Ronda Rousey opens up on retirement: I don’t need to prove I’m the GOAT, I know I am

For years, Ronda Rousey dominated the women’s bantamweight division in the UFC stopping any women who stepped in her way. Now “Rowdy” has spoken about how she doesn’t need to fight again to prove to herself she is the greatest of all time.

Rousey is arguably the biggest pioneer of women’s MMA to date and the reason the UFC opened up women’s divisions. She defended her UFC bantamweight title a record seven times, stopping multiple opponents such as Cat Zingano and Sara McMann in the first round with impressive stoppages.

Talking recently on her YouTube channel, Rousey said there isn’t a day that goes by that people don’t ask her to fight again, but that doesn’t mean she is tempted by the idea.

“There’s not a day that goes by people aren’t telling me to fight,” Rousey said. “I have to try and think of it as, would I rather be the greatest of all time, or have everybody think I’m the greatest of all time? It used to be so important to me to have both. But now it’s got to the point where I don’t want to sacrifice myself and my family to prove that anymore to a bunch of people that don’t give a s—t about me. (Transcription via MMA Fighting)

“I know, and the people who love me know. It’s no longer a priority in my life. All the people that tell you, ‘Come on, fight again, do this again,’ they would never do that for me.”

Since leaving the UFC, Rousey has appeared in multiple films and has also most notably signed with the WWE. The former Olympian credited her husband, former UFC heavyweight Travis Browne, from stopping her from fighting again.

“It’s hard when everyone around you, the value they have for you is how you fight, and how they see you is how you fight, and the only thing they think you have to offer is how you fight,” Rousey explained. “It was actually my husband that taught me I’m so much more than just a fighter. I don’t have to fight myself into the ground to prove that I’m the greatest of all time when I already know that I am.”