Ronda Rousey is a bona fide superstar. She’s one of the most famous female fighters of all time. From making appearances at talk shows to landing roles in big-budget movies, her fame has taken her way beyond fighting. But behind all the accolades, lies a story of a woman who had faced major setbacks throughout her childhood.

However, through all this time Rousey’s family was with her and supported her throughout.

Rousey always had the support of her parents. Her father truly believed in her, and from the beginning, he used to tell her, “You’re going to win the Olympics.” Ronda’s mother, Dr. AnnMaria De Mars, a former Judo world champion herself, said, “He always told her she was going to be the best in the world.” While Ronda’s sister stayed with their mom, she decided to move in with her dad in North Dakota. This is where tragedy stuck, Rousey. 

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Ron (Ronda’s father) met with an accident where his back was broken. With no scope of recovery, and to protect her wife and daughter from seeing him like this, Ron decided to take his own life.  

Getting into Judo

With Rousey facing all these issues, her mother got her into Judo. Although hesitant, De Mars still decided to go ahead with her decision. “Do your own thing.’ That’s what I told her. She’s never been the best at doing what she’s told.” She further added, “She was having a lot of trouble in school. I thought, well, with judo at least you have to have a partner. She would have to go out and meet some other kids. Maybe that would help her? I guess it did.”

With Ronda’s mother by her side, she made Rousey a master of getting people to the ground and setting up the arm bar. At the age of 17, she made it to the Olympics in 2004. She was still going through personal struggles, which lead to the Olympics, not going the way she wanted. 

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After the games, she decided to step away from the sport for a while. She left her house, her mother, and her Judo coach, Jim Pedro, for two years. Although out of the two years, she’d quit Judo only for two weeks. 

Ronda Rousey winning at the Olympics

Two years later, Ronda returned. This time to a new weight division and with a new attitude. After making it to the Olympics team, she screamed, “I want a margarita”.

She would later go on to win an Olympic Bronze in 2008 at 154 pounds. She became the first American to win an Olympic medal in Judo and thus turning her father’s dream into reality. 

This was just the beginning of her success. Ronda Rousey went on to become a UFC Hall of Famer, the first woman to fight in the UFC, at UFC 157. She became their first UFC woman’s bantamweight champion, the first Olympic medalist, to win a UFC belt, the longest title fight winning streak, most wins by arm bars, and the list goes on and on.

Where do you rank Ronda Rousey in your greatest fighters list?

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