'Only mistake she made..' Daniel Cormier gives his two cents on fellow UFC HOF Ronda Rousey’s concussion story

Unlike others, Rousey’s remarks didn’t rub off wrong on Daniel Cormier. At a stout 12-2-0 stat, ‘Rowdy’ was the first female combatant at UFC 157. The judoka also won bronze at the 2008 Summer Olympics, gold at the 2007 Pan American Games, and silver at the 2007 World Judo Championships. Much like IJF Grand Slam/Grand Prix 135lber Kayla Harrison , she remains one of the best female talents in the sport.

She later even joined up with WWE, becoming the notorious RAW brand staple and Women’s Triple Crown Champion. ‘DC’ understands the Olympic-level judo – and entertainment wrestling grind have much rigor. Hence, he understands how difficult it is to partake in the sport. While Cormier cautions the news could have come sooner, he felt it’d be foolish to think Rousey was lying.

Daniel Cormier supports Ronda Rousey despite rest of combat sports community turning on her

Ronda Rousey has been an electric presence, to say the least. She has done it all, varying from a trailblazing UFC submission specialist to a WWE heel, from an actress to an author. She has a bigger impact on Women’s MMA than any other person.

People like Jimmy Smith or Holm have bashed her take on the trajectory so far and have remained propellants to the hate. However, it would be surprising if there weren’t windfalls or injuries from her long journey. Daniel Cormier postulates somewhat the same idea. Moreover, despite not being a proper washout, he defends her on the fan backlash she received during her last days at UFC.

I will also say this in defending Ronda: She’s always been one that people want to critique, ...even if it was unjust. So when she lost to Holly, it was almost like the world celebrated....They felt like everything got given to her when, in reality, she was winning... She was beating people. And then for her to come back and lose to Amanda [Nunes; UFC 207] the way she did, everybody celebrated and said ‘to hell with Ronda, go and be gone.’ Daniel Cormier via MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze”

Cormier sympathizes when Rousey makes claims that she’d had harrowing issues over her life. People take it as an excuse. “You are as good as your last loss” is a statement that puts Rousey’s career into perspective. Rousey deserves a top-five spot in the conversation for the greatest WMMA fighters. However, two consecutive losses to end the career only made people discredit the former bantamweight champion rather than appreciate her.