Ronda Rousey's Official MMA Site (2024)

Ronda Rousey (born February 1, 1987 in Riverside County, California) is an American judoka and mixed martial artist. She formerly trained at Pedro’s Judo in Wakefield, Massachusetts under guidance of Jimmy Pedro and is now part of Team Hayastan in North Hollywood, California. She also trains with standup coach Edmond Tarverdyan from the Glendale Fighting Club, as well as with Wrestling World Champion Leo Frincu at both Results Personal Training and SK Golden Boys Wrestling Club.
Rousey is currently the #10-ranked 145-pound female MMA fighter in the world according to the Unified Women’s MMA Rankings.

OLYMPIC JUDO CAREER

At just 17, Rousey qualified for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, becoming the youngest judo player in the entire Games.
Also in 2004, Rousey won the Pan American Championships, her first of 7 US Senior National titles, and a gold medal at the 2004 World Junior (under 20) Judo Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
In April 2006, she became the first U.S. female athlete in nearly 10 years to win an A-Level tournament as she went 5-0 to claim gold at the Birmingham World Cup in Great Britain. Later that year, the 19-year-old won the bronze medal at the Junior World Championships, becoming the first U.S. athlete ever to win two Junior World medals.
In February 2007, Rousey moved up to 70kg (154lbs) in the middle of a tour of European tournaments. Her first competition at 70kg was the Austrian World Cup, she went 5-0 to claim the 2nd of her 3 world cup titles.
Later that year Rousey suffered a major knee injury that locked her right knee in place. She still fought in the 2007 Pan American Championships in order to earn points to secure her position at the 2008 Olympics. After earning a bronze medal she was flown straight home to undergo knee surgery. A few months after the surgery she fought in the Pan American Games in Rio de Janerio and beat the Brazilian Christina Aguiar in the finals.
Six months after moving up, Ronda won the silver medal at the 2007 World Judo Championships, defeating defending world champion Edith Bosch in the semi-finals.

In August 2008, Rousey competed at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. She lost her quarterfinal to the Dutch ex-world champion Edith Bosch but qualified for a Bronze medal match through the repechage bracket. Rousey defeated Annett Boehm by Yuko to win a bronze medal (note: Judo offers two bronze medals per weight class). With the victory, Rousey became the first American to win an Olympic medal in women’s judo since its inception as a full Olympic sport in 1992.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS CAREER

Rousey made her mixed martial arts debut as an amateur on August 6, 2010. She defeated Hayden Munoz by submission due to an armbar in 23 seconds.

She then entered the quarterfinals of the Tuff-N-Uff 145 lbs women’s tournament on November 12, 2010 and submitted promotional veteran Autumn Richardson with an armbar in 57 seconds.

Rousey then faced #1 ranked amateur Taylor Stratford (6-0) in the Tuff-N-Uff tournament semi-finals on January 7, 2011. Rousey won by technical submission due to an armbar in 24 seconds. She then announced plans to turn pro and was replaced in the tournament.

Rousey made her professional mixed martial arts debut on March 27, 2011 at King of the Cage: Turning Point. After the tournament she confessed to the press that she was victim of a freak accident and was bitten on the foot by a Pit Bull. She was rushed to a doctor and had to get 9 stitches in her foot. Despite the incident she still fought at the King of the Cage event 3 days later and still managed to defeat Ediane Gomes (6-1 record at the time and ranked 6th in the world) via armbar in 25 seconds.

Rousey currently trains under Gokor Chivichyan, Leo Frincu, Gene Lebell, and Edmond Taverdyan, along with Team Hayastan fighters such as Manny Gamburyan, Karen Darabedyan, Sako Chivitchian, Roman Mitichyan, and Sevak Magakian.
Ronda teaches judo in Santa Monica at Dynamix MMA along with Gracie BJJ Black Belt, Henry Akins, and former Dutch Kickboxer and UFC heavyweight Antoni Hardonk. Her 2nd job is as a veterinary assistant at California Animal REhabilitation (CARE).

MANAGEMENT

Ronda is managed by Darin Harvey of Fight Tribe MMA.