WWE's Ronda Rousey won't talk about UFC losses, says she's not retired

Ronda Rousey is more than two years removed from the end of her dominant run as UFC champion. Still, the former UFC bantamweight titleholder won’t address the back-to-back losses that derailed her position as an MMA superstar.

Outside of a 48-second TKO loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in December 2016, Rousey (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) has largely remained out of the spotlight since she was dethroned of UFC gold by Holly Holm at UFC 193 in November 2015. “Rowdy” reemerged on Sunday, though, when she made a surprise appearance at WWE’s Royal Rumble event.

The appearance marked the start of Rousey’s professional wrestling career. She’s signed a multi-year deal with the WWE, and although the new chapter in her life might seem like an appropriate opportunity to address her past demons, an emotional Rousey said the time is still not right.

“I think I’d rather just not talk about that right now,” Rousey said in a sit-down interview with ESPN.com released just after news broke of her WWE signing.

Rousey may not have been willing to discuss her past fights, but she did make a statement about her future in MMA. She said she hasn’t followed the UFC over the past year, but also didn’t dismiss an octagon return entirely.

Former UFC heavyweight and current WWE Universal champion Brock Lesnar has transitioned between sports, but Rousey said that’s not currently her focus. She doesn’t want to deem herself retired from fighting, but made it clear at this point her future is committed solely toward thriving under the WWE banner.

“(Retirement is) what everybody else seems to say,” Rousey said. “I never retired from judo. If that’s what you guys want to think. All I know is that I really want to devote 100 percent of my time to wrestling right now, and whatever people want to call that, they can call it.

“This is my life now,” she continued. “First priority on my timeline for the next several years. This is not a smash-and-grab; this is not a publicity stunt. When I first met with Triple H, I told him, ‘There are other things I can do with my time that’ll make way more money, but I won’t enjoy nearly as much.’”

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