*This content was translated by AI.
She pays no mind to drug controversies. Ronda Rousey (39), who reigned supreme as the strongest in women's combat sports, is returning to the octagon for the first time in 10 years, revealing ambitious plans to shake up the combat sports world.
Rousey is set to face another combat sports legend, Gina KARA-no (44), in a featherweight bout at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, USA, on the 17th (Korean time). This event, hosted by YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul's MVP, will be broadcast live worldwide as a major match.
For Rousey, who left the combat sports stage after her defeat against Amanda Nunes in 2016, this is her comeback after 10 years and the final stage to cap off her career.
Ahead of the match, Rousey expressed strong determination through the UK's 'BBC', stating, "I want to rewrite the end of my career in my own way."
Notably, Rousey directly challenged UFC's monopoly system and the poor treatment of fighters through this event. She fired a direct shot at Dana White, UFC president, saying, "Pay fighters more fight money," and added, "If the treatment had been good, I wouldn't be here today." In fact, the minimum fighter pay for this event is $40,000 (approximately 60 million won), a level 2 to 3 times higher than the rookie fighter pay in UFC.
In the past, Rousey was the strongest fighter who dominated the UFC bantamweight division, defending her title six times. However, she was knocked out consecutively by Holly Holm and Nunes, and left the octagon in disgrace due to concussion symptoms.
During her long absence, Rousey moved between professional wrestling and the film industry. It is reported that she vowed to return when she became pregnant with her second daughter.
Regarding extending her active career, she drew a line. Rousey has already promised her husband that she will completely retire from combat sports after this match. She emphasized, "We want to have more children, so there will be no reversal of retirement."
Beyond a simple athlete comeback, Rousey dreams of a life as a female promoter. She revealed her ambition, saying, "I may not become a second Dana White, but I can become a promoter who protects the rights of female fighters."
However, there is no shortage of concern and criticism from those around her. The gaze directed at Rousey is not kind. According to US 'Fox News', Rousey is at the center of fierce drug controversies due to her abnormally muscular physique, which has grown more than during her prime. Recently spotted at official events, Rousey's appearance, with enlarged trapezius and shoulder muscles reminiscent of a male bodybuilder, shocked her fans.
Among overseas combat sports fans, sharp criticisms are pouring out, such as, "It is clear evidence of drug use that a 39-year-old woman has become more muscular than in her prime," and "Since she is returning from a professional wrestling stage with lax drug testing, suspicion cannot be erased."
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*This content was translated by AI.
