Ronda Rousey’s Bitterness
Ronda Rousey, once the undisputed queen of women’s MMA, revolutionized the sport by headlining UFC events and shattering barriers for female fighters. Her 12-fight win streak, six title defenses, and iconic armbars made her a global icon, earning her induction into the UFC Hall of Fame.
Yet, nearly a decade after her shocking knockouts to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes in 2015 and 2016, Rousey’s legacy—built on dominance and charisma—now risks being overshadowed by bitterness.
In a recent episode of the Bertcast podcast with comedian Bert Kreischer (October 29, 2025), Ronda Rousey unleashed unprovoked barbs at MMA fans and longtime UFC commentator Joe Rogan. These “out of nowhere” attacks, laced with resentment, have reignited debates about her post-retirement narrative, painting her as ungrateful and isolated rather than the pioneer she is.
The insults began innocently enough, as Kreischer bantered about a hypothetical fight against her. He mentioned texting Rogan for training advice, prompting Rousey’s sharp retort: “He wouldn’t know. He’s not an expert, he’s a fan with an audience. He’s never fought… Taekwondo is not fighting.”
This dismissal of Rogan—who called her fights with near-tearful reverence during her prime, once claiming she could “beat Floyd Mayweather”—feels particularly petty.
Rogan, a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu with decades of UFC commentary experience, has been a vocal supporter of women’s MMA, including Rousey. Her jab ignores his contributions, reducing him to a dilettante and alienating fans who view him as the sport’s knowledgeable everyman.
As one MMA outlet noted, the awkward exchange left Kreischer—Rogan’s close friend—squirming, highlighting the unforced error. (bloodyelbow.com)
Ronda Rousey didn’t stop there. She broadened her ire to MMA fans, lamenting their “what have you done for me lately?” mentality and accusing them of turning on her post-losses:
“It was really disappointing to see how happily everybody turned on me… so quickly turned on me,” she echoed from a prior Chris Cuomo Project interview.
She contrasted this with WWE’s respect for “legends,” implying MMA’s audience lacks loyalty. This narrative frames fans as fickle traitors, but it overlooks how Ronda Rousey herself distanced from the sport after 2016, pivoting to WWE without engaging UFC communities.
Her comments have sparked fury online, with fans branding her “delusional” and “insufferable,” further eroding the goodwill from her trailblazing era.
By lashing out at the very supporters who packed arenas for her, Rousey risks solidifying a legacy tainted by victimhood rather than victory. Industry voices have amplified the backlash, underscoring the damage.
Ariel Helwani, the veteran MMA journalist whom Ronda Rousey has long avoided (citing past “trash-talk”), indirectly highlighted her isolation during the Bertcast discussion. When Kreischer probed media double-dealing, Rousey snapped, “That’s why I don’t talk to those people anymore… When’s the last time you saw me on Ariel Helwani? It’s been a long time because I remember that sh*t.”
Helwani, who has praised Ronda Rousey’s historical impact (once including her in his women’s UFC Mount Rushmore alongside Nunes, Jedrzejczyk, and Shevchenko), has stayed relatively silent on the Rogan feud but has fueled speculation about her rumored 2026 return—speculation she now seems to sabotage with these rants.
His measured coverage contrasts her vitriol, portraying her as out of touch.Chael Sonnen, the “American Gangster” and fellow UFC alum, delivered a brutal reality check on his YouTube channel: “They were never with you, and they never loved you… Nobody’s thinking about you.”
Dismissing her fan complaints as a misunderstanding of combat sports’ transient fandom, Sonnen noted, “Fans, like promoters, must move on when a fighter’s time passes… It’s not hate; it’s the cycle of the sport.”
He argued her “heel turn” on Rogan wasn’t performative but genuine hurt, yet self-inflicted: “The moment she left [UFC], she stopped showing up to events. When she was done with that toy, she put it in the corner.”
Sonnen’s takedown stings because it echoes a truth: Ronda Rousey’s legacy thrives on her in-cage ferocity, not endless grievances.
Even reigning UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko, a peer who never fought Rousey but respects her foundational role, publicly rebuked the Rogan slight on X: “I see Joe Rogan as [a] huge expert of Martial Arts, noble man, hunter, sportsman, and good example for youth!”
Shevchenko, known for her analytical precision, dismissed Rousey’s credentials attack outright, positioning Rogan as an inspirational figure. Coming from a current champion, this defense amplifies the generational divide: Shevchenko embodies the evolved women’s division Rousey helped birth, yet rejects her bitterness.
Ultimately, these outbursts hurt Ronda Rousey by reinforcing stereotypes of her as “salty” and entitled, diverting focus from her achievements—like forcing women’s MMA into the UFC mainstream—to personal vendettas.
Fans who once chanted her name now meme her meltdowns, and peers like Sonnen and Shevchenko urge closure. At 38, with WWE behind her and MMA whispers fading, Rousey could reclaim her throne by celebrating her impact.
Instead, by punching sideways at fans and allies like Rogan, she’s authoring a coda of isolation. Her legacy isn’t erased—it’s just growing thorns. As Sonnen put it, the sport moves on; clinging to old wounds only pulls her further from the spotlight she once owned.
Bobby is martial artist for almost 20 years with a BJJ black belt under Professor Sergio Miranda. He is also a karate black and former combat sports athlete, who loves all things grappling.