Ronda Rousey

Ronda Rousey, born on February 1, 1987, is a multifaceted American athlete renowned for her groundbreaking achievements in mixed martial arts, judo, professional wrestling, and acting. She made history as the first American woman to earn an Olympic medal in judo, securing a bronze at the 2008 Summer Olympics. This remarkable feat set the stage for her illustrious career in combat sports.

Rousey transitioned to mixed martial arts in 2011, where she quickly rose to prominence. She became the last Women's Bantamweight Champion in Strikeforce before the organization was absorbed by the UFC. As the first female fighter signed by the UFC, Rousey not only headlined the promotion's inaugural women's bout at UFC 157 but also became its first Women's Bantamweight Champion. Her record of six title defenses stood until it was surpassed in 2022, and she was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018.

In 2018, Rousey ventured into professional wrestling, signing with WWE and making her debut at WrestleMania 34. She captured the Raw Women's Championship at SummerSlam that same year and headlined Evolution, WWE's first all-women's pay-per-view event. Rousey continued to make waves in WWE, winning the SmackDown Women's Championship twice and becoming a three-time women's world champion. Her partnership with Shayna Baszler led to them unifying the WWE and NXT Women's Tag Team Championships.

Rousey's unique distinction as the only woman to hold championships in both the UFC and WWE, along with her status as a pay-per-view headliner in both organizations, solidifies her legacy in sports history. Recognized as one of the defining athletes of the 21st century, she was voted the best female athlete of all time in a 2015 ESPN fan poll. Beyond her athletic prowess, Rousey has also made her mark in film, appearing in notable titles such as The Expendables 3, Furious 7, and Mile 22, and published her autobiography, My Fight / Your Fight, in 2015.