Ronda Rousey Speaks out for the First Time After Devastating UFC 207 Loss
‘I need to take some time to reflect and think about the future.’
It was only less than 24 hours ago when Amanda Nunes took out Ronda Rousey in just 48 seconds in a fight for the women’s bantamweight title before a sell-out crowd of 18,533 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Now the former unbeaten champion has broken her silence after the defeat. Having had a fall in the last 13 months, which included a defeat by Holly Holm in the second round at UFC 193 in a fight in which she was dominated and after more than a year off, Rousey returned Friday for a comeback fight but was no match for Nunes’s powerful strikes. Rousey was 12-2 and won six UFC title fights before losing to Holm. Read Rousey’s statement released to ESPN below:
I want to say thank you to all of my fans who have been there for me in not only the greatest moments but in the most difficult ones. Words cannot convey how much your love and support means to me.
Returning to not just fighting, but winning, was my entire focus this past year. However, sometimes — even when you prepare and give everything you have and want something so badly — it doesn’t work how you planned. I take pride in seeing how far the women’s division has come in the UFC and commend all the other women who have been part of making this possible, including Amanda.
I need to take some time to reflect and think about the future. Thank you for believing in me and understanding.
