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Concussions in combat sports are a serious issue, but UFC legend Ronda Rousey said recently that her issues with concussions started long before she stepped into the octagon.
Ronda Rousey Blames Childhood Concussions For Disappointing End To UFC Career
Rousey, who has been in the news often lately after she complained about, well, everything and everyone, began doing Judo at six years old. And that’s when she says she really began to struggle with concussions that caused her eventual downfall in the UFC.
“If the concussions weren’t an issue, things would’ve happened completely differently,” Rousey told CBS Sports. “Accumulative neurological injury is something people don’t talk about in MMA. It’s something that everybody is dealing with at a different pace. I started dealing with it at six years old. I started getting concussions much earlier on in swimming. Two kids doing a backstroke in the other direction crack heads or hit the wall doing the backstroke.
“I started doing judo at a young age and kept getting concussions regularly and multiple times a year and not being allowed to speak up or say anything about it. As a fighter, you’re not supposed to show any weakness or talk about things like that or the inevitable neurological decline that comes with taking headshots. A lot of people talk about it as if it’s making excuses or weakness.”
Now, look. Concussions are a problem. And they can happen at any age. But Rousey has used up any goodwill or grace she had from fans at this point.
She’s blasted everyone from fans, to fellow fighters, to commentator Joe Rogan. The end of her UFC career is everybody’s fault except hers.
So at this point, nobody really wants to hear her talk about another excuse. Even if it there is some validity to it.