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Entertainment January 2, 2017
Ronda Rousey’s shock defeat on her return to Ultimate Fighting Championship action has raised questions over whether she can continue in the combat sport.
Destroyed in just 48 brutal seconds by Brazilian opponent Amanda Nunes in a pay-per-view pasting, the American icon of the octagon looks to be finished with fighting.
But her popularity and fame means there are many other career options for her going forward if she says farewell to UFC.
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Ronda Rousey’s UFC career— Tweets for Bros (@BroHumors) January 2, 2017
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Among those options is a career in action films, something predicted by her opponent Nunes who, moments after their Dec. 30 clash, said, “She’s going to retire and go to movies and make a lot of money now.”
Rousey has said nothing to the media since the shattering defeat but to help her make up her mind, ENTITY lays out six of her options.
Rodeo riders only have to stay in the saddle of a bucking bronco for eight seconds to be winners. That should be achievable for Rousey, who manged 48 seconds of rough and tumble action in her last fight. Yes it’s a rough tough sport with lots of falls and bruises but that’s nothing new to this warrior woman.
Rousey has already appeared in three films – “The Expendables 3,” “Fast and Furious 7” and “Entourage” – and has a starring role lined up in a remake of 1989 Patrick Swayze film “Road House. ” As a film star, she can even demand that a stunt double do the rougher scenes.
Rousey is a huge fan of wrestling so maybe a switch to a different, less vicious combat sport could be on the cards. Rousey took her nickname “Rowdy” from late professional wrestler Rowdy Roddy Piper and has appeared at Wrestlemania in the past. She could easily become one of the biggest and richest draws in the sport.
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Having been the most dominant female fighter for so long and inspired so many women, Rousey won’t want to leave UFC as a loser. The only obvious next fight for her is a clash with Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino, the other most highly regarded female fighter in the world. It is by no means guaranteed she could win that fight, but if she did then Rousey could retire having beaten the best.
Rousey became the first female athlete to guest host ESPN’s “Sports Center” in 2015 and also impressed when hosting NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” in 2016. Maybe she should hand up her gloves, pick up a microphone and swap fighting for hosting.
Rousey could name her price as a motivational speaker. She has spoken well in the past about her struggles with body image. She explained, “When I was in school, martial arts made you a dork, and I became self-conscious that I was too masculine. I was a 16-year-old girl with ringworm and cauliflower ears. People made fun of my arms and called me ‘Miss Man’. It wasn’t until I got older that I realized: these people are idiots. I’m fabulous.”
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