortly after the first one, and she didn't see a heartbeat.
- Ronda went through four cycles of IVF to have eight embryos, and the first one worked, resulting in the birth of her daughter.
- She is currently undergoing another cycle of IVF, but the first cycle didn't work.
- Ronda emphasizes the importance of talking about miscarriages as many women go through it alone.
- She chose to focus on her career during her peak athletic years and is grateful for the embryos she was able to get when she was young.
- Ronda considers herself fortunate to have three kids, including two stepchildren from Travis's previous relationship.
Where Does Her Happiness Come From? 1h20m3s
- Ronda Rousey, a retired professional wrestler, discusses her struggles with IVF and fertility treatments.
- She emphasizes the emotional and physical challenges of the process, including hormonal imbalances and restrictions on physical activity.
- Rousey highlights the societal pressure on women to choose between career and family and the difficulties of balancing both.
- IVF clinics have become increasingly popular due to factors such as extended careers and declining sperm counts, with a 50% chance of the cause being attributed to either partner.
- Despite advancements in science, IVF remains a challenging process, and failed attempts can be emotionally devastating.
- Rousey finds happiness in her family and is grateful for the opportunity to be a mother.
- She has retired from professional wrestling and now focuses on her family, writing, and regenerative agriculture practices on her ranch in Oregon.
- Rousey finds fulfillment in these activities without the pressure of financial gain or public validation.
Did Her Traumas Make Her Who She Is Today? 1h27m32s
- Ronda Rousey discusses her transition from large arenas with cheering crowds to a farm in Oregon, expressing her preference for small, non-televised crowds.
- She emphasizes that winning the fight itself is what brings her joy, rather than the external validation or fame.
- Rousey explains that her motivation in sports like Judo and fighting was not driven by a desire for fame or recognition, but by the intrinsic satisfaction of mastering a skill.
- She describes her self-destructive thoughts as a means to enter a "flow state" of complete focus and immersion in the task at hand.
- Rousey acknowledges that she still experiences self-destructive thoughts and ruminates on past mistakes.
- Ronda Rousey reveals that she has tried therapy but found it ineffective due to her mother being a psychologist and her high standards for therapists.
- She expresses skepticism about the benefits of therapy and suggests that it may not be suitable for everyone.
What She Learned From Her Dad? 1h31m11s
- Ronda Rousey's father taught her how to be a man and a great husband.
- Her parents were deeply in love with each other.
- Her father always believed in her potential and instilled the belief that she was exceptional.
- Ronda Rousey was named after her father, Ronald John Rousey Jr.
Last Guest Question 1h33m4s
- Ronda Rousey's memoir, 'Our Fight', is available for purchase.
- Ronda's successful UFC career entertained fans, but it came at a great personal cost.
- She was obsessed with winning and being the best, which led to profound struggles from a young age.
- Despite the challenges, Ronda brought joy to fans with her unique fighting style.
- The interviewer expresses gratitude to Ronda on behalf of fans who understand the sacrifices she made.
- Ronda's accomplishments, such as defining the women's division in the UFC, are acknowledged.
- Her honest and well-written book is praised for its perfect timing and insightful perspective.
- When asked about the most fun moment of her life, Ronda hesitates and mentions intimate moments with her husband.
- She recommends her book, "Ronda Rousey AR Fight Out," which is available everywhere.
