On Friday night, millions of MMA fans watched Ronda Rousey get brutally pummeled by defending women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes at UFC 207.
Nunes beat Rousey in just 48 seconds, pounding the sport’s best-known fighter so badly that officials stopped the fight out of fear for Rousey’s safety.
Though some predicted an upset victory from Nunes, no one guessed that the 28-year-old Brazilian would defeat Rousey so severely and in such a short period of time.
The loss comes on the heels of Rousey’s defeat by Holly Holm, which prompted her to take a year off in order to train for what was supposed to be a triumphant return to the octagon.
Following that upset, Rousey revealed that she contemplated suicide and questioned if she would ever return to the sport that made her famous.
So it stands to reason that many are openly wondering if Rousey will call it quits after being so thoroughly defeated by Nunes.
Rousey has yet to comment on the future of her career, but given the abundance of speculation that she’s planning to retire, her silence speaks volumes.
Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that Rousey talked about retirement during an interview with Ellen DeGeneres back in November, describing the then-upcoming Nunes match as “one of my last.”
In a statement issued to ESPN over the weekend, Rousey thanked fans and admitted to being bitterly disappointed by her loss, but avoided commenting on her future in the sport:
“I want to say thank you to all of my fans who have been there for me in not only the greatest moments but in the most difficult ones. Words cannot convey how much your love and support means to me,” Rousey said.
“Returning to not just fighting, but winning, was my entire focus this past year. However, sometimes — even when you prepare and give everything you have and want something so badly — it doesn’t work how you planned.
“I take pride in seeing how far the women’s division has come in the UFC and commend all the other women who have been part of making this possible, including Amanda.
“I need to take some time to reflect and think about the future. Thank you for believing in me and understanding.”
For her part, Nunes has declined to speculate on her opponent’s future, but suggested that Rousey’s time as the sport’s most recognized name may have come to an end:
“(Rousey) had her time, she did a lot for the sport. I thank Ronda Rousey,” Nunes said in a post-fight interview.
“But right now, I showed I’m the champion and I’m here to stay.”