For years, Ronda Rousey was the face of fighting itself — a global phenomenon who made the impossible look effortless.

From her days as an Olympic judo medalist to her meteoric rise in the UFC, Rousey became the embodiment of dominance, swagger, and sheer intimidation.

Her record spoke for itself: 12 straight wins, most of them in the first round, with her signature armbar submission turning world-class opponents into helpless victims.

She was unstoppable, unpredictable, and unapologetically fierce. The world didn’t just watch her fights — it feared her next one.

In the mid-2010s, Rousey transcended MMA. She became a Hollywood star, a WWE future icon, and a symbol of women’s empowerment. She wasn’t just the UFC’s first female champion — she was a cultural force.

The Kick That Changed Everything

But every empire falls, and Ronda Rousey’s collapse came faster than anyone could have imagined.

On November 15, 2015, at UFC 193 in Melbourne, the undefeated queen faced Holly Holm, a decorated boxer turned mixed martial artist. Few gave Holm a chance — Rousey’s aggression had bulldozed every opponent before her. But Holm’s game plan was surgical: precise movement, calm under pressure, and devastating counterstrikes.

Then, in the second round, it happened.

Holm’s left head kick landed flush — a perfect, thundering strike that sent Rousey collapsing to the canvas. The stadium gasped. The world went silent. And just like that, the era of Ronda Rousey was over.

It was one of the most shocking upsets in UFC history, a moment replayed millions of times — the night the unbeatable met the unthinkable.

After her first professional loss, Rousey vanished. No press tours. No interviews. No fights. Rumors swirled of depression, self-doubt, and emotional collapse. In later interviews, she admitted contemplating suicide in the aftermath, saying she felt her identity had been shattered.

For someone who had built her life around invincibility, defeat wasn’t just a loss — it was an identity crisis. The woman once known as “The Baddest on the Planet” was suddenly human, vulnerable, and uncertain of her place in the world she’d conquered.

Amanda Nunes — The Final Blow

Thirteen months later, on December 30, 2016, Rousey made her long-awaited comeback against Amanda Nunes at UFC 207. The build-up was electric — Rousey was back, leaner, angrier, and determined to reclaim her crown. But what unfolded was brutal.

In just 48 seconds, Nunes unleashed a savage flurry of punches that battered Rousey from the opening bell. The referee mercifully stopped the fight, leaving fans stunned and silent once again.

Rousey never fought in the UFC again.

The Nunes fight wasn’t just another loss — it was the final chapter of one of the most dramatic rises and falls in sports history.

From Fighter to Myth

After stepping away from MMA, Rousey reinvented herself in the world of professional wrestling, joining the WWE and reclaiming some of her confidence and charisma. Yet, even today, discussions of her name inevitably circle back to those two nights — Holm and Nunes — the defeats that turned a legend into a cautionary tale.

Still, Ronda Rousey’s impact can’t be measured by the way it ended. She broke barriers, headlined arenas, and proved women could be main-event stars in a sport once dominated by men. Without her, there may never have been a stage for stars like Nunes, Shevchenko, or Zhang Weili.

Ronda Rousey’s story isn’t just about victory or defeat — it’s about the unbearable weight of greatness. She burned brighter and faster than anyone before her, changing the sport forever and paying a heavy price for it.

In the end, the “Baddest Woman on the Planet” didn’t just lose two fights — she lost the illusion of being untouchable. But what remains is her undeniable legacy: a fighter who made history, inspired millions, and redefined what it means to be a champion.