It’s been a rough week for Ronda Rousey on the ESPN circuit, as awkward interactions with network personalities Mike Golic and Max Kellerman were used to highlight her reluctance to talk about the end of her UFC career.
However, the former bantamweight queen offered some candid thoughts on why she doesn’t want to talk about the past in an interview with ESPN.com on Wednesday. Rousey explained that, if she doesn’t find the subject matter enjoyable, she doesn’t feel obligated to discuss it. That includes her MMA career.
“I’m only here to enjoy myself. That’s the only thing that’s never been a priority in my life,” Rousey said “In judo and MMA, there were times when the process was fun and the results were fun. And there’s a time when things run their course. You fall in love, you fall out of love and you find a new love.
“There was a while when I was just looking for an honorable way out [of the UFC]. I felt satisfied that I’d proven everything I need to prove, but I didn’t feel anybody else felt that way, and I wasn’t sure if the women’s division could survive without me,” she continued. “I felt obligated to do more than what I actually wanted to. But I also have no regrets, and I’m so happy I fulfilled those obligations. And I really feel the women’s division can hold their own.”
Rousey hasn’t officially retired from MMA, but the Olympic judoka has been clear that the chances of her making an Octagon return are slim. She largely disappeared from the public eye following her second consecutive loss – a 48-second TKO defeat to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 – and hasn’t spoken much about her time in the promotion since then.
Rousey was originally booked for ESPN to promote her World Wrestling Entertainment debut, which will occur at the organization’s biggest event, WrestleMania, on Sunday. Competing in sports entertainment is what makes Rousey happy, and were it not for that, “Rowdy” might very well be content to live in seclusion.
“I could very happily be in some house in the mountains and never see anyone again, hang out with my goats and chickens,” Rousey said. “It would have to be something as great as the WWE to make me this happy, to pull me away.
“Otherwise, no one would hear from me. I would live in the woods and be happy. That’s all I really want.”