Ronda Rousey has explained why she isn't in the spotlight as much these days, after previously being one of the most famous fighters in the world.
Rousey, once a dominant force in women's combat sports, made history as the first female fighter in the UFC and became its inaugural bantamweight champion.
She was even referenced in Demi Lovato’s 2015 song Stars and, for a time, seemed unstoppable in the octagon.
However, her meteoric rise came to an abrupt halt in 2016 after suffering two consecutive losses. Following her exit from the UFC, Rousey transitioned into professional wrestling, joining WWE.
She remained in the sport until 2023 before seemingly leaving combat sports altogether.
In a 2024 interview with PEOPLE, the 38-year-old revealed that ongoing health concerns ultimately forced her retirement.
She disclosed that she had concealed multiple "concussions and neurological injuries" throughout her career.
"I just couldn't fight at that top level anymore, and I couldn't take those impacts," Rousey said. She added that her decision came at a time when she was physically at her peak, stating she had "never been stronger or faster, or had a better grasp of the game."
The risks of long-term brain trauma played a significant role in her choice to walk away. "You never know when you've had one hit too many until decades later, and I don't want to keep testing that," she explained.
Rousey has previously spoken about the impact of repeated concussions, detailing her experiences in her 2024 memoir Our Fight.
She also revealed in an interview with BBC Sport that she was likely concussed for most of her shocking title defeat against Holly Holm.
"It's hard to look at footage of that match," she admitted. "Because I can literally see in my eyes I'm suffering from a neurological injury decades in the making.
"It [ticks] me off when people see that and say, 'this is Ronda being outclassed.' That's me with my brain not properly working."
Since stepping away from the ring, Rousey has shifted her focus to family life with her husband, former UFC fighter Travis Browne, and their children. She has also embraced a new creative passion - screenwriting.
Sharing her latest endeavor with PEOPLE, she revealed that she had been working as an intern at Warner Bros. in its story department.
"I've been writing screenplays and things to keep my mind in a positive place, and if I feel myself going somewhere negative, I'll consciously turn it towards something that I'm creatively working on," she said.
"It's just been a really positive force in my life."