Ronda Rousey didn’t hold back when discussing what she sees as a toxic pattern among MMA fans, their tendency to abandon fighters the moment they show weakness.
In a recent interview with Bert Kreischer, the former UFC bantamweight champion used Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement as a prime example of how fan culture shapes fighters’ legacies.
According to Rousey, Khabib’s decision to retire undefeated wasn’t just about going out on top, it was also about avoiding the harsh backlash that often follows any hint of decline.
“I think the only reason why MMA fans have their lips so firmly planted at the base of Khabib’s c— is because he retired before he reached his limit,” Rousey said. “If he kept fighting until he reached his limit, everybody would be like, ‘Khabib ain’t s—, he never was s—’. They’re like that with everybody.”
Rousey compared Khabib’s exit to the treatment other MMA greats received after their falls from grace. She name-dropped legends like Chuck Liddell, Rampage Jackson, and Brock Lesnar, pointing out how fans once idolized them only to later tear them down.
“Name one past champion that has the kind of respect current champions do,” she continued. “It’s really sad because it encourages people to leave while they’re peaking instead of passing the torch to the next generation.”
The former UFC champion also reflected on her own career. After dominating the bantamweight division, Rousey’s back-to-back knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes in 2015 and 2016 marked a brutal end to her MMA run. She admitted that, for a long time, she feared losing because she believed it would erase everything she had accomplished.
“I wanted to retire undefeated because I was terrified everything I built would mean nothing if I lost,” she said. “It wasn’t until I joined the WWE that I realized how different things could be. In wrestling, everyone retires on a loss, because you’re supposed to pass the torch, not take it with you.”
That lesson, Rousey explained, changed her entire perspective on legacy. In the WWE, icons like The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels are celebrated for their longevity and impact, not perfection. In contrast, she believes MMA fans tend to glorify invincibility and ridicule any hint of vulnerability.
Rousey’s words cut deep, especially coming from someone who once defined dominance in women’s MMA. Her raw honesty highlights a truth that many fighters face, in a sport built on resilience, fans often forget that even legends are human.
