Ronda Rousey

Ronda Rousey is an American athlete and actress. She was born in Riverside, California, in 1987. She was the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in judo. She then became one of the biggest stars in mixed martial arts history.

Early Life

Rousey was born with her umbilical cord wrapped around her neck, which caused speech problems. She did not speak clearly until age six. Her mother, a judo champion, taught her the sport. Rousey won an Olympic bronze medal in judo at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

MMA Career

Rousey became the first women's champion in the UFC. She won her first 12 professional fights, most of them in under a minute. She helped prove that women's MMA could draw huge audiences. She later became a successful professional wrestler and actress.

Fun Facts

• Ronda Rousey won most of her MMA fights in less than one minute.
• She was the first woman to sign with the UFC.
• Her mother was the first American to win a World Judo Championship.

Did You Know?

Ronda Rousey's mother would sometimes wake her up in the middle of the night to practice judo moves. She said it taught her to always be ready.