Sign you’ve made it: You’re going to star in a movie based on your own bestselling autobiography. Then again, Ronda Rousey has the time, since most of her fights are literally over in seconds, including the weekend’s knockout of Bethe Correia in Rio de Janeiro. Let’s review the rise of Rousey, who overcame a tough childhood to redefine what a champion looks like.
1. Rousey’s mother, AnnMaria De Mars, was the first American (male or female) to win the World Judo Championships.
2. Rousey was born with her umbilical cord wrapped around her neck. She’s stated she spoke “gibberish” until roughly age 6.
3. Rousey’s first passion was swimming, which she gave up after her father’s suicide when she was eight.
4. After just six years of judo, Rousey reached the 2004 Olympics at age 17.
5. She also reached the 2008 Olympics, where she won a bronze medal.
6. Rousey considered seeking gold at the 2012 Olympics before making the switch to mixed martial arts.
7. In 2010, Rousey made her mixed martial arts debut, a submission win in just 23 seconds.
8. In 2011, Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White said women would “never” fight in the UFC. By 2013 he welcomed them, thanks mainly to Rousey.
9. Miesha Tate is the only person to get out of the 1st round with Rousey. (She’s 0-2 against her with talk of a third fight.)
10. Rousey has a particularly bitter rivalry with Tate, refusing to shake her hand after the second win.
11. Rousey’s fight game has been evolving, with knockouts in three of her last four fights instead of the usual arm bar submissions.
12. These knockouts required 66, 16 and 34 seconds.
13. Mike Tyson’s legendary Michael Spinks KO took 91 seconds. Ten of Rousey’s 12 pro wins required less time.
14. Rousey has four pro victories in under 30 seconds, just missing another in this weekend’s KO of Bethe Correia, which took 34.
15. Rousey’s “dream” opponent is usually cited as Cris “Cyborg” Justino, who normally fights in a weight class 10 pounds above Rousey.
16. Rousey has urged Justino to stop being “pumped full of steroids” and drop to her 135-pound weight class for the bout. (Justino had a positive test in 2011.)
17.Rousey got the late wrestling legend Roddy Piper’s permission before adopting “Rowdy” as her nickname.
18. While fighting at least twice a year, she’s found time for three movies (notably Furious 7) since 2014, with Mark Wahlberg’s Mile 22 in production.
19. Rousey credits an ex-boyfriend she dubbed “Snappers McCreepy” taking nude shots without her permission as inspiration for stripping down for ESPN’s 2012 Body Issue.
20. Rousey later did SI’s 2015 Swimsuit Issue. She refused to diet for it so the world would see her at her “walking weight.”
21. Ronda Rousey is decidedly not a “do-nothing bitch.”
Courtesy of: Made Man