Rousey’s first MMA fight was in the summer of 2010. The fight was epic.
The fight was epically short. It only lasted 23 seconds, during which she obliterated her opponent faster than you can blink. It was a great start for Rousey.
A Post-Olympic Life
At 21 years old, after winning almost every possible judo medal a young American woman can, Rousey retired. She gave a non-Olympic life a shot and moved in with a roommate in California.
This turned out to be harder than winning medals. She supported herself and her dog by working three jobs and then realized it was all becoming too much.
Welcome to MMA
When Rousey was still training in judo, she had some training partners who transitioned into MMA fighters. Those former training partners suggested that this could be just what Rousey needs to do next in her life.
Tired of her ordinary jobs, Rousey decided to take their advice and embark on an MMA journey — a decision that changed her life.
Going Pro
At the beginning of Ronda's MMA career, she was technically categorized as an amateur. In practice, however, she was as professional as they come.
Anyone who had the guts to face her had their backside handed to them on a platter in under a minute. Not surprisingly, Rousey went pro, officially, and destroyed her opponents.
Lean, Mean, Fighting Machine
As a pro, Rousey achieved the impossible and won four fights in a row, with each fight lasting less than a minute. All of those fights and achievements lead her to compete against the reigning champ.
The fight took 4 minutes and 27 seconds, much longer than Rousey's average, but it ended with her victory. She became an MMA sensation and even appeared on the cover of the "Body Issue" by ESPN Magazine.