Julianna Peña has nothing however respect for Ronda Rousey’s contributions to MMA. It’s Rousey’s departure from the enterprise that continues to rub her the flawed manner.
“The Venezuelan Vixen” joined a refrain of voices weighing in on Rousey’s feedback in affiliation with the promotion of Rousey’s lately printed autobiography, which has seen the previous UFC star throw shade at fighters, executives, and the media who she believes wronged her throughout the darkest moments of her MMA profession.
From one former bantamweight champion to a different, Peña sympathizes with the mega stardom that Rousey needed to take care of throughout her memorable championship reign, however she want to see Rousey look inward extra relating to doling out criticism.
“I’ll say, undoubtedly, weight of the world on her shoulders, I’m positive, however it comes with the territory,” Peña mentioned on The MMA Hour. “I do have this saying that I at all times say to everyone, ‘It seems like an excuse, it seems like an excuse. That’s what we name an…’ after which they’ll end the sentence for me and so they’ll say, ‘an excuse.’ I’ll let you know straight-up, ‘That’s an excuse, however…’ It’s by no means for her to say, taking accountability, ‘It’s an excuse, however I didn’t get to evolve.’ It’s simply extra of like blaming everyone else with out taking any accountability.
“Particularly in case you lose, everyone loses. You get again up on the horse, you experience once more, you battle one other day. You’re not going to win each single battle. I believe it was very poor style for her to lose like that after which simply be gone from the game and by no means return. It simply form of exhibits her mentality.”
Rousey’s preventing profession noticed her incur a surprising fall from grace when she was knocked out by Holly Holm at UFC 193 in November 2015. That loss ended Rousey’s three-year run as champion and despatched her into seclusion following a protracted interval of widespread media consideration. 13 months later, Rousey returned to the cage, solely to lose to bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes in simply 48 seconds at UFC 207.
That signaled the tip for Rousey, who later went on to a profitable run with WWE that led to 2023. Rousey has made no indication that she plans to return to fight sports activities since.
A lot of Rousey’s current ire has been directed on the media, who she feels turned on her after her first loss. Peña wonders why Rousey couldn’t discover a technique to channel that negativity into motivation for a comeback.
“It’s a instrument, and you should use it to gas you or you should use it to sabotage you and break your life,” Peña mentioned. “What are you going to do, what I imply? It’s a few of that fighter mentality, for me. Are you going to battle again or are you simply going to crumble and say, ‘My life is over. Everyone hates me and I’m accomplished, and it’s all of your fault.’
“Look, [I’m] appreciative, grateful, completely satisfied. Thanks for getting the foot within the door for the remainder of us, after all. However I additionally had my very own private run-ins with Ronda, particularly being on The Final Fighter, that weren’t so nice, so I’m clearly going to really feel slightly bit in another way about her than perhaps most individuals would.”
Peña received The Final Fighter 18 because the No. 1 decide of coach Miesha Tate, Rousey’s longtime rival. Not solely was Peña on the opposing group, however she superior to the semifinals of that season’s match by defeating Rousey’s shut good friend and No. 1 decide, Shayna Baszler.
Regardless of the meat between them — whereas Rousey was nonetheless lively, Peña continuously campaigned to battle her — Peña has expressed her admiration for Rousey up to now. Nevertheless, she believes that another person would’ve ultimately led the cost for ladies within the UFC even when “Rowdy” hadn’t paved the way in which.
“I don’t imagine that,” Peña mentioned when requested if ladies don’t develop into part of the UFC roster with out Rousey. “I believe it was only a matter of time.”
