Ronda Rousey is hungry.
The former UFC female bantamweight champion returns for the first time in over a year later this month when she challenges Amanda Nunes for the title at UFC 207.
And while some have questioned the drive of “Rowdy,” she made it perfectly clear during a recent interview with ESPN that she is committed to becoming the best yet again.
“It’s like I’m doing the chick version of growing a beard and living in a cave, you know?” Rousey says. “You remember when Batman goes off to this ninja place, then time lapses and you see he’s grown this beard? My woman version of growing a beard was letting my highlights grow out and changing my number.
“That loss (to Holly Holm) saved me from becoming what I hate,” she says. “One of those people who live their lives to impress everyone else. Who put up a front for the world to admire. Who make sure every charitable act is posted and shared for their own image gain. Who posture and pose for people they care nothing about except for the opinion they have of them.”
Rousey personally thanked Conor McGregor for taking the lead in terms of pushing the UFC ship to be more mainstream. And she doesn’t appear ready to take back on that role anytime soon.
“I will never put my body at risk for money and views ever again. What makes me happy is winning and being the best in the world and that’s it,” Rousey said. “(Expletive) all the promotion and energy spent on anything that’s not me winning. And anyone who tries to tell me I owe them energy on frivolous (expletive) during camp out of ‘loyalty’ or ‘friendship’ deserves no loyalty from me and is no friend of mine.
“This is not a time for (expletive) favors. This is a time for redemption and revenge.”
